Climo, S. (1993). The Korean Cinderella. Mexico: HarperCollins Publishers.

The young Pear Blossom is mistreated by her step mother and stepsister. They tell Pear Blossom that she may attend the villages festival after she weeds the rice patties. Of course, there was too much work for Pear Blossom to finish on her own. A black ox appears and clears the weeds for Pear Blossom, and she goes the festival she looses her shoe in the water. The magistrate finds her shoe, and believes that the show will bring him to the one he should marry. The story is very similar to the version known in the United States, with a new flavor.

Recommended ***

Climo, S. (1989). The Egyptian Cinderella. New York: HarperCollins Publishers.

The Egyptian Cinderella takes place in ancient Egypt. Rhodopis is a young slave, who is ridiculed for her fair hair and light complexion. The Pharaoh Amasis, is visited by a falcon (who is the god Horus), who drops a slipper on his lap. The Pharaoh takes this as a sign that he is to marry the woman whose foot fits the slipper. The slipper belongs to Rhodopis, and they marry. This is another fun version of the Cinderella story, which will peak children’s interests.

Highly Recommended ****

Johnston, T. (1998). Bigfoot cinderrrrrella. New York: G. P. Putnam’s Sons.

The bigfoot prince is looking for his princess, but he needs someone who meets specific qualifications: she must be odoriferous, have lots of fur, and care about the environment. This clever twist on the classic story of Cinderella could be used to get students excited about comparing and contrasting stories, and even to get young boys interested in what may seem like “girls” literature.

Highly Recommended ****

Martin, R. (1992). The rough-face girl. New York: G.P. Putnam’s Sons.

The Rough-Face Girl is the Algonquin Indian version of the classic Cinderella story. The poor rough-face girl has become rough faced because her face has been burned working closely around the fire. All of the women in her village want to marry the Invisible Being. The invisible being however, will only be married to the woman who can prove to his sister that they have seen him. The Rough-Face Girl’s sisters get dressed in elaborate and expensive clothing, and strut around the village, as they pretend that they have seen the invisible being. Rough-face girl however, is able to show that she has seen the invisible being, and the story ends happily. This story would be a great addition to a fairy tale unit, or a supplement on Native American studies.

Highly Recommended ****

Perrault, C. (1954). Cinderella or The little glass slipper. (M. Brown, Trans.). New York: Atheneum Books for Young People.

Cinderella, as translated by Marsha Brown, is the classic French Cinderella story. Cinderella is a young girl, and when her father gets remarried to a harsh stepmother with two cruel daughters, Cinderella has a positive attitude and helps her sisters prepare for the King’s Ball. When Cinderella wishes to attend the ball, her fairy godmother appears and magically transforms her into a beautiful princess. Cinderella is then able to go to the ball two nights in a row, where she accidentally looses her slipper as she runs away (due to loosing track of time). The prince finds her by having all of the ladies around to try on the lost slipper. In the end, Cinderella marries the prince, and graciously forgives her cruel stepfamily. This book was awarded the Caldecott Medal in 1955. The illustrations are lacking in interest and dated. It is the simple classic story of Cinderella. Can be used to compare other Cinderella stories to, but this version is very dull

Not really recommended at all *