Glass Slipper Gold Sandal: A Worldwide Cinderella

                        Glass Slipper Gold Sandal: A Worldwide Cinderella
Lexile Level: AD700L

           
            This story is the story of Cinderella is very unique story that is told by each country. This story flows from one country to another telling the story of how Cinderella met her Prince Charming. The story includes the moment when Cinderella loses her glass slipper, but each culture has a different representation of the glass slipper. Each page tells the country that the story is taking place in. Paul Fleischman, the author of this story, does a beautiful job of connecting each country’s story.
Is this a good story?

            I think anyone that’s a fan of Cinderella will love this book. Students will find this book interesting. I think new literacy books like these help students realize that every culture has their own stories, and they may be different, but they all connect in the overall theme.
What did the author want to tell me in the story? Was the theme worthwhile?
            The author wanted to show that each culture has different meanings to the classic Cinderella story. The theme of the book is to be accepting to every cultures tradition. I think this theme is incredibly important for students to learn. It helps students be more accepting of cultures.
Did the characters fit their setting?

            Every character fit their setting. The illustrations brilliantly depicted each Cinderella. The author included Cinderella’s of all races, and cultures. This book shows diversity and shows that each character is equal.
Are the illustrations authentic and non-stereotypical?
            The illustrations are authentic. They depicted and represent every culture beautifully. They show what each Cinderella looks like in each country, and it also shows clothes each Cinderella wears.
            In this book there is personification, for example “Just then, a rooster began to crow: “They put the ugly one on show And hid the beauty down below.” This shows personification because a rooster cannot talk, but in this book it can. Similes are also present in this book. An example would be “A kimono red as sunset”. The author also includes hyperboles, for example, “Grunting and sweating, her older daughter tried to wrestle the shoe on”. Wrestle the shoe on is a hyperbole because it is an over exaggeration.
            The illustrations as I discussed above are beautifully done. They show each culture in a respectful way. The illustrations are also uniquely done, they have patterns and designs behind the actual pictures.
            A mini lesson I would have students do is study one of the Cinderella stories and make a visual representation (Poster board, PowerPoint) of that character and their story. They will have an opportunity to share what they learned about this culture to their classmates, and they can work in groups on this assignment.

Citation:
Fleischman, P. Paschkis, J. (Illustrator). (2007). Glass Slipper, Gold Sandal: A Worldwide Cinderella. Henry Holt and Company.