Egyptian Cinderella

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I can't say I find either of these things particularly admirable (quite the reverse, actually), although the icing on the cake comes with the knowledge that an explicitly Afrocentric retelling of this tale (presumably including an Egyptian Rhodopis? I enjoy Heller’s work, and I’ve read many of her books (and I own quite a few) but I recently noticed that I’ve been unaware of some books by her or at least illustrated by her. Only at the end, after I’d read the book, did I find out that this is one of the oldest Cinderella stories, first recorded in the first century B. I learned that, this is one of the oldest Cinderella stories, first recorded in the first century B.

Aelian's story closely resembles the story told by Strabo, but adds that the name of the pharaoh in question was Psammetichus. Egyptian history and culture can be covered during Social Studies, geometry of pyramids (and triangles) and logistics of the Egyptian economy could be discussed during Math, Egyptian plant life and embalming of mummies can be discussed during math, and ELA will involve the ideas discussed below. BUT, I think that there are some racial overtones that I didn't pick up on as a kid and that I don't like. The illustrations are lovely, of course, but I couldn't get over the fact that they cast a Greek girl as the heroine in an Egyptian story, much as Hollywood enjoys casting American actors as the lone hero among unsympathetic foreigners.

While she was cleaning mud got on her slippers and she left them on the shore to dry after washing them.

It would also be a great story to use when learning about Egyptian tales in a social studies unit about Egypt.This story was first recorded by the Greek geographer Strabo in 64 or 63 BCE, and this tale might be the earliest ancestor of the Cinderella tale we are more familiar with today.

Therefore, I just couldn't read it without thinking about my lectures and readings on ancient Egyptian people and traditions slowly consumed by the historical forces of Alexander the Great and Greco-Roman colonization (I know, I'm really fun at parties : P). Students could also discuss whether or not the moral of the story remains the same between the two versions. Eventually Rhodopis tries on the slipper and despite pleas from Kipa and the others Amasis declares “‘She is the most Egyptian of all,’ the Pharaoh declare. Then, the girls are invited to see the Pharaoh where Rhodopis is told she has chores rather than being allowed to go.Scholastic shares that the The Egyptian Cinderella was a Notable 1989 Children’s Trade Books in Social Studies. Teachers can have student predict what will happen next, and because the story is very familiar, students will have a chance to correctly predict what will happen. The main character, Rhodopis, is stole and sold to slaves where she undergoes a lot of bullying because she looks different than the other Egyptian girls.

This book by Shirley Climo and illustrated by Ruth Heller (who is a great- and one of my fave- illustrator) is a great book telling a very similar story of Cinderella.But the biggest surprise was the author's note at the back, stating that this story has at least some basis in historical fact- the Pharaoh Amasis (Dynasty XXVI, 570-526 BCE) did indeed marry a Greek slave named Rhodopis. This is an 8 day DIFFERENTIATED TEACHING POWERPOINT complete with a success criteria for each lesson, talk tasks, learner tasks as well as accompanying resources for the book, The Egyptian Cinderella. For younger students this text can be used as a mentor text for descriptive language and sequencing events. Given that this is so, I am particularly bemused to note the accusations of racism against the book on various sites online. As you are reading this story, you can pause at major landmarks to show students these places on a map.