Module 2 Book Reviews: Fairytale Variants

The Egyptian Cinderella by Shirly Climo

1. Bibliography
Climo, Shirley. 1989. THE EGYPTIAN CINDERELLA. Ill. by Ruth Heller. New York, NY: Harper Collins. ISBN 0064432793.

2. Plot Summary
An Egyptian slave girl named Rhodopsis, meaning "rosy-cheeked," is unlike any of the servant girls. Where they are copper skinned with dark eyes, she has green eyes and pale skin, and for this they perpetually tease her. To escape the constant barbs from the servant girls, Rhodopsis befriends the animals and often dances for them. Her master happens to oversee the impressive dancer and orders for her beautiful rose-red golden slippers. The jealous servant girls refuse to let Rhodopsis join attend the court held by the Pharoah Amasis. A falcon steals and delivers one of the slippers to the Pharoah, and taking the delivery as a sign from the God Horus, Pharoah begins searching for the maiden that will become his queen. When she is identified as the maiden, the servant girls argue that Rhodopsis is not even Egyptian. Pharoah quells the dispute by comparing her eyes to the Nile, her hair to papyrus, and her skin to the lotus flower.

3. Critical Analysis
This tale is a great lesson in the Egyptian culture and will like prompt many more questions into the lives of Egyptians. The language is colorful and elegant with masterful illustrations that share the beliefs, customs, and beauty of Egypt.. Perhaps the most intriguing part of the story is the Author's Note at the conclusion of the tale explaining the origin and factual basis of the story.

4. Review Excerpts
CHILREN'S LITERATURE: "Both adults and children will enjoy this book's eloquent prose and exquisite illustrations."
SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL: "A stunning combination of fluent prose and exquisitely wrought illustrations. Climo has woven this ancient tale, a mixture of fact and myth, with clarity and eloquence. Powerful visual presentations reminiscent of the figures on Egyptian frieze paintings and carvings, colorful birds and animals that pulse with life, and information about Egyptian mythology and civilization are sublty interwoven into the traditional folktale."

5. Connections
What a great way to learn about the many cultures of our world through art and prose! Compare and contrast variants of the Cinderella stories or begin cultural research with a heartwarming story!

Hickox, Rebecca. GOLDEN SANDAL: A MIDDLE EASTERN CINDERELLA STORY. ISBN: 0823415139.
Louie, Ai-Ling (retold by). YEH-SHEN: A CINDERELLA STORY FROM CHINA. ISBN: 0399215948.
San Souci, Robert D. CENDRILLON: A CARIBBEAN CINDERELLA. ISBN: 0689848889.
San Souci, Robert D. SOOTFACE: AN OJIBWA CINDERELLA STORY. ISBN: 044041363x.
Climo, Shirley. THE KOREAN CINDERELLA. ISBN: 0064433978.