Cinderella by by Ruth Sanderson

Cinderella

 

 

 

 

Genre: Fairytale

By: Ruth Sanderson

32 pages

 

Recommended for grades K and up

The story retold by Sanderson is a blending of different Cinderella stories featuring a magical hazel tree, a special white bird that changes into the beautiful fairy godmother complete with fairy wings, and all the other more familiar elements including pumpkins, lizards, and mice that go through their magical transformations.

This is a picture book and the illustrations are beautiful oil paintings.

 

In this version the story ends, in a dark twist, where the birds who Cinderella hand fed are found pecking the step-mother and sister's violently every time they attempt to leave the house, and so they remain permanently trapped there for mistreating Cinderella.

 

Cinderella was mistreated by her step mother And step sisters. The Prince was having a fancy ball to meet all the ladies in the kingdom in hopes to find a bride. Cinderella wanted to attend the ball but her step-mother did not allow her to go and so her fairy god mother transformed from a bird and appeared to fulfill her wish. She turned her rags into beautiful clothing and turned a pumpkin into a carriage. She danced with the Prince and he fell in love with her but at the stroke of midnight , Cinderella had to return home where she is dressed in rags.  She lost her shoe rushing home from the ball.  The Prince sets out to look for the girl who fits the glass slipper to whom he wishes to marry. He finds Cinderella after searching the kingdom, they get married and live happily ever after.

 

 

There are so many different versions for Cinderella but each story I have encounter have the same moral:

In my opinion the fairy tale teaches about respect and treating everyone fairly. Cinderella was mistreated and not respected by her family even though she was kind to everyone. In the end Cinderella got her happily ever after. This can also be a benefit to teach about bullying.  

 

Lessons for school use:

Cinderella Folk Texts: Differing stories of Cinderella from different countries.

Cinderella Activity: Students demonstrate perspective when identifying responses to the familiar storyline.

Cinderella: A Mirror of a Culture: Folklore mirrors the culture—understanding comes from knowledge of the culture.

Fairy Tale Comparison: Students identify elements and origins of fairy tales and compare.

Cinderella retold by Marcia Brown: Vocabulary, sequencing, writing and comprehension. Print and use pages.

Exploring the World of Cinderella Tales: Students will read three versions of Cinderella, and then compare using a Venn diagram.

Cinderella Variations: Students will list essential plot characteristics, provide examples of plot variations, and write a narrative.

Behind the Scenes with Cinderella: A lesson plan to help students think critically.

Cinderella Page: Students read different version of Cinderella each day and keep a journal about their thoughts and constructive thinking.

Discussion Provoking Questions:

 

How did it make you feel the way the step-sisters treated Cinderella?

What was your favorite part of the story?

 



Bibliography:
Sanderson, R. (2014). Cinderella. Northampton, MA: Crocodile Books, USA, an imprint of Interlink Publishing Group, Inc.