Mirror, mirror on my wall
Who’s the silliest blogger of all?
Why me, of course.
I am!
TGIFTF, girls!
Thank Goodness It’s Fairy Tale Friday.
And the fairy tale featured today is a beautiful version of the Cinderella story,
Glass Slipper, Gold Sandal: a Worldwide Cinderella
by
Paul Fleischman, illustrated by Julie Paschkis.
It was published in New York in 2007 by Henry Holt and Company. The ISBN is 978-0-8050-7953-1.
It is available at Amazon.com, here and Barnes & Noble, here.
The book begins with an Author’s Note that compares all books to chameleons. Author Paul Fleischman explains that stories adapt to their surroundings just like those cute, little lizards do. He credits ninth-century China with the first version of Cinderella and notes that while the essence of the story has stayed the same, “rivalry, injustice, and the dream of wrongs righted”, it’s the details that have changed.
In Glass Slipper, Gold Sandal, this author-illustrator duo incorporate details from versions of the Cinderella story from seventeen countries into one beautiful account. The story begins with a modern-day mother lap-sharing this particular book with her child. With each turn of the page, the story changes setting from Korea to Iraq to Russia, Iran and India. And with each new setting, the fairy tale adopts the characteristics of that far-away land.
The Indonesian Cinderella wears a sarong of gold; in China she dons a cloak of kingfisher feathers; a sunset red sarong in Japan. Our PC (Prince Charming) appears as a Great King in Zimbabwe, the headman’s son in Indonesia, and just a plain old prince in Ireland.
Seamlessly, the story progresses around the world, seasoned with subtleties that make this spicy version of Cinderella one to savor.
With its vibrant colors and design motifs, illustrator Julie Paschkis creates a visual experience so vivid that readers will almost smell the curry and taste the anise.
Glass Slipper, Gold Sandal is multi-sensory delight that lends itself well to being shared over and over and over again. Using the beautiful illustrations, even preschoolers will be able to re-tell the story incorporating the intricacies of each country’s account.
But don’t just take my word for it.
There is a wonderful review of this book here.
Then if either of these reviews has whet your appetite for sampling Glass Slipper, Gold Sandal yourself, you are in luck! I am offering a chance to win a copy of this delicious tale by entering the giveaway below. Just click on the Rafflecopter link to enter.
The giveaway closes on Sunday at midnight so be sure to enter right away. You can always check for this fairy tale at your local public library, too! If you read this yourself or with a little one you love, please stop by to let me know. (Would love to see pictures, too.)
Hugs and kisses,
Morgan
While doing inventory this week, I saw many wonderful fairy tale books that I can’t wait to read to my kiddos next year.
My favorite fairy tale is Cinderella. Iike the glass slipper part and how a girl can work so hard and get her reward in the end.
Leslie Roberts Clingan
I love Cinderella and had never really thought that it might be because she is such a hard-working, industrious girl! I love a hard-worker, too. And truly believe that we all get what we deserve in the end. Glad you entered the give-away. Thank you for supporting me and leaving a message. XO
Sheila @ Making the Most of Every Day
What a fun idea for a book!
Leslie Roberts Clingan
I love Glass Slipper, Gold Sandal…it can be a lesson on cultures and geography wrapped into a beautifully illustrated picture book.
Shaunacey
love Cinderella and this sounds like a such a neat take on it! thanks for sharing 🙂