Cinderella # 225 Vuitji-Vægt-Den-Oven (She Sweeps the Oven.1868)

Once upon a time, in Brussels, there lived a king. He had three daughters, and, one day, he decided to see who loved him best. When he posed the question, the eldest said that she loved him "as the apple of her eyes". The middle daughter declared that she loved him "as her life". But the youngest, who "was busy putting salt into her milk-porridge, said,'As salt." This angered the king so he drove her away from home. She was allowed to take only three dresses, and three pairs of shoes. She chose a dress of blue satin, one of red satin, and one of white. She walked until she was tired, then crawled into a hollow tree and fell asleep, In the morning, she saw a peasant girl. So she traded her traveling gown for the girl's rags and hid her satin gowns in the tree. Then she went to the nearest castle and begged for work. She is given a place in the scullery, and does all manner of damp and dirty work. On Sunday, she begs leave to go to church. The cook tells her that she may if only she will kneel in a corner where no one can see her.  The girl, now known as Vuitji-Vægt-Den-Oven, or She Sweeps the Oven, instead runs to her hollow tree and changes into the blue gown and slippers. She goes to church and the "son of the castle" sits next to her. When the service ends, Vuitji-Vægt-Den-Oven runs away, losing a shoe. Now the prince despairs, and takes the little blue shoe to all of the household. No one can wear it, so they allow the servants to try. When Vuitji-Vægt-Den-Oven gets her turn, it slips right on. The lady of the house says, "Well, Vuitji-Vægt-Den-Oven, you have beautiful feet." The following Sunday, all proceeds in the same manner. This time Vuitji-Vægt-Den-Oven changes into her dress of red satin, with matching gloves. And this time, when the service ends and she runs away, she drops a glove in her haste. Again the prince summons everyone in the kingdom to try on the item lost by the mysterious lady from church. Once again, it will fit no one above stairs, so it is taken down to the servants. When Vuitji-Vægt-Den-Oven takes her turn, it slips right on, and the lady of the house says, "Well, Vuitji-Vægt-Den-Oven, you have beautiful hands." The following Sunday, the girl wears a dress of pure white silk to church, and diamond rings on each of her fingers. When she tries to run away at the end of the service, the prince grabs her hand. He succeeds only in pulling off one of her rings. When he tries it on the ladies of his household, he finds that it will not fit. Of course, it does fit Vuitji-Vægt-Den-Oven. Now the prince is mystified, and wonders if she knows the strange lady who comes to church. Vuitji-Vægt-Den-Oven says that she knows where to find that lady, and runs off to her tree. There she "dresses, jumps into a carriage" and drives to the castle. Meanwhile the prince has asked his mother for permission to marry the mysterious lady from church, if only he can find her. She agrees. Just then, Vuitji-Vægt-Den-Oven arrives, dressed in her gown of silk. The prince recognizes her at once, and they are married. That's when she tells him that she is really the daughter of a King, though she has been cast out. They travel to her father's castle, and find that he is a broken man. His older daughters, distraught at the casting out of their younger sister, have deserted him. Vuitji-Vægt-Den-Oven and the prince move into his castle, and they happily for several years, until the old king dies. The prince and his bride, who no longer sweeps the oven, rule in peace for many years. 

From Cox, M. R. (1893/2011) p. 306

Notes: This seems to be a combo Catskin (with unlawful marriage, though no gown of weird design), and King Lear/Meat Love Salt. I love that she wears so many diamond rings! 

Cinderella #224 Xylomarie or Wooden Mary (Smyrna)

Earth and her moon. (photo by NASA)

Once upon a time, there lived a beautiful queen, with three daughters as lovely as herself. Alas, when they were not yet come of age, the queen took sick. Knowing that she would die soon, she called her husband, the King, to her. She made him promise that if sought a second wife, he would ask her to try on his first queen's gown. Then she "asked the king to marry no one whom the clothes will not fit", and died. The sad years passed, and, one day, the king's youngest daughter, Xylomarie, wandered into her dead mother's chamber. A notion entered her head to put on her mother's gown. It fitted her perfectly. She stepped out into the hallway just as the King was passing. When he saw the young maiden wearing his first Queen's gown, he demanded that she marry him, though he could see that it was his own daughter. The maiden, taking fright and thinking to delay the inevitable, asked for a special gown. It was to replicate "the sky with stars", she said, and must be accurate in every detail. One week later, her father presented her with a silk gown of midnight black. Embroidered upon it, in shimmering colors was the sun, stars and planets. They seemed to swirl away into the depths of the skirt, and when the girl put the dress on, she felt that she might fly into the sky. But she said that she would not marry her father until he provided her with a second dress, this one representing "the ground with flowers". Two days later the King brought a dress to his daughter. It was of browns and golds and greens, varying in texture from soft velvet to rough burlap. For so is the ground, though it be covered with flowers. The oranges and yellows, reds and blue, violets and lavenders of the blossoms seemed to burst out of the folds of the gown,and when Xylomarie had put it on, she felt as though she were going to bloom herself. But she still would not marry her father. Now she demanded a dress like "the sea with fishes". The next day her father brought her a gown that flowed and swirled, in shades of blues and greens and creamy whites. When she put it on, she felt that she might be swept out to sea in the gown, so she changed clothes again. Meanwhile, a friendly workman, at the castle to repair the drains, has been watching the amazing dresses. He now offered Xylomarie a gift of his own. It was a "wooden sheath" and it fitted her body perfectly.  So Xylomarie disguised herself in this strange dress, and taking her three magical gowns, she ran away. She trudged "from mountain to mountain" and finally found herself deep in a forest. She lay down, in her sheath, and slept. It happened that the prince of a neighboring kingdom was out hunting next morning, and captured a strange beast where it lay. The creature appeared to be half tree-half tree half animal, so the prince took it home as a curiosity. There he attempted to feed the creature horses' food. She did not eat it. Next he tried feeding it with bird's food, but she would not eat it. At length, the animal said that she would like some bread and soup. So they knew that it ate human food. Now Xylomarie passed her days banging around the palace inside her wooden sheath. While watching "the Queen cooking, she is hit with a gridiron by the Queen" who calls her Wooden Mary. The next day, "the Queen bakes, and Wooden Mary brings the faggots; the Queen hits her with the furnace besom". And the next day while the Queen is sewing, Wooden Mary manages to snarl the thread, so the Queen hits her with the bobbins. Now Xylomarie runs away to cry in the stable. There she sees the prince departing for a wedding ceremony at the neighboring castle. She quickly changes into her dress of stars and follows him. She slips into the wedding party, and the prince dances with her. When he asks her name, all she will say is,"Grillville". After a while, the prince falls asleep, and Xylomarie steals his ring.  Then she rides away. The next week, she is in the stable when she sees the prince departing for another wedding. So she changes into her dress of flowers and follows him. When she has slipped into the wedding party, the prince recognizes her as the girl in the gown of stars, and asks her to dance. But when he asks her name, all she will say is,"Besom Town".  Later, the prince falls asleep, and now she steals his "watch and chain". Then she rides away again. A week later, Xylomarie is in the stable, and she watches the prince depart for a third wedding. Now she changes into her dress of the sea, and follows him. Again she sneaks into the wedding party, and again the prince dances with her. When he asks where she has come from, all she will tell him is "Bobbin Town". When he dozes off, Xylomarie steals his watch key. Then she rides away. Now the prince is heartbroken because he has fallen in love with this strange girl, who cannot be found. He becomes weaker and weaker, and his mother, the Queen, orders the cook to bake his favorite bread. But Xylomarie dances around the cook and drives her to distraction, so the woman throws some dough at the Wooden Mary to keep her quiet. And that is when Xylomarie hides the ring, the watch and chain, and the watch key in her little loaves. She slips these into the oven and pushes cook's loaves right into the center where they will burn. Sure enough, when cook goes to take out the loaves, the only ones that are not burt black are the odd shaped loaves made by Wooden Mary. Not daring to keep the prince waiting any longer, cook sends these loaves to the prince. But Xylomarie cannot resist sneaking upstairs to watch. And sure enough, the prince eats the loaves and discovers his articles therein. When Wooden Mary is heard clattering around  on the stairs, she is brought before the prince, who commands that the wooden sheath be broken open. And that is when he sees a beautiful maiden, wearing a dress of blues and greens and cream whites, swirling with fishes from all of the seven seas. He asks if she will be his wife, and they live happily ever after. 

From Cox, M. R. (1893/2011)

Cinderella #223 Ella Bella Ballerina and Cinderella

Illustration by James Mayhew

Once upon a time, a little girl named Ella Bella "ran up the stairs of the old theater". She was so excited about taking ballet lessons with Madame Rosa. But when she got inside, she realized that she had dropped one of her ballet slippers. Madame Rosa was the kind of teacher who just shook her head and said,"Don't worry, darling. I have lots of spares." Then she opened a huge trunk, and Ella Bella saw all kinds of pretty shoes inside. While Ella Bella tried shoes on, until she found one that fit, Madame Rosa got an idea. "Let us dance to the Cinderella ballet music!" So she "opened a special music box" and a tune started playing. A tiny ballerina danced inside the box, and all of the children in the class began dancing as well. What fun they had! At last, "the music stopped and the lesson was over." All the kids went to change clothes...except Ella Bella. She just couldn't get the story of Cinderella out of her head...so she opened the box, and the music began to play again. That's when "dancing fairies in different colors surrounded Ella Bella!" One told her that she was a "fairy godmother, and these are the Fairies of the Four Seasons". Then the fairies circled around the little girl chattering. "Poor Cinderella! " said Spring. Summer said that it was sad that everyone but her got to go to the ball. Autumn pointed out that she had no carriage. And Winter sighed, "and no shoes". That's when Ella Bella had a great idea. She opened Madame Rosa's trunk and "took out a pair of silver shoes. 'Will these do?" she asked the fairies. Before she knew it, Ella Bella found herself with the fairies "in the kitchen of a grand house" where Cinderella herself cried by the hearth. When the fairies appeared and waved their wands, her clothes were transformed into a pink silk dress covered with jewels. And when Ella Bella stepped forward and gave her the sliver shoes, Cinderella was so happy. She said, "Oh, thank you! They fit perfectly!" And then "an enchanted carriage" appeared, and carried them all to the palace 'while above them the stars danced in the sky". Of course, when Cinderella walked into the ball, the prince asked her to dance. Ella Bella noticed two angry girls complaining that it wasn't fair that the prince would't dance with them. When the clock began to strike midnight, Ella Bella told Cinderella that it was time to go. They ran, and that is how Cinderella lost a shoe. When the prince found it, Ella Bella told him that she knew where the girl who had lost it lived! She took him to Cinderella's house. Of course, the bossy girls from the ball were there, and they insisted that it was their turn to try it on first. So they did, but their big feet would not go in. "All of a sudden, the matching shoe fell from Cinderella's apron pocket." She put it on, and showed the prince. And then "the fairies flew down and exclaimed,'Well done, Ella Bella! You helped Cinderella find a happy ending!" Joyfully, the prince and Cinderella danced together all evening...and then the music stopped. Ella Bella found herself "all alone on the empty stage". She blinked, and put away Madame Rosa's shoes. Then she hurried out to meet her mother. 

From Ella Bella Ballerina and Cinderella by Mayhew, J. (2009) Barron's Educational Series, Inc.

Notes: This is a sweet, easy reader. I like that the pictures show all kinds of children dancing, including boys! In my preschool class, we have dance with Ms. Juana every Friday afternoon. They do free-dance with colored scarves and the most hilarious rendition of Secret Agent that I have ever seen. Everyone tiptoes around, stage-whispering,"Shh! It's a secret!" in a deep voice, freezing when Juana pauses the music. Since I currently have 14 little boys and only 3 girls, the vignette is of small boys dancing joyfully, silky scarves swishing madly...Surely, this is good for their souls?

Montessori Connection: Fine Arts/Ballet/Prokofiev

1. Read Ella Bella Ballerina, and learn that the ballet of Cinderella is a real one.

2. Learn more about that ballet:Prokofiev - Cinderella / Sibley, Dowell, Royal Ballet 

3. Learn more about Prokofiev: Prokofiev - Music for Children, Op. 65: edited by Matthew Edwards recorded by Jeffrey Biegel Schirmer Performance Editions or Stories of the Great Composers (Book & CD) (Learning Link) or Meet the Great Composers Book 1 (Learning Link) or Sergei Prokofiev's Peter and the Wolf: With a Fully-Orchestrated and Narrated CD

Cinderella #222 Cinderella Eats Rice and Beans: A Salsa Fairy Tale

Shoes make a statement!
These shoes have the flag of Zimbabwe. 

Once upon a time, "in a land right about...THERE, there was a young girl from Puerto Rico named Cinderella." She had the opportunity to go to New York City as an exchange student to improve her English, so she took it. But she was unprepared for what she found at Pumpkin Grove Elementary school. Math she could do, and reading was no problem. And basketball? That was a game she knew how to play for sure. But what she wasn't ready for was the bad attitude of some of the kids. Especially Rosa, her house mate, and so-called step sister. That girl was the most popular one in school, and here is what she thought of Cinderella: not much. In fact, once she realized that the new girl's name was actually Cinderella, she decided to make her live up it. So she begins ordering her around. "Cinderella! Clean this up. That's the story, right? Cinderella cleans and the wicked cool stepsister lives happily ever after. The end." But luckily for Cinderella, there is someone looking out for her. Unfortunately, it's not a fairy godmother. You see, the fairy is on vacation, and her husband forgot to give her the message about girl who would need help. So, to make up for that, he decides to help himself. Yes, he became a Padrino, or fairy godfather. His first act of magic is to replace the basketball, right in the middle of a game, with a parchment. The kids read it, and learn that "Mr. Prince, the most famous basketball coach in the land is coming" to their school. He is to choose a single girl to play on the "Sooper Dooper Eastern Western Division Basketball Team." Later, back at Rosa's house, Cinderella unpacks her clothes.That's when Rosa sees the shoes she's brought. Oh, does she think they are funny looking. Rosa wants to know who gave them to her. And when Cinderella uses her Spanish-English dictionary, and tells her that they were a gift from her fairy godmother, or "hada madrina", Rosa cries foul. She wants a fairy godmother too! And she demands to know what those strange shoes can do. Now Cinderella bursts into song and ends up doing a salsa number. She sings that her shoes aren't magical, only practical, and then tells how they let her walk to her goals, one step at a time.  Now Rosa's best friend, Joey, begins to think that dorky Cinderella is kind of cool. And Rosa doesn't like this one bit. SHE is the cool one, and she NEEDS Joey to help her make sure the other kids don't like Cinderella at all. She makes Cinderella spend the whole weekend cleaning the house — and doing Rosa's homework! Cinderella wishes for the fairy to help her, and  now the Padrino despairs. He says to himself,"I was supposed to help, but instead, I put this cleaning girl with this bossy girl and ruined the story! How am I going to fix this?" Later that night, Rosa is crying to herself, wishing desperately that someone would help her win the spot on the Sooper Dooper Eastern Western Division Team. That's when the Padrino appears to her, accidentally. When Rosa complains about all the great things Cinderella can do. When Padrino isn't following, she decides to set him straight, telling the story of Cinderella. When she gets to the part about the prince and his search, she tells Padrino that now her life is kind of like that. After all, Coach Prince is coming to choose "the fairest of the mall". Padrino groans and corrects her, saying, "Fairest of THEM ALL, not THE MALL!" And Rosa says, "Oh. Anyway..." So Padrino listens patiently, then decides to provide a bit of equity. He tells Rosa that he is going to help her get ready for "the ball...game", then transforms Rosa's clothes and shoes. Instead of being the stylish t-shirt, jeans and "x109 Super Jordans with purified air-filter heels, state-of-the-art velocity rubber soles, and high-tension reaction laces" that she is used to, there is a sudden change. Her t-shirt is "not a polysaturated-polyester smooth-wearing t. Her new shorts —gasp!— "don't have a logo". How can she compete in the tournament in such uncool cltothes? That was her only advantage over the totally unfashionable clothing that poor Cinderella arrived in. But when she complains to her Padrino that having her clothes match the Puerto Rican girl's is  "so unfair", she gets a surprise. "Actually," the fairy godfather says, "this is the fairest of them all!" When the big day arrives, Rosa and Cinderella are ready to play some serious basketball. Joey is there as the star cheerleader. He works the crowd, chanting, "I say PUMPKIN, you say SQUASH! PUMPKIN (SQUASH!) PUMPKIN! (SQUASH!). Somehow the fairy godfather gently puts the real announcer out of commission, and steps to the podium instead, asking the girls to introduce themselves. Joey cheers for each one, infuriating Rosa. Padrino narrates the plays. "Cinderella has the ball and she fast handles with a wicked cool crossover". But when the game comes down to the final seconds, with Cinderella's team in the lead, Rosa decides to pull out all the stops. The action goes into slow-mo, and we watch as Rosa "stomps on Cinderella's foot (...pulling off her shoe and throwing it away") Cinderella is shocked and hurt. And mad. "BASTA!" she declares. ENOUGH! And now she goes after Rosa. That's when the fairy godfather blows his whistle and shouts, "Both these girls are OUT  of here!" Turning to the fighting girls he adds,"Not only are you disqualified, there's a detention for you (points to Cinderella) and a detention for you (points to Rosa). And that is how, to both of their dismay, they find themselves pacing the detention room together. Both are furious, and each blames the other. Then the words pour out. Cinderella tells Rosa, through tears, "I want to be friends, be like you. But you just say NO! No, Cinderella, no Spanish...no amigos...no fun!". Then she tells her that she happens to like herself, and her clothes, and that yes, she does like to eat rice and beans. And that Rosa can write that all over the whole school if she wants to, because it's true. This triggers a duet, In Your Shoes, in which the girls learn to see things from another's point of view. When detention is over, and they are reunited with Joey, they learn that HE is going to the Sooper Dooper Eastern Western Division tournament. As a cheerleader! His winning cheer goes, "Hooooooooo! Cause we're the Pumpins, the the mighty pumpkins, and we've got supmkin!" The fairy godfather flutters over them, clutching his newly arrived fairy wings! He earned them by bringing Cinderella and Rosa together after all. And they all go on to another school year. 

From: Cinderella Eats Rice and Beans: A Salsa Fairy Tale by Zacarias, K. & Wicks La Pluma, D. (2008) Dramatic Publishing

Notes: This is a very  urban, contemporary play. It is described as being appropriate for upper elementary or middle school, and I think kids of that age would have a great time watching it, or performing it, though it has a very definite New York City vibe. A good thing, but quite a different flavor than here in Northern California. 

Montessori Elementary Connection: Dramatic Literature and Geography/Culture of Puerto Rico

1. Read this play. 

2. Write for permission to perform the play: Dramatic Publishing Company, 311 Washington St., Woodstock, IL 60098. 

3. Learn more about Puerto Rico: Juan Bobo: Four Folktales from Puerto Rico (I Can Read Book 3) or How to Draw Puerto Rico's Sights and Symbols (A Kid's Guide to Drawing America) or Arroz con leche: canciones y ritmos populares de América Latina Popular Songs and Rhymes From Latin America (English and Spanish Edition) or Roberto Clemente: Pride of the Pittsburgh Pirates

Cinderella #221 Pictogram

one that we all know...

It's a familiar story...

Cinderella #221: In Pictures

In a kingdom far, far away...

She had two mean stepsisters. 

There lived a girl named Cinderella. 

One day, a magic cow said, "Pull on my horns,
and I will do all of your work for you."
So Cinderella did. Then she went to the ball, met the prince, and ran away. But he found her shoe, they got married, and lived happily ever after.

Cinderella #220 More Riddles (from the brain of: Rachel Hope Crossman)

Ha Ha Ha! We dolls think
these jokes are funny!
Dolls by Rachel Hope Crossman

Q: What did the king announce before he tossed his aluminum recycling?

Q: What did Cinderella get when she graduated scuba school?

Q:Why did Cinderella's fairy godmother give her a pass?

Q: What did Cinderella use to serve soup to the prince?

1.That he was going to throw a foil ball.

2. A pair of class flippers.

3. So she could go to the royal hall.  

4. A little brass dipper. 

Notes: This is why I have such a great time when I am swimming laps. It gives Me, Myself, and I a chance to think of new riddles. 

Montessori Elementary Connection:

1. Read the riddles above.

2. If you are still practicing your reading, ask someone to help you find a book of riddles. 

3. If you are a grownup, find a child who is practicing reading, and give them a book of riddles. 

4. Let them read to you, or to another child. 

5. Find some more funny riddles:What Do You Hear When Cows Sing?: And Other Silly Riddles (I Can Read Book 1) or The Everything Kids' Giant Book of Jokes, Riddles, and Brain Teasers (Everything Kids Series) or I Spy: A Book of Picture Riddles

Cinderella #219 Den Lille Sko (The Little Shoe) 1893

Illustration by
Diane Goode

Once upon a time, in "Praesto, Zealand" there lived a king whose queen had died. Left alone with his daughter to raise, some say the king went mad. For when she crossed the stream from child to maiden, he took the notion to marry her. Upon hearing her father's desires, his daughter "weeps thereat" and goes to seek the advice of "an old woman". This dame tells the girl that she must beg of her father "a dress of silver, a dress of gold, and a pair of matchless shoes." When the girl asks her father for a dress of silver, he tells her that he will have the dress made within a week. When a week has passed, the king presents his daughter with a dress as silvery as the moon, woven from linen and fine silver beads. Now she demands a dress of gold. He tells her that he will have this ready within a day. Sure enough, the next day, he brings a dress threaded with golden beads, shimmering like the sun. But still, his daughter will not marry him. She demands that he bring her a pair of shoes which have no match. He tells her that he will do so within one hour. It scarce seems an hour has passed when the king returns with a pair of shoes which are as beautiful as those of a princess, as soft as those of a baby, and strong as those of a soldier. Before her father can stop her, "she runs away, clad as a poor girl" in her magnificent shoes. These now appear to be wooden clogs but, magically, are as soft as walking on air. In a neighboring kingdom, "she takes a situation at the castle to help the cook". When Cook has taught her how to bake the bread and boil the soup, she leaves more and more of the cooking to the girl. One Sunday, Cook announces that she is going to church, and that the girl must remain in the kitchen and cook supper for the king. But the girl sets the bread to rise and the soup to simmer, then puts on her silver dress and goes to church. There she meets the king. Wondering where this lovely silver clad lass came from, he asks the name of her town. She replies, "Light before me, darkness behind me. None shall see whither I go!". And then vanished without a trace. The next Sunday, the cook again declares that the girl must cook for the king, and leaves her alone whilst she goes on to church. Again the girl quickly prepares the dinner, then changes clothes, this time into her dress of gold. And once again, she goes to church, once again, she sits by the king. The king demands to know where she has come from, and again she chants,"Light before me, darkness behind me, None shall see whither I go!" and disappears. For the third Sunday in a row, the girl is left alone to prepare the king's meal, while Cook goes on to church. This time, after setting her dough to rise and broth to brew, she puts on her "matchless shoes". And this time, before she can say her magical rhyme, the king tries to grab her. So she runs away, and thereby, loses a shoe. This the king takes up, and carries to each maid in his land, seeking the mate of the unusual slipper. No one knows where the shoe came from. But when the king arrives at the castle of the girl's own father, and shoes the shoe, this mans' face grows dark. He declares that the shoe belongs to his daughter, who fled dressed in rags to take work in the kingdom close by. So the king knows that the girl he seeks is in his very own castle. When he gets home, he goes straight to the kitchen where he demands to see the cook's helper. He shows her the shoe, and she raises her dress so that he can see that she has its mate. "He marries her. Her father is invited to the wedding."

From Cinderella: 345 Variants of Cinderella, Catskin and Cap O'Rushes by Cox, M.R. As told by "the Baroness Jeanina Stampe" (1893/2011) Cornell University Library Digital Collection 

Notes: This story is interesting for its lack of guile. The girl, having received the dresses and shoes she requested, makes a run for it. No faking that she's still in the tub by leaving ducks splashing, no wearing outrageous gowns made of crow's beaks or donkey skins or paper, no drama over hiding trinkets in the dough. Just an honest girl's reaction to her freak-show father (Warren Jeffs, anyone?) and a healthy pair of legs to take her to another land. The fact that her father ends up invited to the wedding is a little creepy, but just goes to show the power of having power. Much like the 450 lb. gorilla in the joke about where it sits, the answer is,"Anywhere it wants." Kings go where kings go. 

Montessori Elementary Connection: Government and Politics/An Introduction

1. Read this book and think about what made the king want to marry his daughter. Understand that many kings could do whatever they wanted. 

2. Learn more about kings in different countries: Oxford Junior History: The Middle Ages v. 2 or Oxford Junior History: Tudors and Stuarts v. 3 or Junior History of Nigeria or Just Before Dawn (Saros Junior Series) or The African Heritage: History for Junior Secondary School, Book 1 (Bk.1) or Cambridge Junior History: Ancient and Medieval Japan or 

3. Learn more about the difference between a king and a president: TIME For Kids President Obama: A Day in the Life of America's LeaderThe Story of the World, Activity Book 1: Ancient Times - From the Earliest Nomad to the Last Roman Emperor or 

Cinderella #218 Mikhail Barishikov's Favorite Version

Illustration by
Films by Jove, Inc. in association
with Soyuzmultfilm

Once upon a time, "in a faraway kingdom, there lived the daughter of a forest keeper. She was as gentle as her heart was pure." Her mother had died, and, many years later, her father remarried. This new wife was cold hearted and mean. Her own daughters, spoiled Ormella and awful Asparragella, lazed all day while Cinderella worked. There came a proclamation from the King. He "would be holding a glorious ball for his son, the prince." The noblefolk were all invited. Then Cinderella's stepmother said, "Oh, daughters! What a wonderful and grand time we shall have." But when Cinderella began to rejoice, "the stepmother demanded that she get right to work sewing new dresses for them all." The night before the great event, Asparagella and Ormella dreamed sweetly of the festivity to come. But Cinderella shivered in the dark. "As the solitary glow of the candle faded to sleep, so did Cinderella." All the next day was a rush of work for her, and, when evening came and the stepmother and daughters appeared by the door, Cinderella's father said,"Wife, isn't Cinderella joining us?" His wife said that yes, she was . Just as soon as she finished her chores. Then she ordered Cinderella to "wash the dishes, scour the pots and pans, sweep and polish all the floors, and scrub the fireplace until it is spotless. Wash all the clothes, including your father's old wretched undergarments." With that, she strode away. Dutifully, Cinderella worked until the hour was late. Then she fell asleep. A sound awakened her: the "soothing voice of her fairy godmother." The kind old granny sent the girl into the garden for a pumpkin, field mice, and lizards. These were quickly transformed into a carriage, team of horses, and footment. Then "the fairy godmother placed her own sapphire crown on Cinderella's head as she transformed her rags into a radiant gown. In no time at all, Cinderella arrived at the palace. When she entered the ballroom, she didn't join the dancers. "Accustomed to keeping house, [she] began doing so at the palace. The king was instantly taken by this kind and gentle maiden." So was the prince. Then he led her onto the dance floor. There they "entered a world that belonged only to them". But then the clock struck twelve. Cinderella ran and  the prince  ran after her. That is how she lost "one of her crystal slippers". The clock chimed on, and Cinderella's finery once more became rags. In the morning, the prince sent his messenger out to announce that "all maidens are invited to try on this crystal slipper. She whose foot fits the slipper shall become the prince's bride!" Of course, the stepmother pushed forward and begged the man to come to her house first. He did, and when the crystal slipper would not slide onto her daughters' feet, the stepmother carelessly "ordered Cinderella to help them." At the same moment that the prince's eyes lit up with recognition of the lovely girl, "the stepmother saw her error". And to general surprise, the crystal shoe fitted Cinderella perfectly. So the prince said to her, "Will you marry me?" and of course, Cinderella said that she would. They had a joyful wedding and lived happily for "many magical years".

From Mikhail Baryshnikov's Stories From My Childhood (2002) New York: Harry N. AbramsMikhail Baryshnikov's Stories From My Childhood : Beloved Fairy Tales from the Queen to CinderellaSearch Amazon.com Books for mikhail baryshnikov stories from my childhood

Notes: Giants of Art & Culture - Mikhail Baryshnikov

Montessori Connection: Fine Arts/Ballet

1. Read this story and learn that one of the most famous ballet dancers of all time watched film versions of these fairy tales  in the 1950's in the Soviet Republic of Latvia. 

2. Learn more about Mikhail Baryshnikov:Because . . .

Cinderella #217 Pussel in the Skin Dress (1893)

Illustration by Jacob Grimm, age 10.

Once upon a time, in Jutland, there lived a King and Queen. They had one child, a little girl. Alas, when the girl was still a child, her mother died. The lonely years passed, and, perhaps, something gave way in the King's mind. He took the idea into his head that he would marry his daughter, and nothing that she said would change his mind. At length, she had no recourse but to attempt to delay the wedding. She asked her father for "a dress like the flowers of the field." But the King procured this immediately, and announced that he would marry her in the morning. So the girl agreed that she would marry the King, just as soon as he obtained for her a dress "like gold and diamonds". She felt sure that it would take some time for even the King to find such a dress. But in the morning, the King summoned his daughter, and presented her with a dress that shimmered with the thousand faceted diamonds against the threads of gold.  And he announced that he would marry the girl the next morning. Now his daughter made another request. Could she have a dress "like the sun, moon, and stars"? If she had such a dress, she declared, she would obey the King. And the very next morning, the King summoned her, and gave her a dress patterned so that when she put it on and twirled, the Solar System seemed to spread out around her.  And then her father, the King, demanded that she marry him immediately.  She implored her father to wait until the morning, promising to marry him first thing the next day. So he agreed, and left her alone. While she is alone, "she sews up a skin dress for herself". By the time the King knocks on her door in the morning, she has taken all three of her splendid dresses and fled, clad in her leather gown. Traveling steadily for seven days, she arrives at the castle of a neighboring prince. She knocks on the kitchen door and begs to be taken in as scullery maid. Cook agrees, and the Pussel in the Skin Dress is allowed to sleep by the hearth at the end of each day's work. "She goes thrice to church in her magnificent dresses", each time tantalizing the prince with her mysterious presence. At last, he manages to grab one of her golden shoes as she flees. A search for the girl commences, and, at length, the servants are allowed to try on the shoe as well. Thus, the prince discovers that the Pussel in the Skin Dress is none other than the beauty from the ball. They are married, and never hear from the girl's father again. 

From Cinderella: 345 Variants of Cinderella, Catskin and Cap O' Rushes by Marian Roalfe Cox, 1893/2011. (p.232)
Notes: I have no idea what Pussel means; I thought it might be German but it isn't in the dictionary I have. The story is identified as being from Jutland. I am only slightly embarrassed to admit that I have absolutely no idea if Jutland is still even a country. Come on, all you geography snobs out there: if you can aswer that question, please do. 
Montessori Connection: Language/Multiple Meanings of Words in English
1. Read this story.
2. Notice that the girl makes herself a dress out of skin. 
3. Think about the word skin. Write down what you think it means. 
4. Consider that words can have more than one meaning. Example: The word saw means a sharp tool for cutting wood. It also is the past tense of the verb to see, as in, I saw you at the park yesterday. 
5. Learn that the word skin can mean leather. In the story The Velveteen Rabbit, there is a skin horse. 
6. Read  The Velveteen Rabbit: Or How Toys Became Real 

Cinderella #216 Oh No, This Is Not Either Grimms' Tale; HarperCollins (2005)

"I beg your pardon, Madame Editor,
but I am the author
of this particular diversion."
Charles Perrault on
Cinderilla or The Little Glass Slipper, 1697.

Once upon a time, "there was a man, a widower, who took for his wife a very proud woman." She had two daughters, as bitter and mean as herself, and the three of them tormented the gentleman's own girl. She was made to "do all the meanest work of the house...and swept, baked, and washed for the whole household." Gone was her comfortable bedroom: she was made to sleep upstairs now, in the drafty attic. It happened one day that an invitation came from the prince. He was giving a ball, and "all the people of fashion in that countryside" were invited, for he was to choose among them for his bride. So the sisters forced Cinderella to stitch and hem, press and beribbon their dresses. She worked for days to get them ready. At last, the great night came. Let alone, "Cinderella sat down among the cinders and began to cry."That's when "an old lady in a red cloak and pointed hat" appeared. She was "Cinderella's godmother, who was a fairy." She guessed what caused Cinderella's sorrow, and said to her,"Run into the garden, and fetch me the largest pumpkin you can find."So the girl did, and was soon back, "hugging a big, green and yellow pumpkin". Then the fairy "scooped out the inside of the pumpkin, leaving nothing but the rind." A touch of her stick, "which was really a fairy wand" turned it into "a fine coach, shining all over with gold and lined with green." When the fairy asked her to fetch the mousetrap, and it was opened, the six mice within were transformed into "sleek and prancing" horses. From the rattrap came a fine rat, who was magicked into a "tall and handsomely dressed coachman". Then the fairy godmother told Cinderella, "Behind the watering pot are six green lizards. Bring them here." So she did, and "each one was turned into a smart footman". But how could Cinderella attend a ball in her dirty gown? When she pointed this out, the fairy said, "You shall soon be more beautiful than your coach", and tapped her lightly. The girl's old gown and clunky wooden shoes turned into "robes of silk and velvet, glittering with jewels" and "a little pair of shining glass slippers, the prettiest that ever were seen." With a warning that the magic would all come undone at midnight, the fairy vanished, and Cinderella was off. No one knew who the mysterious beauty at the ball was, and the prince danced with her all night. But when the clocked "chimed quarter before twelve, Cinderella rose, and after curtsying to the company, left the palace and drove home in her coach." She was careful to thank her godmother, and to return the clothes. Her stepsisters found her sitting amongst the ashes, asleep, when they got home. How they teased and talked of the finery and fun of the night, and of the "beautiful princess who had been at the ball." The next night, the fairy provided her with a dress even finer, and another carriage and six. As before, the prince was captivated by Cinderella, and "in her happiness,[she] forgot how quickly the hours flew past." Though it was nearly twelve, she thought it approaching eleven. At the sound of the clock, "she started in fright and fled the ballroom as swiftly as a deer." All that the prince could find of her was a single, glass shoe. So he sent round the royal chamberlain, and a trumpeter, to call the news. Every maiden in the land must try the shoe on. Yet though the lines of young ladies stretched for miles, it seemed that none could wear the shoe. At last, the chamberlain came to Cinderella's house. Her stepsisters "pinched their toes and squeezed their heels" but could not fit the little slipper. When they were asked if any other eligible maidens lived in the house, the stepsisters replied,"Only Cinderella. Of course, the slipper would not fit her." But the chamberlain commanded that she be brought forth. When he held the shoe forth, Cinderella slipped it on quite easily. Then she "drew the other little glass slipper from her pocket", and just then, the fairy godmother appeared! The prince recognized Cinderella, in her rags, as the girl he sought. When the fairy, "with a touch of her wand, changed Cinderella's poor garments into robes, more splendid than ever." Then "the stepsisters fell at Cinderella's feet and begged her forgiveness." Cinderella forgave them, and implored them to be kind.  Then she was married to the prince. She invited her sisters to live with her, and soon "two lords of the court loved and married them, and they, as well as Cinderella, were happy."

From: Cinderella and Other Tales of the Brothers Grimm. (Ed. Simon-Kerr, J. 2005) New York: HarperFestival

Note: The bizarre thing about this book is that is states very clearly, in the title and the cover notes, that the stories here are those "told by the Brothers Grimm". But where is the dovecoat, the little white bird, the hazel branch? Where is the knife for chopping feet? The bloody stocking? This is most certainly the Charles Perrault version from 1697, NOT the Grimm version from 1812. It was Perrault who introduced the glass slippers, the pumpkin coach, the lizards, etc. In the Grimm story, Aschenpüttle, the father goes to the fair and brings back a hazel branch for Cinderella. She plants it, it grows, a bird roosts on it, and throws down whatever the girl needs. When the prince comes around with the shoe, the stepsisters cut off a toe and part of their heel to get the shoe on. At first, the prince is fooled, but the little birds sings, "Roo-coo! Roo-coo! There's blood in the shoe!" and gives them away. Personal note to the editor, Julia Simon-Kerr: Why? If you prefer the Perrault story, say so. Now, go read Aschenpüttle and get your Cinderellas straight! 

Montessori Elementary Connection: Accuracy in Research/Checking your facts

1. Read this story and compare it to that included in Charles Perrault's Complete Fairy Tales.

2. Notice that the very important, highly respectable adults in charge of publishing this book made a very stupid mistake. 

3. Think about what would happen if you turned in a research report about a famous person from history, for example, Laura Ingalls Wilder. Now imagine that you wrote about how she became the first doctor in Italy and then became one of the most famous teachers in the world. 

4. Now go do a fact check: use your library homepage to search for books on Laura Ingalls Wilder's life.Laura Ingalls Wilder: A Biography (Little House) or Laura Ingalls Wilder: A Writer's Life (South Dakota Biography) Notice that the part about the doctor and the teacher is from someone else's life, not Laura's.

5. Learn that the doctor and teacher were Maria Montessori:Maria Montessori: A biography for children or Maria Montessori: Her Life and Work

6. Learn to get your facts straight: Encyclopedia Brown, Boy Detective or Joe Sherlock, Kid Detective, Case #000001: The Haunted Toolshed or Theodore Boone: Kid Lawyer or Detective Science: 40 Crime-Solving, Case-Breaking, Crook-Catching Activities for Kids

Cinderella #215 Cinderella Bigfoot (Thaler & Lee)

Illustrated by Lee, J.

Once upon a time, "about 8:30, in the Land of Makebelieve, there lived a girl named

Cinderella."Although she had an usual appearance, she was not the most unusual person in the Land. Still, it must be said: "when she stood up, she looked like a seaplane." This was due to her extremely long feet. They were an unfortunate contrast to the dainty extremities of her "three beautiful stepsisters, Weeny, Whiny, and Moe". And they prevented her from enjoying lessons in ballet. She was hopeless at hopscotch. And her footwear bill? An enormous monthly sum. But worst of all was Cinderella's bad habit of leaving her shoes lying around. "The giant, smelly shoes would block doorways, stop traffic, and take up four parking spaces at the mall." The young lady did not make the guest list for the palace ball. When the big night came around, and her stepsisters were skipping with joy, Cinderella fumbled and fumed. She knew she couldn't go to the ball,but she had made other plans to go out. And she couldn't find one of her shoes. So her sisters cracked a few tired old jokes about Cinderella Bigfoot, and danced off to the palace. Cinderella lay down on the sofa and snapped on the TV. That's when "a cow wearing a blond wig and a pink tutu" poofed into position on top of the set. She was totally blocking Cinderella's view. "I'm Elsie, you Dairy Godmother!" said the cow, "and I'm here to send you to the ball." Cinderella told the cow that she had not been invited, but that didn't bother the little dairy fairy. She just waved her wand and made an invite shoot out of the mail slot. "I don't have a thing to wear." said Cinderella. The little cow flashed her wand again, and suddenly the girl found herself "wearing a glamorous, glittering, gown".  But still Cinderella did not feel ready to go. She told the fairy that the reason she hadn't gone out in the first place was that she could only find one shoe.  So, with a twirl of the wand, Cinderella's Dairy Godmother caused two sparkling glass sneakers to materialize on her feet. When the girl groaned, "I don't have a carriage!" the cow rolled her eyes and said, "Take the bus. One more thing: you have to be back before the stroke of midnight." And Cinderella was off. When she got to the palace, all eyes turned towards her. Everyone was pointing and saying, "Who's that funny-looking girl?" That's when "Prince Smeldred, who was quite funny looking himself" began to pay attention. He thought this new girl was a real doll. When he asked her to dance, she said, "Let's trip the lights fantastic, big boy!" and the two of them began to twirl the night away. But every other step, Cinderella smashed the prince's feet with her giant ones, and after a few minutes, it got too painful. "Maybe we'd better sit this one out." said Smeldred. They laughed and joked and chatted of this and that. Suddenly, the clock chimed for midnight. "I have to go.' shrieked Cinderella." When the prince called after her, "What is your name?" she yelled,"I'm late." Smeldred thought that was a very unusual name indeed. He tried to follow her, calling out that he needed a telephone number, or at least a mailing address, but it was too late. The great looking girl with the gigantic feet was gone. All she had left behind was "one glass sneaker, size 87 AAA, that blocked the doorway, so everyone had to leave through the back door." Determined to find his bigfooted beauty, Smeldred hauled that shoe all over the kingdom. It was so big that most girls could fit both feet, and both hands into it. Smeldred knew that they were not the girl he sought. When he finally got to Cinderella's house, Weeny climbed right into the shoe and hollered, "It fits!' 'Next!' said Smeldred." So Whiny and Moe jumped into the shoe at the same time, looking like a two headed mermaid with a very large, deformed tail. They beamed, but Smeldred was "feeling a little discouraged". That's when "Cinderella lumbered into the room" and said, "Oh! There's my other sneaker!" She put it on and started to walk away, but Smeldred grabbed her hand and said, "Will you marry me?" She thought for a moment, then said, "Only if you'll marry me." So Smeldred grabbed a doughnut from the buffet the stepmother had set up, pushed it onto Cinderella's finger, and gave her a kiss. Then "they rushed out the door to live happily ever after". So Weeny, Whiny, Moe, and their mom all grabbed doughnuts too, and sat down. "Just then, Elsie appeared on top of the refrigerator. 'The shoe must go on!" she declared, and "poured them each a glass of milk."

From Happily Ever Laughter: Cinderella Bigfoot, by Thaler, M. & Lee, J. (1997) New York: Scholastic Notes: I like the lovable cut-up of a prince, and the clumsy but lovely Cinderella. Also the three stepsisters, Weeny, Whiny, and Moe, evoke happy childhood memories of my favorite TV show, The Three Stooges. Who could forget Larry, Curly and Moe, and their adorable eye poking and head smashing? A child who watched such shows would most likely be prone to a violent career as an adult, maybe an overzealous club bouncer, or a California State prison guard. What DO I do? Oh. I'm a preschool teacher! No hitting allowed. And please don't eat the playdough.

Montessori Elementary Connection: Literature/Parody

1. Read this story, and think about how they have changed a traditional story to make it funny.

2. Find a Cinderella story that you like and change three things to make it funnier. Example: 1. The helper animal is a hippopotamus. 2. The stepsisters have names that rhyme. 3. The royal ball is a costume party, and the prince is dressed as a princess!