The world wide Cinderella story resonates for many reasons.  In countries as diverse as Canada, Ireland, Zimbabwe and India little miss dressed-in-rags gets the short end of the stick from her step mother. And in every place where her story appears, our gal gets the goods in the end! Score one for the underdog, Cinderella!

Cinderella #346 Splinters (Sylvester, K., 2010)

Cinderella #346 Splinters (Sylvester, K., 2010)

Illustration by
Kevin Sylvester

Once upon a time, in Canada, there lived a girl named Cindy Winters. She "loved hockey. Hockey made her feet tingle, her hands twitch, and her heart race." She was just plain crazy for hockey! She played it whenever, and wherever she could, which was "mostly on frozen ponds". She scored so easily and skated so swiftly that "it sometimes seemed she was magic." The one thing that she did not have was the chance to be on a real team, with "a real uniform and a real goal...not just a couple of old rubber boots." Now, Cindy could do more than just play hockey. She was a whiz at household chores, delivering groceries, and raking leaves. So, she went door to door amongst her neighbors, and sold these services. Soon, she had enough money saved up to "sign up for a real league". Her mom gave her her own old ice skates and gear, and they "headed to the rink". It was so exciting! At least, until Cindy met "the Blister Sisters. They could tell she was one good player, and were jealous." So they picked on her, and and tripped her up and and laughed at her mom's old gear. The thing was, they were the coach's daughters, so they got away with anything. Their mom, Coach Blister, soon skated over to meet the new player. She put her through her paces, then told her, "You've been making my daughters look bad. Now watch them. Maybe you'll learn something." And when Cindy protested, Coach benched her. At the first game, Cindy was so excited about getting to wear her new uniform. Which is why she was so horrified to find it vandalized: Splinters had been scrawled right over Winters. They didn't even let her onto the ice that game, and she went home glumly. It happened one day that "Cindy saw a notice on the billboard." It announced tryouts for "an all-star hockey team. Each team is allowed to send its two best players." The Head Coach, a young womany by the name of Charmaine Prince, was to choose just one player from each pair. Of course, groaned Cindy to herself, Coach Blister would send her girls. Both of them. Which left no chance at all for her to prove herself. The next morning, Cindy went downstairs to the basement to get her gear. Suddenly, it became "very, very cold. Cindy heard music, like an old pipe organ." That's when she saw the "little old woman, not more than two feet tall, hovering in the air. She was wearing a mask and old leather goalie pads. " When she told Cindy that she was her very own "fairy goaltender", and had come to help Cindy make the all-star team, all Cindy could do was ask how in the world she would ever get across town to the rink.Then, "with a graceful swing, the fairy slashed Cindy across the leg with her magic hockey stick." Yelping in pain, Cindy realized that she was now dressed in the  "most stunning white-and-gold uniform." On her feet were "a new pair of smooth white leather skates." Glass slippers were "not very practical for hockey" the fairy goaltender told her, then pointed outside. There Cindy saw "a sparkling new Zamboni". So she hopped in. The fairy told her that "the spell ends when the final buzzer sounds. You must be off the ice." Cindy said she would be, and then she was off. Try outs had already begun, and Coach Charmaine Prince was fretting. She had yet to find her star. Then Cindy skated out onto the ice, "between the pylons: backwards, forwards, crossing over both ways. She took the puck cleanly on every pass and passed the puck perfectly in every drill." Wow! Maybe this was the one! So she quickly formed up two teams from the assembled girls, and sat back to watch. The Blister twins were Cindy's opponents. Cindy "was terrific, swooping when the other players swiped, weaving in and out" and scoring! But the other team kept pace, and soon they were tied, 7-7. She was so wrapped up in the game that she completely forgot the time. And then the Blister girls "hooked her with hteir sticks". Cindy fell, and one of her skates slid right off her foot. She "stumbled, but as she fell, she lifted the puck up and into the top corner of the net. GOAL!" Everyone cheered. But Cindy knew she had to get out of there, and fast. Without even going back for her skate, she jumped into her waiting Zamboni and rode home. The following day at practice, all anyone could talk about was the search for that hot player. Coach Charmaine was visiting every team, making all of the girls try on the white skate the girl had left behind. But when Charmaine came to Coach Blister's gymnasium, that wicked woman ordered Cindy to go out shopping for "new tape and pucks for every player" on the team. And threatened her with throwing her off the team if she came back empty handed. Now the twins got ready for the big try-on. They waited until the other girls were changing out of their shoes, then "stomped on the feet of  every other player on the team." So their toes swelled up and they would never fit a dainty white ice skate. Coach Charmaine was pretty discouraged when the whole team flunked the skate test. Fortunately, just then, "Cindy walked into the room, sagging under the weight of forty rolls  of tape and three buckets of pucks." When Charmaine asked who this girl was, the "twins snorted. "Splinters? That clumsy slob? She can't even afford decent skates. There's no way she'd have one as nice as that." But of course she did! And as she slid it on, "the twins were speechless". Then Cindy pulled the other skate "out of her duffel bag and put it on." That's when "the fairy goaltender appeared", wielded her magic hockey stick, and hey presto! "Cindy's old clothes transformed into the finest hockey equipment anywhere." Oh, were the Blister Sisters mad! But Coach invited Cindy to be on her all star team, and Cindy, of course, said she'd be delighted to. As they "walked out arm in arm, Cindy and Coach Prince knew they were both going to love hockey happily ever after."

From: Sylvester, K. (2010) Splinters. Canada: Tundra Books

Notes: I love this story! Such a fiercely good girl book! Scanner down; no picture. 

Opera for Kids - Cinderella

Cinderella #282 

Cinderella #260 by Marineau, M. & Pratt, M. (2007)

Cinderella #260 by Marineau, M. & Pratt, M. (2007)

Illustration by
Pratt, M. 

Once upon a time, in Canada, "Cynthia lived with her father in a little house in a big city." Life was great, until her dad found another wife. During the ceremony, the new wife's two daughters "cried and carried on." That's when Cynthia realized that "life with these two is not going to be fun." Boy, was she right. Her lazy stepsisters soon found that they could make poor Cynthia do all of the housework while they "slept, watched TV, and slept some more". At night, tired from working all day, she "curled up in front of the fireplace, with only the cinders to keep her company." That's how her sisters got the idea to call her Cinderella. It happened one day that an announcement came from the king. It said that "he would throw a ball, and the whole family was invited." But the stepmother and her girls just laughed and said, "God heavens! How silly!" and told her to get back to work. When she was finally alone, Cynthia just sat down and cried. Then she heard a familiar voice. It said, "Stop feeling sorry for yourself this instant! You must take charge and change your own life, young lady." Now Cinderella said that she had no clothes, or jewels, or means of transportation, the fairy said that she needed some raw ingredients. She told Cinderella to get her "a nice ripe tomato, some vanilla yogurt, raisins, and...and...a dog." When these had been brought, she tapped each, once. There now appeared a bright red coach, a creamy silk gown, and "an usual chauffeur". The fairy wished her well, told her to be back by midnight, else the magic wear off, and reminded her "Smile! Without a smile, all the other stuff doesn't count." It was true: once the prince saw her, he watched her cross the room. When he smiled at her, and she smiled back, he was charmed. They spent the evening dancing together. Suddenly, the clock struck twelve. "Cinderella ran so fast that she lost her shoe." When she got home, all she could think was, "Wow!". She thought the prince was the most charming man she had ever met. Then her stepmother and sisters got home. All they could say was, "Wow!". They thought that the prince was the most charming they had ever met. It turned out that another of his personality traits was perseverance, for he undertook a thorough search for the girl who ran from the ball. So he travelled, and made people try and fit their feet into the shoe. But no one could. At last, "one morning, a delicate little foot slid gently into the shoe." When the prince saw the rest of the girl on the other end of the foot, he knew that he had found the one he sought. He asked her to marry him, and she said yes! "How could she resist those brown eyes, that noble profile, that speckled shirt?" The wedding was followed by a huge party, and "Cinderella and the prince lived happily ever after, surrounded by tomatoes, dogs, and lots of children."

From: Cinderella retold by Marineau, M., illustrated by Pratt, M. 

Cinderella #252 Cinderella: Fun with Flaps

Cinderella #252 Cinderella: Fun with Flaps

If only you could turn the flap,
and see the gowns!

Once upon  a time, there lived "a pretty girl named Cinderella". She had two stepsisters, who were so mean that "everyone called them the Ugly Sisters." They made her do all of the cooking and cleaning, and they did not have modern gas and electric appliances. (Note: here Cinderella is on her knees scrubbing while dressed in rags; turn flap to see her stand and blush as she accepts the Royal Invitation). But her stepmother said,"You're not going to the ball, Cindderella!". Then she ordered the girl to make new outfits for the Ugly Sisters. (See Ugly Stepsisters in their ugly uderwear; turn flap to see them in green and blue gowns.) The big day finally arrived, and Cinderella was kept working right up until the Ugly Sisters left. That is when "a lady appeared", saying, "I am your Fairy Godmother. Why are you crying?" When Cinderella said that she was disappointed at not being able to go to the ball, the fairy said that she could go after all! But first,  she would need "a pumpkin, six mice, a rat, and two lizards". Waving her magic wand, the fairy transformed these into a coach, six white horses, a coachman, and two footmen. Cinderella went to the ball, and danced with the prince. But "then the clock started to strike twelve! Cinderella fled." (see her flee, then turn flap to see the prince finding her shoe). In the morning, the Ugly Sisters chatted about the Prince, and how he had found the shoe of the lovely, mysterious girl who had run away from him at the ball. They schemed, saying to each other that the prince was searching each house for the right maiden. They agreed that when he came to their house, they would not let Cinderella try the shoe. One sister said,"I will put on the slipper. Then the prince will have to marry me."...

From: Cinderella with Flaps. Barron's Canada 

NOTE: This book is missing pages, which is really cruel. Let's make up the rest of the story:

When the prince arrived at the Ugly Sister's house, he saw several girls. One of them pushed to the front of the line, and pushed her foot into the shoe. It fit! Kind of. So the prince married her the next day. They had their first fight the next night, and the new bride moved back home a month later. They have since divorced. 

Cinderella #208 ...and the Lost Mice

Illustration by STUDIO IBOIX
and Michael Inman

Once upon a time, in Canada, Cinderella woke up and found a present from her prince. It was a warm winter coat. She thought he was so kind, and her mice friends, Gus and Jaq, agreed. She put on the coat and went out to find the prince, determined to thank him. Just then "the castle's cruel housekeeper entered the room". She shooed away the mice, and when they tried to hide from her, caught them in a trap! Meanwhile, Cinderella and the prince had gone out, riding their horses. As they passed the garden, Cinderella thought that the gardener looked suspiciously at them. It turned out that he had the mouse cage, and was letting Gus and Jaq free! He let them live in a stable, with hay to burrow in, and horses to keep them company. Soon, the prince found out that the mice were in the stable. He told Cinderella, and she was very happy. "Cinderelly! Cinderelly!' the mice shouted happily." A few days later, the prince held a fancy ball to honor the gardener. As for the housekeeper, she was on kitchen duty for life. With a million potatoes to peel, "she would never bother the mice again!"

From Cinderella and the Lost Mice, by E.C. Lopois, illustrated by STUDIO IBOIX and Michael Inman. Random House, New York. 

Notes: What can I say? To millions of people, Cinderella means Disney. And lots of kids like this kind of book. So, what the heck. 

Montessori Elementary Connection: Language/Vocabulary

1. Read this story and look for the following words: cruel, suspiciously, burrow, honor. 

2. Try to guess what they mean.  

3. Learn that cruel is mean, very mean. 

4. Learn that suspiciously means to think that someone is going to hurt you or trick you, so you are very, very, careful of them. Too careful. 

5. Learn that burrow means to dig down into and under something, such as when a child jumps into a big, cozy bed and snuggles down under the blanket, or an animal digs down into the earth. 

6. Learn that honor is to show a special kind of respect for someone, because they have done something wonderful or brave. 

Cinderella #176 Naya, the Inuit Cinderella

"Many people swayed in time
to the beating of the traditional drums."
Illustrations by Brookes, S.

Once upon a time, "in the far North, there lived a girl named Naya. She lived on the land with her grandfather, Ataatasiaq." Naya's parents, Aspak and Akittiq, lived close by in the litte town of Igloolik.  Her sisters, Jochebed and Atagu, scorned Naya, who liked the old fashioned ways of her grandfather. They thought she was dirty for playing outdoors with the dogs, but "in wintertime, Naya could get from her grandfather's camp to Igloolik across the sea ice by dog sled." Her sisters were stuck in town. Every year, the community held a feast, and all the people came from miles around. It was the only chance the young men and women from neighboring villages had to meet one another and they all wore the best they had. But when Grandfather Ataatasiaq asked whether she would be going, she was glum. She knew that her sisters were going to fly to the seamstress in Yellowknife, and that they would have expensive dresses made. She and her grandfather had nothing but what came from the land. Now Ataatasiaq said, "You had better start work on your amauti as soon as possible. I will go in the morning to hunt the caribou so you will have hides to sew." So Naya knew that her grandfather would help her look beautiful, and she made preparations to scrape and stretch the hides he would bring back. Early that morning, he left, and Naya spent the day sorting her beads and planning the designs she would stitch onto the hide. That was the part that took many, many hours. Beadwork "required much time and patience" and fortunately, Naya's beloved grandmother had taught her this before she died. It took Naya many days to work her designs; meanwhile her sisters laughed and gossiped at the dressmakers with the other girls. They all agreed that Naya was hopelessly old fashioned, and spent too much time with dogs. The Community Feast drew near, and Naya worked every day. Her dress was nearly finished. It happened one day that Grandfather Ataatasiaq came to her igloo and told her that "his hunting partner had become very ill and could not hunt."  Because Ataatasiaq had promised to bring meat to the feast, he was honor bound to do so. But how could he hunt with no partner? Although Naya knew that if she herself hunted with Ataatasiaq, they could bring enough seal and caribou meat for everyone. But then she would not have time enough to finish the beading on her amauti, and to wear it unfinished was not to be thought of. Nevertheless, she spoke. "Grandfather, I'll come with you. Together, we'll hunt for the meat." And this they did, for many days. At last, they had enough, and they headed for home. They got there the very day of the feast. While Grandfather delivered the meat to Igloolik, Naya stitched frantically on her gown. But she could not finish it in time. "She felt very sad; however, she decided to put on her unfinished amauti and wear it with great pride", at least as far as outside in the snow, beneath the starry sky. As the feast began over in town, Naya dressed and stepped outside. That's when she saw "the northern lights dancing in the sky".  As she watched the kaleidoscope of "colours dancing in the dark of the evening" something happened. She felt "the colours come closer and closer and and [they] began to swirl around her body, then, just as quickly, they faded." To her utter amazement, Naya found that when she looked down at her dress, the beadwork was complete! "Could it be her grandmother watching over her?" Just then, "a team of seven white sled dogs appeared, all harnessed in gold and pulling a golden komatik." Naya jumped in, and they were off, dogs and sled skimming across the ice. When Naya got to the Community Hall she entered, feeling "beautiful and proud". Now she saw her haughty sisters in their fancy clothes.  But they did not recognize the beautiful girl in the hand made amauti, and everyone "was swaying in time to the beating of traditional drums". As Naya stood watching, "her eyes met with those of the most handsome hunter she had ever seen. In an instant they were dancing together to the Inuit drums. Suddenly, Naya remembered that she had not told her grandfather that she was coming to the feast, after all. He would be frantic with worry. "Without even saying goodbye, she rushed out of the feast. As she pushed her way through the door, her amauti snagged on a sharp hook of caribou antler and a piece was torn from it." Naya did not pause, and ran for her dog sled. In a breath she was home again, and not a minute after she had "stepped off the sled, than suddenly, her light-filled amauti shattered into a million pieces." The seven dogs, and the komatik vanished. Meanwhile, the hunter was baffled. Why had the beautiful girl run away? Had he imagined the intricate beadwork on her gown? But no, he couldn't have, for he had found the small scrap stuck on the horn. Carefully, he carried the bit of soft hide around, showing it to everyone at the feast, asking who the girl who did this work might possibly be. But no one knew. At last, "one of the elders was shown the piece, and recognized the stitching as that of Naya." Now the hunter knew that he sought a girl who lived out on the land, on the ice with her grandfather. He soon found the path to her igloo, and before long, he was greeted by Ataatasiaq. Did the old man have a granddaughter by the name of Naya, asked the hunter? And before Ataatasiaq could answer, the girl appeared, and in one glance, they knew what would happen next. So the hunter asked permission to marry Naya, and Ataatasiaq gave it, and "they were soon married and lived a traditional life on the land, happily ever after. 

From Naya, the Inuit Cinderella. (1999)  Canada: Raven Rock Publishing. 

Notes: Though published in 1999, this book was, apparently, written by Marceau-Chenkie at the age of 10. It is drawn from her experiences on the ice with her grandfather. 

Montessori Connection: Geography/Astronomy/Northern Lights

1. Read this story, and think about the 10 year old girl who wrote it. 

2. Learn about American Indians in Canada:The Canadian Inuit Dog: Canada's Heritage (2nd Edition) or Make Your Own Inuksuk (Wow Canada! Collection) or The Polar Bear's Gift (Northern Lights Books for Children)

3. Learn about the northern lights: Northern Lights: The Science, Myth, and Wonder of Aurora Borealis or Aurora: A Tale of the Northern Lights

#112 The Indian Cinderella (1974)

As punishment for their lies and cruelty,
Strong Wind turned the sisters into two aspen trees. 

Once upon a time, in Canada, "on the shores of a wide bay on the Pacific Coast, there dwelt in old times a great Indian warrior." This warrior had the power to make himself invisible, and his people called him Strong Wind. They said that he had gotten his powers from Glooskap, "their great lord and creator."  These people called themselves the Children of the Light, "for of all the people in America, they dwelt nearest to the sun-rise." Strong Wind was kind as well as wise, and every Indian maiden dreamed of life beside him.  "It was known that Strong Wind would marry the first girl that could see him.  Many made the trial, but it was a long time before anyone succeeded." He sought a partner both wise and beautiful of spirit.  Only his sister could see him at all hours; no other had spied him when he was hiding in plain sight.  He had a way of putting young women to the test.  Each who wanted to interview him must first walk by the lake's shores with his sister.  Strong Wind, cloaking himself in the air, would pull his sledge along behind him, crossing right in front of the women.  Then his sister asked, "Do you see him?" and the girls always answered that they did.  Now she asked,"With what does he draw his sled?" and they answered by naming the ways all men drew their sleds: "With the hide of a moose." said one; "With a pole." said the next. And Strong Wind and his sister knew then that the girls could not see him, though they claimed that they could. In this same village there also lived "a chief who had three daughters.  Their mother had long been dead.  One of these was much younger than the others. She was very beautiful and gentle and well beloved by all, and for that reason her older sisters were jealous of her charms and treated her very cruelly."  Those girls gave her only their own worn out rags to wear, and they cut off her long shining hair.  Worst of all, "they burned her face with coals from the fire, that she might be scarred and disfigured."  When their father asked why his youngest was in such a state, they told him that the girl was stupid and clumsy, always doing injury to herself. Soon, every young woman in the village had gone to try for Strong Wind except this chief's family.  The two elder girls now groomed themselves carefully, and went to walk by the lake's shores.  "Soon, he came home from his day's work, drawing his sled.  And his sister asked as usual, 'Do you see him?' And each one, lying, answered,'Yes.' And she asked,'Of what is his shoulder strap made?' And each, guessing, said, 'Of rawhide."  They were invited into the tent, and hoped to be able to see the great man eat his dinner.  But all that they could make out were his shoes and coat moving about before them.  "And Strong Wind knew that they had lied" and they went home, ashamed.  This gave their younger sister hope.  The next day, she decided to try her luck.  She bathed carefully, and "patched her clothes with bits of birch bark, from the trees, and put on the few little ornaments she possessed, and went forth to try to see the Invisible One as all the other girls of the village had done before." Her sisters, of course, mocked her efforts, and laughed spitefully as she tried to comb her burnt off hair.  As the girl crossed the village, all of the girls and boys jeered at her, with her scarred face and her singed hair, and her dress that was patched with birch bark.  But the girl kept on, and soon, she was walking along the shores of the lake. "Strong Wind's sister received the girl kindly and said, 'Do you see him?' and the girl answered,'No.' and his sister wondered greatly, because she spoke the truth." Now Strong Wind took off his cloak of wind, and his sister asked the little ragged girl, "Do you see him now?' And the girl answered,'Yes, and he is very wonderful'  And she asked, 'With what does he draw his sled?' And the girl answered,'With the rainbow' and she was much afraid.  And she asked further,'Of what is his bowstring?' And the girl answered,'His bowstring is the Milky Way." And that is how Strong Wind and his sister knew that this girl was honest and wise.  So the sister led the poor thing back to their tent, and "bathed her, and all the scars disappeared from her face and body; and her hair grew long and black again like the raven's wing; and she gave her fine clothes to wear and many rich ornaments."  The girl was seated by the door, and when Strong Wind came in, he acknowledged her as his bride.  The very next day, they were married.  Now the girl was happy, as well as beautiful and honest, and she delighted in helping her husband and the two of them did many kind, brave deeds together.  But her older sisters grew angrier at her success, and burned with jealousy at her new status. "Strong Wiind, who knew of their cruelty, resolved to punish them."  The next time he saw them, whispering and shaking their heads at his wife, their younger sister, he summoned his powers over nature.  And where the bickering, scheming maidens had been, there were now two aspen trees. "And since that day, the leaves of the aspen have always trembled, and they shiver in fear at the approach of Strong Wind, it matters not how softly he comes, for they are still mindful of his great power and anger because of their lies and their cruelty to their sister long ago."

From Canadian Wonder Tales, (1974). Collected from oral sources by: MacMillan, C., illustrated by Cleaver, E. p.76 Canadian Wonder Tales 1st Edition

Notes: This is clearly another version of Soot Face Girl, the Ojibwa tale; this time it comes from the Canadian side of the lake.  The notes in the preface of this book describe how the stories were collected nearly one hundred years ago, and republished in Canada in 1974.  Some of them, the author admits, seem to be Europeanized a bit, but such is the nature of folk tales.  They take on new elements, as added by the "folks". 

Montessori Connection: Fundamental Needs of People/Religion/Glooskap

1. Read this story and see if you can pinpoint the location.

2. Try and identify the tribe.

3. Learn about the spiritual beliefs and daily life of American Indians:My Life in Recording: Canadian-Indian Folklore

or How Glooskap Outwits the Ice Giants: And Other Tales of the Maritime Indians or Glooskap's children; encounters with the Penobscot Indians of Maine or Glooskap's Country and Other Indian Tales

or Indian days in the Canadian Rockies, 

Cinderella # 77 Pop-Up Cinderella (2003)

"The prince fell instantly in love with Cinderella."

Once upon a time, in Canada, there lived a pretty girl called Cinderella. She was treated like a servant by her stepmother and her two stepsisters.  One day, the Queen and the King decided to have a party for their son, the prince.  They hoped that he could choose a wife from the girls who came.  Cinderella’s stepsisters made her spend lots of time combing their hair.  She wanted to go to the ball too, but they would not let her They laughed right at her when she asked to go along.  Alone at home, Cinderella was surprised when a “white fairy” appeared before her. The fairy told her to go find “a pumpkin, a rat, and two white mice.”  The fairy godmother waved her wand and caused the pumpkin to become a coach, the mice to become horses, and the rat to turn right into a coachman.  Then it was time for Cinderella’s clothes to change.  Her rags became a lovely gown and her wooden shoes turned into “delicate glass slippers”.  When she got to the ball, everyone looked at her in surprise! Who was she? The prince fell in  love with the girl. When Cinderella ran away at midnight, she lost one of her shoes. It slipped right off. She ran, but soon she “was back in her tattered dress”.  She hurried to get home.  In the morning, the prince came to all the houses, looking for the girl who could wear that glass slipper. The stepsisters could not wear it! Their feet were much too big. Then Cinderella asked if she could have a turn.  Her sisters laughed a lot! But the prince looked into Cinderella’s eyes and gave her a chance.  The slipper fit “perfectly on her delicate foot.”  They had a huge celebration for the wedding, and everyone was invited.  Cinderella even invited her stepmother and sisters. 

THE END

From Cinderella: Pop-Up Book Canada: Creative Publishing

Notes: The pop-ups really work nicely in this book! Children 8 and younger will have lots of fun with this, and those 6 and younger will appreciate the very few words to read! Sometimes children feel intimidated by a book with a lot of pages.

Montessori Connection Ages 6-9: Grace and Courtesy/Make a Pop-Up Thank You Card

1. Read the story, and look closely at the illustrations. 

2. Think about a person that you would like to make a card for, maybe to thank them for something nice that they did to you.

3. Gather supplies: colored paper, scissors, tape, pencil and eraser, markers to color with.

4. Make the outside of your card: a. choose your color. b. fold the paper to make a neat rectangle or square. c. write a message on the outside of the card, lightly, with pencil. d. get it checked for spelling. e. write over it with a pretty color. 

5. Make the pop-up part: a.  Decide what shape you want to pop up. Example: heart, shoe, smiley-face. It needs to be size medium or large, NOT tiny! b. draw the shape on paper, cut it out, and color it in.

c. cut two strips of paper in different colors. Each should be about 1/4 inch wide by about 12 inches long. d. holding the strips together, fold one over the first, then the second one over the first, taking turns so that when you are done, you have a tiny accordion of paper. e. tape one end of the accordion securely to the inside of your card. f. tape the other end securely to your shape. g. close the card and put it in an envelope. h. when the person opens it, the shape you made will pop-up !