For many of us, Cinderella is a favorite childhood story. It's the tale of a young girl in a sad situation who, because of her good nature, manages to win the love of a handsome prince.
But the Cinderella tale we heard growing up is not the only one in the world. There are many more from many different cultures, some even older than the version we are familiar with. Take a look and you’re sure to find a new favorite tale from somewhere else in the world.
- Cinderella retold and illustrated by Ruth Sanderson. This retelling of the most familiar Cinderella is beautifully decorated in the fashion of the original French tale.
- The Way Meat Loves Salt retold by Nina Jaffe and illustrated by Louise August. In this story from the Jewish tradition, it is Elijah himself who helps a clever rabbi’s daughter find love and reunite with her family.
- Smoky Mountain Rose retold by Alan Schroeder and illustrated by Brad Sneed. This tale is an adaptation of several told down the years by the folks in the Appalachian hills, but the humor in the illustrations and the accents will tickle you pink.
- The Rough-Face Girl retold by Rafe Martin and illustrated by David Shannon. Sootface retold by Robert D. San Souci and illustrated by Daniel San Souci. These Native American tales, one from the Algonquin tribes and the other from the Ojibwa, tell the tale of the Invisible Being, whom all the women wish to marry. But only one young woman truly knows what he looks like.
- The Golden Sandal retold by Rebecca Hickox and illustrated by Will Hillenbrand. A fisherman’s daughter receives help from a special red fish in this Middle Eastern tale.
- The Gift of the Crocodile retold by Judy Sierra and illustrated by Reynold Ruffins. It is always wise to befriend and be respectful to the wild creatures around you, as this Indonesian story shows. Grandmother Crocodile is kind to young Damura, but punishes those who hurt her.
- Adelita retold and illustrated by Tomie dePaola. Spanish phrases and dePaola’s classic illustrations enrich this Mexican story of a young girl and her devoted nursemaid.
- Cendrillon retold by Robert D. San Souci and illustrated by Brian Pinkney. From the Creole traditions of the Caribbean comes a humorous and warm tale of a loving godmother who finds a way to bring her goddaughter to her heart’s desire.
- Mufaro’s Beautiful Daughters retold and illustrated by John Steptoe. This teaching tale of the rewards of kindness and the consequences of rudeness comes from a tale told in Zimbabwe. The illustrations evoke the people of Zimbabwe and their green land beautifully.
- The Korean Cinderella retold by Shirley Climo and illustrated by Ruth Heller. Sparrows, a frog and a great black ox are Pear Blossom’s magical helpers in this brightly illustrated story from Korea.
- Yeh-Shen retold by Ai-Ling Louie and illustrated by Ed Young. The paintings in this story from China are delicate and special; there is one important element of the tale that repeats over and over in each illustration. Can you spot it?
- The Turkey Girl retold by Penny Pollock and illustrated by Ed Young. The turkeys a poor girl tends grant her wish to attend the festival, but with one very important catch: if she does not return by nightfall, they will leave her–forever.
- The Egyptian Cinderella retold by Shirley Climo and illustrated by Ruth Heller. In a story mixing both fact and fable, Rhodopis, a beautiful slave, marries the Pharaoh. Her story is one of the oldest known in the world.
For more details on finding any of these items or copies from other libraries in the county, call the Chesterfield Township Library at 586-598-4900 or consult our website at www.chelibrary.org.
