"Every Hero Has A Story." My Blogging From A to Z theme bridges the summer library reading programs throughout the U.S. with storytelling opportunities, ideas, and activities.
Thanks to Walt Disney, the Brothers Grimm, Charles Perrault, and the huge variety of Cinderella movies out there, we all pretty much know the Cinderella story. But did you realize that there are anywhere from 340 to over 3,000 different versions of this multicultural tale? Cinderella, a.k.a. The Rough Face girl, Yeh-Shen, Nyasha, Rhodopis, Pear Blossom, and so many other names, is certainly a heroine for these…Drum roll please...TOP TEN REASONS:
1. She overcomes obstacles.
2. Even though she is made to feel unloved, worthless, ugly, and mindless, she moves herself out of that situation by seeking her inner strength
3. Her character is strong.
4. She accepts support and help where ever she can find it.
5. She believes in herself.
6. She remains hardworking, generous, and kind.
7. She's open minded (magic occurs quite a bit).
8. She perseveres through the miserable circumstances thrown at her while living with her step sisters.
9. Her story makes us believe in ourselves.
10. Her story gives us strength to move beyond sadness, suffering, abuse, and brokenness.
2. Even though she is made to feel unloved, worthless, ugly, and mindless, she moves herself out of that situation by seeking her inner strength
3. Her character is strong.
4. She accepts support and help where ever she can find it.
5. She believes in herself.
6. She remains hardworking, generous, and kind.
7. She's open minded (magic occurs quite a bit).
8. She perseveres through the miserable circumstances thrown at her while living with her step sisters.
9. Her story makes us believe in ourselves.
10. Her story gives us strength to move beyond sadness, suffering, abuse, and brokenness.
Even though I enjoy telling the blood and gore version of the Grimm's Cinderella to 4th graders up into the middle school ages, I've placed my favorite Cinderella versions from the 398.2 section of the library below. I've linked them to amazon.com where you can read a summary of each. The settings of each of these tales are quite different, the girls represent their individual cultures, and yet their strong characteristics remain the same - heroines to all. There's a little bit of all of us in her throughout our lives.
 The Rough Face Girl by Rafe Martin |  Yeh-Shen retold by Ai-Ling Louie |  Mufaro's Beautiful Daughters by John Steptoe |
Cinderella Links
Multicultural Cinderella Resources by American Library Association
Cinderella texts written out
Cinderella on Pinterest (of course)
Cinderella texts written out
Cinderella on Pinterest (of course)
May the stories begin!
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