Glass Slipper, Gold Sandal: A Worldwide Cinderella By Paul Fleischman

Brief Overview: Within this picture book, a new, but similar version of the Cinderella story we know comes to life. It has the same tale of a young girl's father remarrying to an awful woman who becomes her stepmother. She is mistreated and is forced to clean and take care of her step-mother and step-sisters. Then she meets the prince at a beautifl ball where they fall for one another. Cinderella leaves in a hurry leaving behind her glass slipper, or in this case, a gold sandal. This version of the novel combines tales from many countries including Mexico, Iran, Korea, Russia, Appalachia, India, Iraq, and more. Although the story is similar, it represents each cultures differences with illustrations and descriptions of the different food and dresses as she travels throughout the book.

Teaching Suggestions:

Key Vocabulary:
Culture
Diversity
Pan dulche
Magistrate
Scorpion
Figs
Sugarcane

Before Reading: Before reading this particular Cinderella story, ask the students to tell you about the Cinderella story they heard growing up. This book is a good representation of how cultures, although very different, can also have many similarities as well, such as a fairy tale.

During Reading: As Cinderella travels through the book, also have a map or globe handy to point out the many places the Cinderella story is told. Throughout the novel, children should be connecting (text to text, self, and world) with Cinderella and how the details of the story or similar to the one they know.

"What is different about this Cinderella?"
"What kind of clothes is she wearing?"
"How is she treated?"
"What happens when she meets the prince?"
-With these questions, they can compare the worldwide Cinderella to the Cinderella story they know.

After Reading: After reading, students should write a reflection on what they have learned about culture, diversity, and how each culture is similar or different to their own. How did they feel about the book? Did they enjoy it? Why or why not?

Extra Resources:
All about Paul Fleischman
Paul Fleischman Interview

Fleischman, Paul. Glass Slipper, Gold Sandal: A Worldwide Cinderella. New York: Henry Holt And Co. (Byr), 2007.