The Egyptian Cinderella

The Egyptian Cinderella

By Shirley Climo

Grade 3

INTERNATIONAL LITERATURE

This book is an amazing book with great history behind the story. This is definitely not the classic Cinderella but a very different Cinderella that represents how in Egypt Cinderella would be portrayed. At the beginning of the story it gives the background of Rhodopis. She was taken from her home in Greece and sold as a slave into Egypt. She actually got very lucky because her master was actually very nice to her and gave her sweet gifts. She dealt with some issues though. The female servants who are higher than slaves were mean to to her and teased her about her blond hair, green eyes, and pale skin that burned in the sun. What was interesting is she made friends with the local animals and began dancing and singing with them after she completed her work for the day. She got lucky one night when her master happened to wake up and saw her dancing. After seeing this he decided to order her a pair of "dainty slippers" made specifically for Rhodopis. The servants got very jealous because they still had old crummy sandals to wear. To be spiteful the servants gave her more chores and told her they were going to visit the Pharaoh but she wasn't going to be able to go because she has too many chores to do. She continued her chores after they left and then the hippopotamus jumped into the river and got mud on her slippers. After she cleaned her shoes a falcon suddenly appeared to her and took one of her slippers. The falcon took the slipper and dropped it into Amasis' lap, the Pharaoh. He took this as a sign from the god Horus that the person who fit into the shoe would be his queen. The Pharaoh went out on his journey to find who fit into it. The servant girls tried to force their way into the shoe and failed and then he found Rhodopis and slipped the shoe on and it fit!!! He claimed that she was the most Egyptian of them all with her blond hair, green eyes, and pail skin. He knew this was the one he was supposed to be with. I loved this reading and would actually have the students do a little research on Egypt in the past and have the students locate some characteristics in the book that are characteristics of Egypt. I think this is great to help incorporate both history and reading together in one. I would also have the students compare and contrast them with other Cinderella stories.