Thursday, March 4, 2010

Fairy Tale Fridays: Cinderella

Special Thanks to my Personal Faery Friend for the Button Art: Ye Olde Faery Shoppe

This week for Fairy Tale Fridays, we are visiting a favorite of many, Cinderella.  There are a multitude of versions out there of this title, so I decided to read a couple of them this week.  The first is The Brothers Grimm version.  This version is much bloodier and violent than I ever remember reading from childhood.  It makes me wonder if I have actually ever read the original!  I would think that eyes being pecked out and toes being cut off would be pretty hard to forget!!  On the other hand . . .

The second is a beautiful adaptation (and much more kid-friendly!) that I came across at my local library . . . Glass Slipper, Gold Sandal:  A Worldwide Cinderella by Paul Fleischman and illustrated by Julie Paschkis.  As the subtitle indicates, this is Cinderella's story from a multitude of ethnic viewpoints, from Mexico to Ireland to Japan and everything in between.  From country to country, the story varies.  Instead of a fairy godmother found in Grimm's version, we find a crocodile who brings forth "a sarong made of gold" (Indonesia), or "a cloak sewn of king-fisher feathers" (China), or "a kimono red as sunset" (Japan).  The pictures are beautifully illustrated, weaving the many versions into one modern tale that I would like to one day personally own for my own children.  

There are many modern day Cinderella stories today.  One of my favorite authors, Gregory Maguire wrote The Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister and Ella Enchanted written by Gail Carson Levine was adapted into a movie starring Anne Hathaway.  What is your favorite re-telling or adaptation?

Due to a personal request from a loyal participant, I have decided to post a few weeks worth of what will be coming next.  (Thanks for the suggestion Carol!)  It will better help those of you participating and may just help me in staying a little more organized!

Friday, March 12th:  In honor of Share-A-Story, Shape-A-Future, share your personal favorite fairy tale from childhood.  
Friday, March 19th:  Rapunzel by The Brothers Grimm
Friday, March 26th:  The Ugly Duckling by Hans Christian Anderson
Friday, April 2nd:  The Goose with the Golden Eggs by Aesop


7 comments:

  1. Oh, I adore the Cinderella story! I posted my link in McLinky.

    I like some of the retellings, and I happened to read one this week!

    See my post:

    http://chasingstardust.wordpress.com/2010/03/05/fairytale-moments-cinderella/

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  2. I had never read the Grimm's version before. It's certainly different.

    I read Ella Enchanted a while ago and thought it was cute. I have Bound out from the library now, but haven't gotten around to it yet. It's supposed to be a "Cinderella" story set in China.

    Thanks for including the next several week. I appreciate it.

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  3. Cinderella! My favorite fairy tale ever!

    I've never read Grimm's version--it's hard to imagine it as violent! There is an app, believe it or not, of Grimm's fairy tales for iPod Touch and iPhone. I should see if it's on there.

    My favorite adaptation is The Slipper and the Rose. It is sooo funny and awesome.

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  4. Interesting that you mentioned the Grimms' version. I just went to see Cinderella at the ballet last night with my daughter and my mom's cousin, who was a long time teacher. When I leaned over and asked if she thought they'd be true to the first written version, she just looked blank as she'd never read it before. I don't know where I picked up on the Grimms' version but I am generally amazed how many people think Disney is the original.

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  5. Creations by Laurel-Rain Snow . . . I'm up way too late tonight trying to get caught up on emails, but I will be checking out your post tomorrow for sure! And, I think I prefer the re-tellings!! :)

    Carol . . . You're welcome!! I've seen Bound and have been wanting to read it, but just have not gotten around to it. I will be watching for a review from you to see what you think!!

    heidenkind . . . I have not seen that version! I will see if I can find it!! And, now you've got me curious . . . *off to check my Droid for fairy tale apps* :)

    Kristen . . . I think most people revert to Disney when they think of fairy tales unfortunately! It's just so much embedded in our culture anymore.

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  6. Hi, Tif, please come on over to http://laurel-rain-snow.blogspot.com to collect an award!

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  7. Creations by Laurel-Rain Snow . . . Thank you so much for the award!!! :)

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