27. Glass Slipper, Gold Sandal (A Worldwide Cinderella)

27. Glass Slipper, Gold Sandal A worldwide Cinderella

Paul Flieschman

Julie Paschkis

Henry Holt and Company, 2007

28 pages

Multicultural

            I chose this book because what girl does not know the story of Cinderella? When I saw this title I was curious to see how it was told in other cultures. The basic story of Cinderella is being retold throughout the book from a variety of different cultures. There is an evil stepmother who is jealous of her husband’s biological daughter and attempts to starve her, but the animals and fairy help to keep the young girl alive. A king announces he is looking for a wife and all of the single young women dress up and head to the palace. The attire of the women shows the variety of cultures as Cinderella leaves the palace she loses her shoe and in each culture it changes it is either a glass slipper, a gold sandal…

            The illustrations in this book are done with gouache. The text throughout the book is informal and there is a use of heavy lines in the characters. Each page has a representation of the artwork from the specific culture being represented. In each illustration both clothing and personal features are illustrated.

            In the classroom this book could be used for social studies to introduce a variety of places around the world. In a character development lesson the book could be read aloud to teach students that life isn’t always fair, fair treatment is not always found, but never give up because your sacrifice will someday be rewarded. This book is absolutely beautiful and so creative to tie all of the different cultural beliefs of the story into one. I have always only known of the Disney Cinderella and the seven dwarfs, but am intrigued at the variety of stories about Cinderella.