Two Cinderellas

Standard:

  • CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.2.9 — Compare and contrast two or more versions of the same story (e.g., Cinderella stories) by different authors or from different cultures.

Introduction:

  • Let’s read two short versions of Cinderella. One comes from a castle in Europe. The other takes place in the mountains of China. Both girls dream of kindness and courage, but their stories unfold in different ways.

Text:

Story 1 – Cinderella and the Glass Slipper (Europe)

Cinderella lived with her mean stepmother and two stepsisters who made her clean all day.
One night, a fairy godmother appeared and gave her a sparkling blue dress and glass slippers.
She went to the royal ball, danced with the prince, and felt happier than ever.
When the clock struck midnight, the magic faded—her dress turned back into rags, and she ran away, leaving one glass slipper behind.
The next day, the prince searched the kingdom. The slipper fit only Cinderella, and they lived happily ever after.

Story 2 – Yeh-Shen and the Golden Shoe (China)

Yeh-Shen lived with her unkind stepmother in a small village near the mountains.
Her only friend was a bright orange fish that glowed under the water.
When her stepmother discovered the fish, she cooked it for dinner—but Yeh-Shen saved its magic bones.
Later, the bones gave her a beautiful silk gown and tiny golden shoes so she could go to the Spring Festival.
When she ran home, one golden shoe fell off. The kind king found it, searched for the owner, and soon Yeh-Shen was found and treated with respect at last.

Step-by-Step:

  1. Read or summarize both stories aloud.

  2. Ask:

    1. What’s the same in both stories?

    2. What’s different about the helpers (fairy godmother vs. magic fish)?

    3. How do the shoes change each girl’s life?

    4. Which ending do you like best, and why?

  3. Create a short chart of similarities and differences.

Activity Idea:

  • Draw a Venn diagram or two overlapping circles.

    • Left circle: Cinderella (Europe)

    • Right circle: Yeh-Shen (China)

    • Middle: things they share in common

Tip: Every story teaches us something and comparing versions helps us see how culture and imagination shape stories we all love.

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