Li's Picks!

Lis’ book pics

Kids July - Imagine Your Story This Summer…. A Cinderella Tale in Many Cultures!

Did you know that stories of Cinderella appear in many cultures all over the world? In fact, there are hundreds of them! Since the Blossburg Memorial Library’s summer program theme is, “Imagine Your Story,” it is a good time for children and families to explore some diverse yet familiar tales in new settings, with unique twists and cultural values. Make note of similarities and differences between the stories and notice the cultural references. Help broaden your child’s view of the world and enjoy reading these! Note that our library has all of those listed below!

1. The Orphan: A Cinderella Story from Greece, by Anthony Manna and  Christodoula Mitakidou. Inspired by two Greek versions of the story, our heroine is a strong and determined character.

1. Sootface An Ojibwa Cinderella Story Retold by Robert D. San Souci. Only a woman with a kind and honest heart can see the invisible warrior looking for a wife.

1. The Persian Cinderella by Shirley Climo. A magical happy ever after set in a very traditional Persia. Great illustrations!

1. Angkat: The Cambodian Cinderella by Jewell Reinhart Coburn. English retelling of an ancient Cambodian tale within a Buddhist culture.

1. Mufaro’s Beautiful Daughters: An African Tale by John Steptoe. The rich cultural imagery of Africa earned this book a Coretta Scott King award. Also a Caldecott honor!

1. The Egyptian Cinderella by Shirley Climo. Cinderella (Rhodopis) and Egyptian culture! So much to like!

1. Anklet for a Princess: A Cinderella Story from India by Lila Mehta. A Godfather snake and some magic add to the charm of learning about traditions of India.

1. Cendrillon: A Caribbean Cinderella Robert D. San Souci. A Caldecott Honor author and illustrator team brings us a tale told from the perspective of the magical godmother.

1. Abadeha: The Philippine Cinderella by Myrna J. de la Paz. This version demonstrates a deep respect for nature and the earth, set in the islands of the Philippines. 

1. Domitila: A Cinderella Tale from the Mexican Tradition by Jewell Reinhart Coburn. Lovely illustrations which show beautiful landscapes and textiles and a glossary of Spanish words to English, make this a fun read.

1. Yeh-Shen: A Cinderella Story from China by Ai-Ling Louie. One of the oldest versions of Cinderella, this story is short and features a magical fish and some interesting graphics. 

1. Little Gold Star: A Spanish American Cinderella Tale by Robert D. Sam Souci. The magic of Cinderella combined with traditional elements from Spanish tales.