Robin Redbreast

Robin Redbreast
Birds can represent the fluttering, darting thoughts of intuition. This is why little birds helped Cinderella help herself.

Saturday, May 14, 2011

#131 Cinderella Bunny


Illustrated by Jan Lewis

Once upon a time, in a suburban ranch style home, there lived a young rabbit named Cinderella.  Unfortunately, her two stepsisters, who lived there with her, were as lazy as a Saturday afternoon.  The never did a thing, but those nasty girls made Cinderella work hard, all day long. One, "the prince's frog footman" brought an invitation to the house.  It was for the prince's grand gala. "On the evening of the ball, the selfish stepsisters washed their fur, fluffed up their tails, and put on their best dresses.   "Why can't I go?" asked Cinderella.  But they just hopped off, laughing all the way. Once she was alone, Cinderella sat down and cried. "I wish I could go to the ball!" she said outloud. That's when she heard a voice.  It was her piggy-godmother, and the kind old oinker told her, "Then you shall go, my dear. Hurry and fetch a nice big pumpkin and some mice."  When Cinderella brought these things to her, the piggy waved her wand. Suddenly, a beautiful pumpkin-colored coach, driven by mouse-colored horses, appeared! And Cinderella found herself wearing a pink dress that tied in the back with a sash.  And matching shoes, of course.  "Have a magical time! But be back by midnight." warned the fairy pig. When Cinderella got to the palace, everyone stared at her! "The prince noticed the beautiful bunny, too." Then he asked her to dance.  All evening they waltzed, and polka'd, and two-stepped. And a certain bunny-rabbit forgot the time. When the clock chimed twelve, she ran.  But she lost of her pink slippers on the stairs. When the prince came looking the next day, hoping to find the lovely bunny who had lost her shoes, he met her stepsisters.  He thought he must be in the wrong place. Then Cinderella Bunny stepped forward. "May I try on the slipper?" asked Cinderella. And the sisters laughed at her. But that little pink shoe fit the bunny's foot just fine. The Bunny Prince "gazed into Cinderella's eyes.  'Will you marry me?' he asked. " Cinderella said yes! So they got married at the palace, and had a big party. "Cinderella and her prince lived hoppily after."
From Cinderella Bunny (2000) Lewis, J. 
Notes: Despite the fact that this is a baby board book, it is interesting to note that the author, having the impulse to cast Cinderella as a rabbit, has chosen an animal that appears in some of the oldest Cinderella tales, i.e. Catskins.  But there, she usually wears a rabbit skin cloak! Note also that the rabbit is a trickster archetype, found in many culutres.  The most notorious is probably good old Br'er Rabbit. 
Montessori Connection: Zoology/Rabbits
1. Read this story to a child younger than you. 
2. Learn more about why rabbits never, no never, wear pink dresses with matching shoes. Your Rabbit: A Kid's Guide to Raising and Showing or 4-H rabbit manual
3. Unless they are traditional German Easter Hares, or characters in Beatrix Potter books!Peter Rabbit Naturally Better Classic Gift Set or A Beatrix Potter Treasury