Cinderella

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Cinderella Fairytale--From Grimm to Disney

The original Cinderella tale is a popular fairytale from the time of the Brothers Grimm, and most likely even earlier. Versions of the Cinderella fairytale are told in many cultures throughout the world, and commemorated in art. Walt Disney, rewrote the story in his own fashion, to create the animated Cinderella movie.

In this lens, the original Cinderella fairytale told is The Brothers Grimm version. And so the story goes:

The wife of a rich man fell sick, and as she felt that her end was drawing near, she called her only daughter to her bedside and said, "Dear child, be good and pious, and then the good God will always protect thee, and I will look down on thee from heaven and be near thee." Thereupon she closed her eyes and departed. Every day the maiden went out to her mother's grave, and wept, and she remained pious and good. When winter came the snow spread a white sheet over the grave, and when the spring sun had drawn it off again, the man had taken another wife.

The Cinderella Fairytale Has Versions All Over the World

Which one is your favorite?

Cinderella (Walt Disney's Cinderella)

Cinderella (Walt Disney's Cinderella)

The most celebrated of all the Disney classics, "Cinderella" is also known as one of Walt Disney's all-time favorite films. In the magnificent tradition of "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs", "Cinderella" has enchanted generations with its spellbinding story, charming music, and endearing characters that live in your heart forever. The beloved fairy tale becomes pure Disney magic as beautiful Cinderella shares her dreams of romance and a better life with the lovable mice Gus and Jaq. When Cindere...2 points

Chinese Cinderella: The True Story of an Unwanted Daughter by Adeline Yen Mah

Chinese Cinderella: The True Story of an Unwanted Daughter by Adeline Yen Mah

A riveting memoir of a girl's painful coming-of-age in a wealthy Chinese family during the 1940s.

A Chinese proverb says, "Falling leaves return to their roots." In Chinese Cinderella, Adeline Yen Mah returns to her roots to tell the story of her painful childhood and her ultimate triumph and courage in the face of despair. Adeline's affluent, powerful family considers her bad luck after her mother dies giving birth to her. Life does not get any easier when her father remarries. She and her sibli...1 point

The Egyptian Cinderella by Shirley Climo

The Egyptian Cinderella by Shirley Climo

"Climo has woven this ancient tale, a mixture of fact and myth, with clarity and eloquence.The beauty of the language is set off to perfection by Heller's arresting illustrations.A stunning combination of fluent prose and exquisitely wrought illustrations [that makes] a winner for story hours, as well as a useful resource for the study of Cinderella through the ages." -SLJ.

Notable 1989 Children's Trade Books in Social Studies (NCSS/CBC)

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Domitila: A Cinderella Tale from the Mexican Tradition by Jewell Reinhart Coburn

Domitila: A Cinderella Tale from the Mexican Tradition by Jewell Reinhart Coburn

Domitila is not only "sweeter than a cactus bloom in early spring," she is also a talented cook and an amazing leather artist. most of the classical elements of a Cinderella story can be found in Domitila. A gentle weaving of her mother's nurturing with strong family traditions is the secret ingredient for Domitila to rise above hardship to eventually become the Governor's bride. Moreover, with a firm belief in simplicity and realism, Domitila makes a lasting impression as a triumphant Cinderell...0 points

The Korean Cinderella (Trophy Picture Books) by Shirley Climo

The Korean Cinderella (Trophy Picture Books) by Shirley Climo

'Climo and Heller conflate several Korean variants of Cinderella to offer up the story of Pear Blossom, a lovely girl who is sorely mistreated by her nasty stepmother and stepsister.%u2026 At once comfortingly familiar and intriguingly exotic, the text is especially noteworthy for its instructive but unobtrusive incorporation of Korean words.'-Publishers Weekly. 'Heller's paintings are exotically lush and colorful as well as engaging.%u2026 An agreeable retelling of the....0 points

The Persian Cinderella by Shirley Climo

The Persian Cinderella by Shirley Climo

In this jewel-like version of a classic story, popular folklorist Shirley Climo tells the tale of Settareh, the Persian Cinderella. Magic enables Settareh to outsmart two jealous stepsisters and win the heart of a prince. But where most Cinderella stories end, poor Sattareh's troubles are only beginning! The unexpected plot twists will enchant readers as they rediscover the familiar tale in the lush setting of long-ago Persia. Shirley Climo's authentic details bring the story to life, and Robert...0 points

The Golden Sandal: A Middle Eastern Cinderella Story by Rebecca Hickox

The Golden Sandal: A Middle Eastern Cinderella Story by Rebecca Hickox

Luck and happiness come to a neglected, motherless girl.0 points

Cinderella by Charles Perrault

Cinderella by Charles Perrault

"Illustrations featuring mix of styles in both clothing and architecture set the story in an imaginary yet vaguely familiar landscape, lit by a dreamlike haze. The smoothly told story...contains the familiar details and a happy ending in which Cinderella forgives her stepfamily." (The Horn Book Club)

This satisfying tale never grows old. Koopman's illustrations are jewel-toned and Cinderella herself...is attractive as a person and figure." (Yellow Brick Road)

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Abadeha: The Philippine Cinderella by Myrna J. De LA Paz

Abadeha: The Philippine Cinderella by Myrna J. De LA Paz

"Mother, Oh, Mother, Bathala, Creator of the Earth, Anitos, Spirits of my Ancestors, Hear me and help me..."

As Abadeha wept and prayed, she saw a beautiful woman, bathed in radiant light, who appeared to take her worries away.

So go the blessings of Cinderella's fairy godmother throughout the struggles and eventual triumphs of a young girl against her oppressors. Set in the exotic islands of the Philippines, this tale captures the mystical charm of the indigenous culture of the Filipinos. Color...

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The Gospel Cinderella by Joyce Carol Thomas

The Gospel Cinderella by Joyce Carol Thomas

Once upon a time . . .

There was a singing Cinderella?

Yes, with a voice as flavorful as licorice.

There was also a Crooked Foster Mother and two evil sisters. A Queen Mother Rhythm and a Prince of Music.

And while there's no glass slipper to leave behind at the Great Gospel Convention, there is an enchanted melody for the Prince to search for . . . and to find.

Award-winning author and poet Joyce Carol Thomas and Caldecott Medal-winning artist David Diaz have infused the classic Cind...

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The Salmon Princess: An Alaska Cinderella Story (Paws IV Children's Books) by Mindy Dwyer

The Salmon Princess: An Alaska Cinderella Story (Paws IV Children's Books) by Mindy Dwyer

In this adaptation of the well-loved fairy tale, the father still has his head in the clouds and the stepmother is as mean as ever. But this story is set in the Last Frontier, and its details and imagery reflect Alaska's landscape and sensibility: the fairy godmother becomes an eagle spirit, the glass slipper a fisherwoman's boot. Evocative writing and colorful artwork distinguish this playful retelling of the classic. Here children learn about cultures and ways of life but happy endings are sti...0 points

Angkat: The Cambodian Cinderella by Jewell Reinhart Coburn

Angkat: The Cambodian Cinderella by Jewell Reinhart Coburn

In the first English retelling of this ancient Cambodian tale, our heroine goes further, survives more, and has to conquer her own mortality to ragain her rightful place. Angkat-child of ashes-endures great wrongs as she seeks to rise above the distresses caused by her own family. Angkat appeared in an 18th century French essay which was found by Dr. Coburn deep in some dusty archives while she was researching Khmer culture and folklore. The artist effectively employed dramatic express...0 points

Smoky Mountain Rose: An Appalachian Cinderella (Picture Puffins) by Alan Schroeder

Smoky Mountain Rose: An Appalachian Cinderella (Picture Puffins) by Alan Schroeder

In this variation on the Cinderella story, based on the Charles Perrault version but set in the Smoky Mountains, Rose loses her glass slipper at a party given by the rich feller on the other side of the creek.0 points

The Way Meat Loves Salt: A Cinderella Tale from the Jewish Tradition by Nina Jaffe

The Way Meat Loves Salt: A Cinderella Tale from the Jewish Tradition by Nina Jaffe

Many years ago in Poland, there lived a rabbi who had a wife and three daughters. One day, the rabbi asks his children a powerful question: "How much do you love me?" His older daughters profess their love in gold and diamonds, but his youngest daughter, Mireleh, declares she loves her father the way meat loves salt. For this remark, she is banished from her father's home.

In this flavorful Jewish Cinderella tale, Mireleh's courageous journey is peppered with a perfect blend of magic and romance...0 points

Her Stepmother was Black of Heart

They took her pretty clothes away

The woman had brought two daughters into the house with her, who were beautiful and fair of face, but vile and black of heart. Now began a bad time for the poor step-child. "Is the stupid goose to sit in the parlour with us?" said they. "He who wants to eat bread must earn it; out with the kitchen-wench."

They took her pretty clothes away from her, put an old grey bedgown on her, and gave her wooden shoes. "Just look at the proud princess, how decked out she is!" they cried, and laughed, and led her into the kitchen. There she had to do hard work from morning till night, get up before daybreak, carry water, light fires, cook and wash. Besides this, the sisters did her every imaginable injury -- they mocked her and emptied her peas and lentils into the ashes, so that she was forced to sit and pick them out again.

In the evening when she had worked till she was weary she had no bed to go to, but had to sleep by the fireside in the ashes. And as on that account she always looked dusty and dirty, they called her Cinderella. It happened that the father was once going to the fair, and he asked his two step-daughters what he should bring back for them. "Beautiful dresses," said one, "Pearls and jewels," said the second. "And thou, Cinderella," said he, "what wilt thou have?" "Father, break off for me the first branch which knocks against your hat on your way home."

So he bought beautiful dresses, pearls and jewels for his two step-daughters, and on his way home, as he was riding through a green thicket, a hazel twig brushed against him and knocked off his hat. Then he broke off the branch and took it with him. When he reached home he gave his step-daughters the things which they had wished for, and to Cinderella he gave the branch from the hazel-bush. Cinderella thanked him, went to her mother's grave and planted the branch on it, and wept so much that the tears fell down on it and watered it. And it grew, however, and became a handsome tree.

Thrice a day Cinderella went and sat beneath it, and wept and prayed, and a little white bird always came on the tree, and if Cinderella expressed a wish, the bird threw down to her what she had wished for.

Cinderella Christmas Tree Ornaments

Fill your Christmas tree with Cinderella

If you really love Cinderella in all the story's forms, you may want to decorate your holiday tree with Cinderella Christmas ornaments. SurLaLune Fairy Tales Shop carries a full line of Cinderella ornaments and other keepsakes from many famous depictions of Cinderella like Price's Cinderella (pictured here). These are truly beautiful.


Buy this Cinderella Christmas Ornament
at SurLaLune Fairy Tales Shop

Cinderella and Other Tales by the Brothers Grimm Book and Charm (Charming Classics)

Amazon Price: $35.46 (as of 02/14/2012)Buy Now
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For almost two hundred years, the Brothers Grimm have transported readers into a world of magic and adventure with their enchanting fairytales.

From classics such as Cinderella and Snow White to lesser-known gems like The True Bride and Mother Holle, these timeless tales never fail to delight. Enter the wonderful world of witches and fairies, elves and giants, and princes and princesses in this collection of thirty beloved stories!

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The King Appointed a Festival

To find the prince a bride

It happened, however, that the King appointed a festival which was to last three days, and to which all the beautiful young girls in the country were invited, in order that his son might choose himself a bride.

When the two step-sisters heard that they too were to appear among the number, they were delighted, called Cinderella and said, "Comb our hair for us, brush our shoes and fasten our buckles, for we are going to the festival at the King's palace." Cinderella obeyed, but wept, because she too would have liked to go with them to the dance, and begged her step-mother to allow her to do so. "Thou go, Cinderella!" said she; "Thou art dusty and dirty and wouldst go to the festival? Thou hast no clothes and shoes, and yet wouldst dance!" As, however, Cinderella went on asking, the step-mother at last said, "I have emptied a dish of lentils into the ashes for thee, if thou hast picked them out again in two hours, thou shalt go with us."

The maiden went through the back-door into the garden, and called, "You tame pigeons, you turtle-doves, and all you birds beneath the sky, come and help me to pick

"The good into the pot,
The bad into the crop."

Then two white pigeons came in by the kitchen-window, and afterwards the turtle-doves, and at last all the birds beneath the sky, came whirring and crowding in, and alighted amongst the ashes. And the pigeons nodded with their heads and began pick, pick, pick, pick, and the rest began also pick, pick, pick, pick, and gathered all the good grains into the dish. Hardly had one hour passed before they had finished, and all flew out again. Then the girl took the dish to her step-mother, and was glad, and believed that now she would be allowed to go with them to the festival. But the step-mother said, "No, Cinderella, thou hast no clothes and thou canst not dance; thou wouldst only be laughed at."

And as Cinderella wept at this, the step-mother said, "If thou canst pick two dishes of lentils out of the ashes for me in one hour, thou shalt go with us." And she thought to herself, "That she most certainly cannot do." When the step-mother had emptied the two dishes of lentils amongst the ashes, the maiden went through the back-door into the garden and cried, You tame pigeons, you turtle-doves, and all you birds under heaven, come and help me to pick

"The good into the pot,
The bad into the crop."

Cinderella's Glass Slipper

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"The Glass Slipper was very beautiful and better than we could have ever imagined. It is a wonderful addition to my wife's collection. Thank you and I was very pleased. "

"Shiver and Quiver, Little Tree, Silver and Gold Throw Down Over Me"

Cinderella cried

Then two white pigeons came in by the kitchen-window, and afterwards the turtle-doves, and at length all the birds beneath the sky, came whirring and crowding in, and alighted amongst the ashes. And the doves nodded with their heads and began pick, pick, pick, pick, and the others began also pick, pick, pick, pick, and gathered all the good seeds into the dishes, and before half an hour was over they had already finished, and all flew out again.

Then the maiden carried the dishes to the step-mother and was delighted, and believed that she might now go with them to the festival. But the step-mother said, "All this will not help thee; thou goest not with us, for thou hast no clothes and canst not dance; we should be ashamed of thee!" On this she turned her back on Cinderella, and hurried away with her two proud daughters.
As no one was now at home, Cinderella went to her mother's grave beneath the hazel-tree, and cried,

"Shiver and quiver, little tree,
Silver and gold throw down over me."

Then the bird threw a gold and silver dress down to her, and slippers embroidered with silk and silver. She put on the dress with all speed, and went to the festival.

Her step-sisters and the step-mother however did not know her, and thought she must be a foreign princess, for she looked so beautiful in the golden dress. They never once thought of Cinderella, and believed that she was sitting at home in the dirt, picking lentils out of the ashes. The prince went to meet her, took her by the hand and danced with her. He would dance with no other maiden, and never left loose of her hand, and if any one else came to invite her, he said, "This is my partner."

She danced till it was evening, and then she wanted to go home. But the King's son said, "I will go with thee and bear thee company," for he wished to see to whom the beautiful maiden belonged. She escaped from him, however, and sprang into the pigeon-house.

The King's son waited until her father came, and then he told him that the stranger maiden had leapt into the pigeon-house. The old man thought, "Can it be Cinderella?" and they had to bring him an axe and a pickaxe that he might hew the pigeon-house to pieces, but no one was inside it. And when they got home Cinderella lay in her dirty clothes among the ashes, and a dim little oil-lamp was burning on the mantle-piece, for Cinderella had jumped quickly down from the back of the pigeon-house and had run to the little hazel-tree, and there she had taken off her beautiful clothes and laid them on the grave, and the bird had taken them away again, and then she had placed herself in the kitchen amongst the ashes in her grey gown.

Which Cinderella Fairytale Did You Grow Up With?

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Grimm's Cinderella

spirituality says:

Absolutely Grimm - we read all the Grimm stories at home (or were read). And my parents didn't take us to movies, and we were hardly allowed to watch tv (had a black and white set till way into the eighties).

chefkeem says:

I must say I had a grimm childhood. ;-) The only "Disney" we had in 50's Germany was Mickey and Goofy. (Me and my brother)

Disney's, why even ask?

bloomingrose says:

I grew up with Disney. I don't remember the mother telling her daughter to be good and pure and life would treat her right. :)

Blessed_Mommy says:

I love all the different versions. Love all Cinderella type stories.

Intuitive says:

Both, although I think I had the Disney LP which I loved.

deb_mc says:

Disney, I was a Disney fan in the cradle.

mulberry says:

I read them both but clearly I saw the Disney version at the movies.

Jimmie says:

Bippity boppity boo.. it was Disney all the way.

nightbear says:

I love Cinderella, I had several storybooks and several movie versions. Loved it.

nightbear says:

I have so many versions of it, storybook and movies.

Jewelsofawe says:

I think it was Disney's, but I am not sure

 

Cinderella (Two-Disc Special Edition)

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Download Your Favorite Cinderella Music

Check out my favorite songs! I've handpicked these MP3s from Amazon. Take a listen. If you like, you can click to buy them on Amazon.

The Festival Began Afresh

Cinderella went to the hazel-tree again

Next day when the festival began afresh, and her parents and the step-sisters had gone once more, Cinderella went to the hazel-tree and said --

"Shiver and quiver, my little tree,
Silver and gold throw down over me."

Then the bird threw down a much more beautiful dress than on the preceding day. And when Cinderella appeared at the festival in this dress, every one was astonished at her beauty. The King's son had waited until she came, and instantly took her by the hand and danced with no one but her. When others came and invited her, he said, "She is my partner." When evening came she wished to leave, and the King's son followed her and wanted to see into which house she went. But she sprang away from him, and into the garden behind the house. Therein stood a beautiful tall tree on which hung the most magnificent pears. She clambered so nimbly between the branches like a squirrel that the King's son did not know where she was gone. He waited until her father came, and said to him, "The stranger-maiden has escaped from me, and I believe she has climbed up the pear-tree." The father thought, "Can it be Cinderella?" and had an axe brought and cut the tree down, but no one was on it. And when they got into the kitchen, Cinderella lay there amongst the ashes, as usual, for she had jumped down on the other side of the tree, had taken the beautiful dress to the bird on the little hazel-tree, and put on her grey gown.
On the third day, when the parents and sisters had gone away, Cinderella went once more to her mother's grave and said to the little tree --

"Shiver and quiver, my little tree,
Silver and gold throw down over me."

And now the bird threw down to her a dress which was more splendid and magnificent than any she had yet had, and the slippers were golden. And when she went to the festival in the dress, no one knew how to speak for astonishment. The King's son danced with her only, and if any one invited her to dance, he said, "She is my partner."
When evening came, Cinderella wished to leave, and the King's son was anxious to go with her, but she escaped from him so quickly that he could not follow her. The King's son had, however, used a strategem, and had caused the whole staircase to be smeared with pitch, and there, when she ran down, had the maiden's left slipper remained sticking. The King's son picked it up, and it was small and dainty, and all golden. Next morning, he went with it to the father, and said to him, "No one shall be my wife but she whose foot this golden slipper fits." Then were the two sisters glad, for they had pretty feet. The eldest went with the shoe into her room and wanted to try it on, and her mother stood by. But she could not get her big toe into it, and the shoe was too small for her. Then her mother gave her a knife and said, "Cut the toe off; when thou art Queen thou wilt have no more need to go on foot." The maiden cut the toe off, forced the foot into the shoe, swallowed the pain, and went out to the King's son. Then he took her on his his horse as his bride and rode away with her. They were, however, obliged to pass the grave, and there, on the hazel-tree, sat the two pigeons and cried,

"Turn and peep, turn and peep,
There's blood within the shoe,
The shoe it is too small for her,
The true bride waits for you."

"Cinderella, would you not be glad to go to the ball?"
"Alas," said she. "You only jeer me; it is not for such as I to go thither."--Charles Perrault

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Cinderella Had to Be Called

The slipper fitted like a glove

Then he looked at her foot and saw how the blood was streaming from it. He turned his horse round and took the false bride home again, and said she was not the true one, and that the other sister was to put the shoe on. Then this one went into her chamber and got her toes safely into the shoe, but her heel was too large. So her mother gave her a knife and said, "Cut a bit off thy heel; when thou art Queen thou wilt have no more need to go on foot." The maiden cut a bit off her heel, forced her foot into the shoe, swallowed the pain, and went out to the King's son. He took her on his horse as his bride, and rode away with her, but when they passed by the hazel-tree, two little pigeons sat on it and cried,

"Turn and peep, turn and peep,
There's blood within the shoe
The shoe it is too small for her,
The true bride waits for you."

He looked down at her foot and saw how the blood was running out of her shoe, and how it had stained her white stocking. Then he turned his horse and took the false bride home again. "This also is not the right one," said he, "have you no other daughter?" "No," said the man, "There is still a little stunted kitchen-wench which my late wife left behind her, but she cannot possibly be the bride."

The King's son said he was to send her up to him; but the mother answered, "Oh, no, she is much too dirty, she cannot show herself!" He absolutely insisted on it, and Cinderella had to be called. She first washed her hands and face clean, and then went and bowed down before the King's son, who gave her the golden shoe. Then she seated herself on a stool, drew her foot out of the heavy wooden shoe, and put it into the slipper, which fitted like a glove. And when she rose up and the King's son looked at her face he recognized the beautiful maiden who had danced with him and cried, "That is the true bride!" The step-mother and the two sisters were terrified and became pale with rage; he, however, took Cinderella on his horse and rode away with her. As they passed by the hazel-tree, the two white doves cried --

"Turn and peep, turn and peep,
No blood is in the shoe,
The shoe is not too small for her,
The true bride rides with you,"

and when they had cried that, the two came flying down and placed themselves on Cinderella's shoulders, one on the right, the other on the left, and remained sitting there.

When the wedding with the King's son had to be celebrated, the two false sisters came and wanted to get into favour with Cinderella and share her good fortune. When the betrothed couple went to church, the elder was at the right side and the younger at the left, and the pigeons pecked out one eye of each of them. Afterwards as they came back, the elder was at the left, and the younger at the right, and then the pigeons pecked out the other eye of each. And thus, for their wickedness and falsehood, they were punished with blindness as long as they lived.

Little Adventures ADCINSM Adult Deluxe Cinderella Costume - Small / Medium

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A dress that is made for the ball. A sky blue crushed velvet bodice is adorned with a delicate silver trim accent. The sleeves and hip drapes are of a soft silver fabric that shimmers at the stroke of midnight. The skirt is a sky blue china silk overlaid with sparkly sky blue organza.

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What is Your Original Cinderella Story?

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Love story: A Cinderella story
I was beginning to feel like this was not the Cinderella story but ?Goldilocks and the Three Bears? and on top of it I was running out of time. I immediately ordered the large size, which finally arrived in the nick of time and fit me almost perfectly.
No 'Cinderella Story' repeat at AT&T
But alas, there won't be a repeat of last year's Cinderella story. "Last year DA was such a nice person. This year I think he's such a jerk," joked Murray, making sure he was loud enough that Points could hear him. " Last year he played great and this ...
Linsanity, a Cinderella story: New York Knicks can't get enough of Jeremy Lin
(Pioneer Press: Sherri LaRose-Chiglo) The hottest story in the NBA, otherwise known as "Linsanity," was on stage Saturday night at Target Center. According to the NBA schedule, the game featured the Timberwolves (13-14) against the New York Knicks ...
Vitale: Midmajor mojo could return this season's tourney
It is a possibility that New Orleans will be rocking and rolling with another Cinderella story. By Peter Casey, US Presswire Last year, Virginia Commonwealth was the ultimate Cinderella, going through a play-in game as a No. 12 seed.

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