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The Egyptian Cinderella
Poor Rhodopis! She has nothing—no mother or father, and no friends. She is a slave, from the far-off country of Greece. Only the beautiful rose-red slippers her master gives her can make Rhodopis smile. So when a falcon swoops down and snatches one of the slippers away, Rhodopis is heartbroken. For how is she to know that the slipper will land in the lap of the great Pharaoh himself? And who would ever guess that the Pharaoh has promised to find the slipper's owner and make her queen of all Egypt?
32 pages, Paperback
First published September 15, 1989
26 people are currently reading
1549 people want to read
About the author
Shirley Climo
25 books36 followersShirley Climo was born in Cleveland, Ohio in 1928. She attended DePauw University until her mother died unexpectedly in 1949. She dropped out of college and took up her mother's work writing scripts for the weekly WGAR-Radio children's program Fairytale Theatre. During her lifetime, she wrote 24 books including The Korean Cinderella; Magic and Mischief: Tales from Cornwall; A Treasury of Princesses: Princess Tales from Around the World; A Treasury of Mermaids: Mermaid Tales from Around the World; and Someone Saw a Spider: Spider Facts and Folktales. She died on August 25, 2012 at the age of 83.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 292 reviews
August 23, 2020
The story of Rhodopis - a young Greek girl captured by pirates and sold into slavery in Egypt, only to go on to become Pharaoh Amasis' queen - is the earliest known example of the "Cinderella," or persecuted-heroine-type tale (type #510A in the Aarne-Thompson Folklore Classification system), having first been recorded in the work of the Greek geographer Strabo some time in the late first century BC, or early first century AD. Another retelling can be found in the work of Roman author Aelian (ca. 175–235 AD). The fairy-tale itself is (of course) fictional, although the story is based upon the life of an actual historical figure.
In addition to offering an interesting counterpart to the more well-known (and more contemporary) French version, which has given its name to the tale-type - like Cinderella, this story too includes a lost slipper, used by the pharaoh to find his ideal mate, as well as some magical intervention on the part of the god Horus and his falcon (as opposed to a fairy god-mother) - The Egyptian Cinderella also provides a fascinating snapshot of the world of classical antiquity, and highlights some of the differences between that world and our own. To wit: it demonstrates how the institution of slavery, in the ancient world, was far different from its modern counterpart; and points to the relatively recent origin of our own concerns with, and ideas of, race.
The idea that some peoples were innately more fit for servitude and enslavement goes back, not to the ancient world, but to the beginnings of the trans-Atlantic slave-trade - it was a philosophy dreamt up to justify that most unjustifiable and barbaric of practices. In the world of the ancient Mediterranean, by contrast, slavery was largely situational - one could become a slave through defeat in warfare, through capture by pirates, and (in some cultures) through debt - and was not necessarily a permanent, multi-generational condition. In the ancient world, a slave could and did marry the Pharaoh. In the same vein, while prejudice was just as present amongst the ancients, as amongst ourselves - witness the way in which Rhodopis is ridiculed by the Egyptian servant-girls with whom she works, simply because her appearance is different from their own - it did not have the same directed quality as our own prejudice, as it did not draw from the same kind of specifically racial animus.
I would imagine that these and other differences would make The Egyptian Cinderella - in addition to being an entertaining tale - an excellent book for study with younger readers, affording thoughtful teachers an excellent vehicle for exploring the world of antiquity, and contrasting it to our own. Given that this is so, I am particularly bemused to note the accusations of racism against the book on various sites online. Some reviewers, appearing not to have read the book at all, wonder why an "Egyptian" Cinderella would be light-skinned and green-eyed (perhaps because she isn't Egyptian...?); while others object to the idea that the villains of the piece (such as they are) are darker-skinned than the heroine.
These negative reviews tend to point out two rather disturbing realities: first, that there is a great deal of ignorance about the ancient world abroad in our culture; and second, that it is apparently taboo to depict a darker-skinned person as a villain, even if this may reflect reality. 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?), was published a number of years after Climo's telling. I can only assume that the author of The Egyptian Cinderella and Other Egyptian Tales does not see the absurdity of taking a tale in which the heroine's outsider status is central to any understanding of meaning, and making her an "insider" instead. It's as if a group of far-right, modern-day Israelis, believing that the Moabites were the ancestors of their present-day enemies, the Arabs, decided "To hell with the Book of Ruth! We don't want a Moabitess in our sacred stories - we'll make her an Israelite instead!" It would be laughable, if it weren't so sad.
Leaving aside these issues of identity politics, and the racism of extreme (read: essentialist) Afrocentrism, The Egyptian Cinderella is just an engaging story, one I would recommend to readers interested in the Cinderella tale-type specifically, to general fairy-tale fans, and to anyone - teachers, librarians, parents - interested in sparking a truly thoughtful discussion of the ancient world with the children in their care.
In addition to offering an interesting counterpart to the more well-known (and more contemporary) French version, which has given its name to the tale-type - like Cinderella, this story too includes a lost slipper, used by the pharaoh to find his ideal mate, as well as some magical intervention on the part of the god Horus and his falcon (as opposed to a fairy god-mother) - The Egyptian Cinderella also provides a fascinating snapshot of the world of classical antiquity, and highlights some of the differences between that world and our own. To wit: it demonstrates how the institution of slavery, in the ancient world, was far different from its modern counterpart; and points to the relatively recent origin of our own concerns with, and ideas of, race.
The idea that some peoples were innately more fit for servitude and enslavement goes back, not to the ancient world, but to the beginnings of the trans-Atlantic slave-trade - it was a philosophy dreamt up to justify that most unjustifiable and barbaric of practices. In the world of the ancient Mediterranean, by contrast, slavery was largely situational - one could become a slave through defeat in warfare, through capture by pirates, and (in some cultures) through debt - and was not necessarily a permanent, multi-generational condition. In the ancient world, a slave could and did marry the Pharaoh. In the same vein, while prejudice was just as present amongst the ancients, as amongst ourselves - witness the way in which Rhodopis is ridiculed by the Egyptian servant-girls with whom she works, simply because her appearance is different from their own - it did not have the same directed quality as our own prejudice, as it did not draw from the same kind of specifically racial animus.
I would imagine that these and other differences would make The Egyptian Cinderella - in addition to being an entertaining tale - an excellent book for study with younger readers, affording thoughtful teachers an excellent vehicle for exploring the world of antiquity, and contrasting it to our own. Given that this is so, I am particularly bemused to note the accusations of racism against the book on various sites online. Some reviewers, appearing not to have read the book at all, wonder why an "Egyptian" Cinderella would be light-skinned and green-eyed (perhaps because she isn't Egyptian...?); while others object to the idea that the villains of the piece (such as they are) are darker-skinned than the heroine.
These negative reviews tend to point out two rather disturbing realities: first, that there is a great deal of ignorance about the ancient world abroad in our culture; and second, that it is apparently taboo to depict a darker-skinned person as a villain, even if this may reflect reality. 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?), was published a number of years after Climo's telling. I can only assume that the author of The Egyptian Cinderella and Other Egyptian Tales does not see the absurdity of taking a tale in which the heroine's outsider status is central to any understanding of meaning, and making her an "insider" instead. It's as if a group of far-right, modern-day Israelis, believing that the Moabites were the ancestors of their present-day enemies, the Arabs, decided "To hell with the Book of Ruth! We don't want a Moabitess in our sacred stories - we'll make her an Israelite instead!" It would be laughable, if it weren't so sad.
Leaving aside these issues of identity politics, and the racism of extreme (read: essentialist) Afrocentrism, The Egyptian Cinderella is just an engaging story, one I would recommend to readers interested in the Cinderella tale-type specifically, to general fairy-tale fans, and to anyone - teachers, librarians, parents - interested in sparking a truly thoughtful discussion of the ancient world with the children in their care.
August 6, 2019
Shirley Climo's retellings and Ruth Heller's illustrations make this and other cultural Cinderella stories classics unto themselves!
December 31, 2010
Well, I have 4 more picture books to read in 2010, two illustrated by Ruth Heller and two both written & illustrated by her. I’m glad that I’m reading this book and The Korean Cinderella in succession; it will be interesting to compare them. Both are written by Shirley Climo.
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.
While I read this book because of the illustrator, I wasn’t wild about the illustrations. I liked them but not enough to have sought them out.
I wish the author’s note had been at the beginning of the story and not at the end. 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.C. by the Roman historian Strabo. The background about the story was as interesting to me as the actual story. The information is fascinating.
In this story, the slave master is portrayed as basically good and it’s Rhodopis’s (Cinderella’s) three fellow female slaves who have the roles normally played by the three step-sisters.
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.
While I read this book because of the illustrator, I wasn’t wild about the illustrations. I liked them but not enough to have sought them out.
I wish the author’s note had been at the beginning of the story and not at the end. 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.C. by the Roman historian Strabo. The background about the story was as interesting to me as the actual story. The information is fascinating.
In this story, the slave master is portrayed as basically good and it’s Rhodopis’s (Cinderella’s) three fellow female slaves who have the roles normally played by the three step-sisters.
January 14, 2023
Preface
The Egyptian Cinderella’s name was Rhodopis. This take is one of the earliest variations of the story, first recorded by Strabo, a Greek historian in the first century BC.
4 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Highly enjoyable.
The Egyptian Cinderella’s name was Rhodopis. This take is one of the earliest variations of the story, first recorded by Strabo, a Greek historian in the first century BC.
4 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Highly enjoyable.
April 8, 2017
Reading multicultural books in your classroom is an excellent way for teachers to introduce students to the perspectives of people from cultures all around the world, and teaches them about people beyond the walls of their American classroom. The story called, Egyptian Cinderella, by Shirley Climo, tells one of the oldest known versions of the Cinderella story from an Egyptian perspective. This story was a WOW book for me because it opened my eyes to a new version of one of my favorite stories. With Disney movies being incredibly popular among American children, most people (myself included) don’t know that some of the most classic fairy tales have been based off of folktales from other countries. After reading this version of Cinderella, I was intrigued to find out more about where it came from. I learned that this story was passed down throughout the first century B.C., and it is based on a real slave girl named Rhodopis (Source: http://misskelly.org/cinderella/egypt... ).
In this version of the story, the message is still the same, but it has so many different setting details that it almost seems like a new story. Readers will notice that Cinderella is still a poor servant girl who is made fun of by other girls in the house, but since it takes place during the time of slaves in Egypt, Cinderella is actually a slave herself, and her “evil Stepmother” is actually a male slave master. As the story goes on, I noticed that another main difference is that there is no “fairy godmother” to help Cinderella. Instead, Cinderella’s course is altered by various Egyptian gods. Additionally, characters in this story utilize reed boats on the Nile river to get around, rather than horse-drawn carriages.
As I read this story, I thought of several different ways that I could use it to teach various lessons in my classroom one day. One thing I noticed while reading is that it incorporates the geography of Egypt into it (ex: The Nile river and the Mediterranean Sea). As you are reading this story, you can pause at major landmarks to show students these places on a map.
Since this version of Cinderella is told from an Egyptian perspective, teachers could use that as an opportunity to create an interdisciplinary unit on Egypt. 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.
If teachers don't have time to create lessons for each school subject, they could at least incorporate this story into an ELA unit on comparing and contrasting stories. This lesson could begin with the teacher reading the classic Disney version of Cinderella to students. Then, this Egyptian version can be read to them, and students can compare and contrast the two, and discuss how the story changes when it takes place somewhere else. Students could also discuss whether or not the moral of the story remains the same between the two versions. To extend this lesson, students could read yet another version of Cinderella. There are at least 10 other versions (including Korean, Native American, and Italian) of Cinderella, each from different countries, so students could get into groups of 3-4, according to which version they want to choose, and then create a summary and analysis of the version they got. Each group can then present their summaries and findings to the whole class. I think that students will find it fascinating that one story can so different when different cultural elements are added.
If nothing else, teachers should at least read this story with the intention of discussing the difference between a folktale and realistic fiction. While both types of stories are fictional and did not happen in real life, realistic fiction has elements that could be true, while folktales usually contain magical elements, or people that have magical powers. Additionally, folktales have usually been passed down through generations of a common people, while realistic fiction is created by one person's ideas.
In this version of the story, the message is still the same, but it has so many different setting details that it almost seems like a new story. Readers will notice that Cinderella is still a poor servant girl who is made fun of by other girls in the house, but since it takes place during the time of slaves in Egypt, Cinderella is actually a slave herself, and her “evil Stepmother” is actually a male slave master. As the story goes on, I noticed that another main difference is that there is no “fairy godmother” to help Cinderella. Instead, Cinderella’s course is altered by various Egyptian gods. Additionally, characters in this story utilize reed boats on the Nile river to get around, rather than horse-drawn carriages.
As I read this story, I thought of several different ways that I could use it to teach various lessons in my classroom one day. One thing I noticed while reading is that it incorporates the geography of Egypt into it (ex: The Nile river and the Mediterranean Sea). As you are reading this story, you can pause at major landmarks to show students these places on a map.
Since this version of Cinderella is told from an Egyptian perspective, teachers could use that as an opportunity to create an interdisciplinary unit on Egypt. 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.
If teachers don't have time to create lessons for each school subject, they could at least incorporate this story into an ELA unit on comparing and contrasting stories. This lesson could begin with the teacher reading the classic Disney version of Cinderella to students. Then, this Egyptian version can be read to them, and students can compare and contrast the two, and discuss how the story changes when it takes place somewhere else. Students could also discuss whether or not the moral of the story remains the same between the two versions. To extend this lesson, students could read yet another version of Cinderella. There are at least 10 other versions (including Korean, Native American, and Italian) of Cinderella, each from different countries, so students could get into groups of 3-4, according to which version they want to choose, and then create a summary and analysis of the version they got. Each group can then present their summaries and findings to the whole class. I think that students will find it fascinating that one story can so different when different cultural elements are added.
If nothing else, teachers should at least read this story with the intention of discussing the difference between a folktale and realistic fiction. While both types of stories are fictional and did not happen in real life, realistic fiction has elements that could be true, while folktales usually contain magical elements, or people that have magical powers. Additionally, folktales have usually been passed down through generations of a common people, while realistic fiction is created by one person's ideas.
August 11, 2014
I *loved* this book as a child--I think partly because it was my first introduction to the idea that fairy tales can have different versions. Reading it to my kids as an adult, I still enjoy the story and the pictures, and I think it's interesting that Climo did some research and that the story apparently has some (small) basis in history.
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. Rhodopis, the Cinderella figure, is described as "red" and "rosy" (hence her name), because she burns under the Egyptian sun, but she is essentially a white heroine with brown bad guys. I don't think the book should be altogether avoided; after all, the Pharoah who she marries is also Egyptian. Still, the overall casting and the description of Rhodopis' coloring as "the most Egyptian of all" at the end of the story is something readers should be aware of.
One good way to share this might be to do it as part of a group of Cinderella retellings (and I actually checked it out most recently because of my 2 year old daughter's current obsession with all things Cinderella) and be sure to include some of the versions that don't have a white Cinderella: Yeh-Shen, Cendrillon, or The Rough Face Girl, for example.
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. Rhodopis, the Cinderella figure, is described as "red" and "rosy" (hence her name), because she burns under the Egyptian sun, but she is essentially a white heroine with brown bad guys. I don't think the book should be altogether avoided; after all, the Pharoah who she marries is also Egyptian. Still, the overall casting and the description of Rhodopis' coloring as "the most Egyptian of all" at the end of the story is something readers should be aware of.
One good way to share this might be to do it as part of a group of Cinderella retellings (and I actually checked it out most recently because of my 2 year old daughter's current obsession with all things Cinderella) and be sure to include some of the versions that don't have a white Cinderella: Yeh-Shen, Cendrillon, or The Rough Face Girl, for example.
April 16, 2019
Name: The Egyptian Cinderella
Genre: Fairy Tale/Folk Lore
Version: Egyptian culture
Cinderella: Rhodopis
Magical element/"fairy godmother": Rhodopis's master and a falcon (a symbol of God Horus)
Glass Slipper: Rose gold slippers
The ball: A journey to see the Pharoah
Message: The virtues of being tolerant and kind.
I learned that, this is one of the oldest Cinderella stories, first recorded in the first century B.C. by a Greek historian.
To learn more about the real lady, read this:
https://www.ancient.eu/article/1038/t...
Genre: Fairy Tale/Folk Lore
Version: Egyptian culture
Cinderella: Rhodopis
Magical element/"fairy godmother": Rhodopis's master and a falcon (a symbol of God Horus)
Glass Slipper: Rose gold slippers
The ball: A journey to see the Pharoah
Message: The virtues of being tolerant and kind.
I learned that, this is one of the oldest Cinderella stories, first recorded in the first century B.C. by a Greek historian.
To learn more about the real lady, read this:
https://www.ancient.eu/article/1038/t...
November 4, 2020
The story The Egyptian Cinderella was found in Dr. Quiroa's list of traditional literature. I then listened to the text be read aloud on Youtube by Emily Helmer.
The story has some similar elements to the traditional story of Cinderella with some differences. First we see that our main character is kidnapped from Greece and brought to work as a slave to a master that had 3 unruly servant girls. These servant girls didn't like Rhodopis and would torment her everyday. They would make her do things that her master wouldn't ask her to do. One day he saw her dancing with some animals and loved her dancing so much he gifted her a beautiful slipper. As she was polishing the show, Horus the falcon came and stole the show from her. He flew to the palace and dropped it in the Pharaoh's lap. The Pharaoh had to know who owned the shoe and he journeyed through Egypt to find the woman. He eventually found Rhodopis and when the slipper fit, he knew he found her.
Somethings that I had an issue with this book is that, we see from the beginning that Rhodopis is Green with fair skin and the other girls are Egyptian with olive toned skin. At the end the Pharaoh chooses Rhodopis and the other girls point out that she is not Egyptian. He says that she is Egyptian because of her green eyes and pale skin. This was an unsettling part of the book because culturally Egyptian women do not look like Rhodopis and it seemed as though he was choosing her because she looked better than the other women. After looking at some comments about this book it seemed as though many adults didn't notice this as children but did when they re-read the book as adults. This is a main reason why I gave this book 3 stars.
I wouldn't recommend this version to any students because of the ending and the statements made. If I had to I would say grades 2+ would enjoy it and also enjoy the illustrations as well.
The story has some similar elements to the traditional story of Cinderella with some differences. First we see that our main character is kidnapped from Greece and brought to work as a slave to a master that had 3 unruly servant girls. These servant girls didn't like Rhodopis and would torment her everyday. They would make her do things that her master wouldn't ask her to do. One day he saw her dancing with some animals and loved her dancing so much he gifted her a beautiful slipper. As she was polishing the show, Horus the falcon came and stole the show from her. He flew to the palace and dropped it in the Pharaoh's lap. The Pharaoh had to know who owned the shoe and he journeyed through Egypt to find the woman. He eventually found Rhodopis and when the slipper fit, he knew he found her.
Somethings that I had an issue with this book is that, we see from the beginning that Rhodopis is Green with fair skin and the other girls are Egyptian with olive toned skin. At the end the Pharaoh chooses Rhodopis and the other girls point out that she is not Egyptian. He says that she is Egyptian because of her green eyes and pale skin. This was an unsettling part of the book because culturally Egyptian women do not look like Rhodopis and it seemed as though he was choosing her because she looked better than the other women. After looking at some comments about this book it seemed as though many adults didn't notice this as children but did when they re-read the book as adults. This is a main reason why I gave this book 3 stars.
I wouldn't recommend this version to any students because of the ending and the statements made. If I had to I would say grades 2+ would enjoy it and also enjoy the illustrations as well.
February 10, 2019
I have mixed feelings about this book. I read it and loved it as a child, without any thought about how the story sat in a wider cultural context. The art is heavily stylized. Human figures almost always appear in a familiar Ancient Egyptian profile, but the animals and plants seem possibly more influenced by traditional Chinese painting. The story itself is about a blond-haired, green-eyed girl who was captured as a slave from Greece and taken to Egypt. There she is insulted and abused by her fellow servants. When the Pharaoh throws a ball, the three other serving girls of the house get to go, but the slave girl must stay behind. A hawk steals one of her dainty slippers and drops it in the Pharaoh's lap, and he begins a search to find the girl who fits the slipper, determined to marry her. As an adult reader, I found myself skeptically raising my eyebrows when the Pharaoh did indeed choose to marry a former slave, the one white girl present in the whole book. This book was published in 1989, and I wonder if it would have been published today. 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 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.
October 3, 2019
I like this version of Cinderella but she is Greek instead of Egyptian; I suppose they did this because Cleopatra's family was Greek. This Cinderella is a Greek slave and the two other girls are Egyptian maids. The illustrations are nice and the story flows well.
April 30, 2020
This traditional Egyptian tale has similarities to the classic fairytale Cinderella. It follows a servant girl who was taken from Greece to Egypt and since then has been picked on for looking different to everyone else. She is bossed around and made to do all the jobs by the other servants. Her spirits always seem high as she surrounds herself with animals and nature and dances in the sunset sky. Her boss sees her dancing one night and decides to get her a pair of shiny, rose-gold sandals for her dainty feet. She loves them but it makes the others jealous so they set lots of tasks for her to do whilst they go to a party for the Pharao. The Greek girl, Rhodopis, is by the water when a great bird comes and takes one of her sandals - she is devastated but keeps the other one in her dress for safekeeping. Meanwhile, the sandal is taken and dropped in front of the Pharao. He declares that he must find the owner of these tiny shoes and orders to find whoever fits the shoe and they will be his wife. After a long search, he finds Rhodopis, the sandal fits and she has the other one to make the pair again.
The illustrations in this book are beautiful. The animals and backgrounds have such lovely colours and detail.
This is a great book to use when thinking about short stories or fairy-tales to compare the formats and alternatives that stories can take. The focus on Egypt and specific vocabulary can make this a good book to go alongside an Egyptian topic.
This book can raise many questions which will be good to explore with chn during shared or guided reading. Such as, the ethics behind this book and whether it would happen now. the thoughts and feelings of the characters. When was it written and why was it written? is it based on a true story? It would be interesting to hear questions that the children think of too which I'm sure will spark curiosity to find some answers and become interested in the topic.
The illustrations in this book are beautiful. The animals and backgrounds have such lovely colours and detail.
This is a great book to use when thinking about short stories or fairy-tales to compare the formats and alternatives that stories can take. The focus on Egypt and specific vocabulary can make this a good book to go alongside an Egyptian topic.
This book can raise many questions which will be good to explore with chn during shared or guided reading. Such as, the ethics behind this book and whether it would happen now. the thoughts and feelings of the characters. When was it written and why was it written? is it based on a true story? It would be interesting to hear questions that the children think of too which I'm sure will spark curiosity to find some answers and become interested in the topic.
February 19, 2020
“The Egyptian Cinderella” by Shirley Climo is an illustrated picture book that tells the tale of Cinderella from the Egyptian cultural perspective. The book was written in 1991 and I was able to watch a read aloud of the book on youtube where the individual narrates the story and shows the accompanying images.
The story follows the main protagonist, Rhodopis, who is enslaved in Greece. Rhodopis has three sisters who are tanned and have dark, straight hair. Rhodopis is blonde, green-eyed, and has fair skin that burns easily. The only thing that gives Rhodopis joy is her pair of slippers given to her by her master. One day, a slipper is taken by a falcon, flown to Egypt, and dropped in the lap of the Pharaoh of Egypt. The Pharoah goes on a quest to find the owner of the slipper and eventually finds Rhodopis who joins the Pharaoh to live in Egypt.
The text and illustrative features effectively fit with the story being told. Most pages have full page illustrations with accompanying text on the bottom, top, or side of the illustration. The images are colored, bright, and fit with Egyptian culture.
“The Egyptain Cinderella” attempts to address diverse themes. The story takes on Cinderella from the Egyptian perspective rather than the more traditional approach. The story takes place in ancient Egypt and certainly does not represent the cultural aspects of present day Egypt. The story uses traditional Egyptian aspects to tell the story of Cinderella and also weaves in academic words such as papyrus or Pharoah.
In a classroom, this would be best used at the K - 6 level in a fairytale unit. Teachers could pair this text with other versions of Cinderella to show students differences that exist among different cultures.
The story follows the main protagonist, Rhodopis, who is enslaved in Greece. Rhodopis has three sisters who are tanned and have dark, straight hair. Rhodopis is blonde, green-eyed, and has fair skin that burns easily. The only thing that gives Rhodopis joy is her pair of slippers given to her by her master. One day, a slipper is taken by a falcon, flown to Egypt, and dropped in the lap of the Pharaoh of Egypt. The Pharoah goes on a quest to find the owner of the slipper and eventually finds Rhodopis who joins the Pharaoh to live in Egypt.
The text and illustrative features effectively fit with the story being told. Most pages have full page illustrations with accompanying text on the bottom, top, or side of the illustration. The images are colored, bright, and fit with Egyptian culture.
“The Egyptain Cinderella” attempts to address diverse themes. The story takes on Cinderella from the Egyptian perspective rather than the more traditional approach. The story takes place in ancient Egypt and certainly does not represent the cultural aspects of present day Egypt. The story uses traditional Egyptian aspects to tell the story of Cinderella and also weaves in academic words such as papyrus or Pharoah.
In a classroom, this would be best used at the K - 6 level in a fairytale unit. Teachers could pair this text with other versions of Cinderella to show students differences that exist among different cultures.
February 20, 2020
The Egyptian Cinderella is written by Shirley Climo and illustrated by Ruth Heller. This is a story about an Egyptian slave named Rhodopis. Rhodopis works with three other Egyptian girls, but they are servants. The servant girls were not nice to her and bossed her around. Rhodopis made friends with the animals. One evening the master saw her beautiful dancing and gave her a pair of “dainty slippers made especially for Rhodopis.” The servant girls were jealous about her rose-red slippers and told her she must stay home instead of going to Memphis to see the Pharaoh. While the servants were gone, a falcon, the symbol of the god Horus, snatched one of her rose-red slippers and flew away. The falcon dropped the slipper into the Pharaoh’s lap, who believed that it was a sign. The Pharaoh went on a search for the owner of the slipper. He was determined to find the owner and marry the girl. Soon enough he came to where the 3 servant’s and Rhodopis lived.
This story involves the Egyptian culture and the illustrations show the profile of the characters, which reflects this culture. The illustrations have colorful backgrounds and the characters stand out because of their dark hair and skin in contrast with the bright background.
This picture book can be used from grades 1st through 8th. Older students can analyze this book and discover symbolism and cultural aspects used throughout the book. For younger students this text can be used as a mentor text for descriptive language and sequencing events.
This story involves the Egyptian culture and the illustrations show the profile of the characters, which reflects this culture. The illustrations have colorful backgrounds and the characters stand out because of their dark hair and skin in contrast with the bright background.
This picture book can be used from grades 1st through 8th. Older students can analyze this book and discover symbolism and cultural aspects used throughout the book. For younger students this text can be used as a mentor text for descriptive language and sequencing events.
May 19, 2019
The Egyptian Cinderella is a captivating retelling of the classic Cinderella tale. In this story, Rhodopis, meaning rosy-cheeked in Greek, is taken from her home and bought as a slave in Egypt. She looks different than the other slaves and servants there because of her hair and rosy-red face. Three servant girls treat her poorly because she is a slave. One day, when Rhodopis was dancing, the King rewarded her with especially made, sparkly slippers for her to wear while she danced. Soon, it was announced that everyone would be celebrating the Pharaoh Amasis. Rhodopis was expected to stay behind to clean. A falcon, the symbol of the god Horus, appeared to her. He stole one of her golden slippers and flew away towards the Pharaoh's party. The Pharaoh took the rose-red slipper as a sign that he must find the owner and make her his queen. He searched through many places along the Nile, and he finally found Rhodopis. The two got married and lived happily ever after.
The Egyptian Cinderella contains many references to Egyptian history, culture and geography. Readers will learn the meaning and roles of some Egyptian names and titles. The illustrations portray Egyptian culture. The author uses many similes and figurative language to bring the story to life. This version contains many similar motifs as the classic Cinderella story. For example, there is a slipper and instead of a fairy, there is a falcon who helps Rhodopis. This story can inspire students to create their own versions of classic tales and bring in a multicultural aspect to it.
This story would be engaging to include in a fairy tale unit for students to compare and contrast different versions. It would also be a great story to use when learning about Egyptian tales in a social studies unit about Egypt. Lastly, this story teaches readers the classic theme of being true to yourself.
The Egyptian Cinderella contains many references to Egyptian history, culture and geography. Readers will learn the meaning and roles of some Egyptian names and titles. The illustrations portray Egyptian culture. The author uses many similes and figurative language to bring the story to life. This version contains many similar motifs as the classic Cinderella story. For example, there is a slipper and instead of a fairy, there is a falcon who helps Rhodopis. This story can inspire students to create their own versions of classic tales and bring in a multicultural aspect to it.
This story would be engaging to include in a fairy tale unit for students to compare and contrast different versions. It would also be a great story to use when learning about Egyptian tales in a social studies unit about Egypt. Lastly, this story teaches readers the classic theme of being true to yourself.
April 17, 2017
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. In this retelling of an ancient legend that mixes fact and fable, Rhodopis (meaning rosy-cheeked), otherwise widely known as Cinderella, is a Greek beauty who is captured and taken to Egypt where she is sold as a slave. Rhodopis is a beautiful dancer and therefore is gifted by her master a beautiful pair of shoes. As a pharaoh holds court for all of his people, a falcon scoops up Rhodopis's slipper and takes it to the Pharaoh. As in our Disney version of Cinderella, the Pharaoh searches the whole land for the woman who fits the shoe, and when he finds her, they live happily ever after. This is a great book to read aloud to a classroom of Kindergarten up to 4th grade. The pictures are lively and it provides a lovely geography and history lesson. This book provides many opportunities for talking points and discussions. 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. This book would also be great for an independent reader of any age, or a book for guided reading. This book has great potential for much discussion and many new vocabulary words for grades 2-4. I highly recommend this incredible book for anyone who loves a good fable.
October 24, 2020
Scholastic shares that the The Egyptian Cinderella was a Notable 1989 Children’s Trade Books in Social Studies. I am glad I came across The Egyptian Cinderella, which is one of the oldest Cinderella Story as stated in the author’s note. I listened to this book on Youtube Read Alouds. Cinderella in the book is a slave and the “stepmother” role is a male slave master. Egyptian gods act as Cinderella’s fairy godmother. The plot is very similar to the traditional Cinderella story.
The realism illustrations of the characters and the different bright color backgrounds makes the illustrations very appealing to readers. I think The Egyptian Cinderella would be a great read aloud for primary grades, but older grades would be able to read this book independently. Some great ways to use this book is to compare and contrast different Cinderella stories and learn more about Egypt history and culture. Overall, I believe this is a great multicultural book of the Cinderella story.
The realism illustrations of the characters and the different bright color backgrounds makes the illustrations very appealing to readers. I think The Egyptian Cinderella would be a great read aloud for primary grades, but older grades would be able to read this book independently. Some great ways to use this book is to compare and contrast different Cinderella stories and learn more about Egypt history and culture. Overall, I believe this is a great multicultural book of the Cinderella story.
December 5, 2019
This folklore story is pretty exotic. This is an excitingly different version of the Cinderella tale rooted in some true facts and fables (There is a Greek slave girl named Rhodopis who married the Pharaoh Amasis). Three Egyptian servant girls serve as the wicked step sisters, a kind master is the godmother (who also provides the slippers), and there is a handsome pharaoh that serves as the prince charming. I would recommend this book for K-2.
This book could be used when learning or exploring folklore and fairy tales (to build upon prior knowledge). This would also be a good piece of literature to compare with other versions of Cinderella (compare and contrast differences).
This book is a WOW book in my opinion because of the excitement it brings to folklore. This is not your average Cinderella story, but so much more! This is an intriguing variation with pictures that truly help create a visual in your mind.
This book could be used when learning or exploring folklore and fairy tales (to build upon prior knowledge). This would also be a good piece of literature to compare with other versions of Cinderella (compare and contrast differences).
This book is a WOW book in my opinion because of the excitement it brings to folklore. This is not your average Cinderella story, but so much more! This is an intriguing variation with pictures that truly help create a visual in your mind.
May 26, 2020
I love i5tttttt
November 14, 2022
I LOVE any version of Cinderella. I just love it! This is not the best I have read but also not the worst. Meh…
February 17, 2020
I located this book from my local library, using the online database.
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. The Egyptian girls boss Rhodopis around and give her different tasks that she must do. This story is a bit different as the master is kind by making her red-rose slippers. Then, the girls are invited to see the Pharaoh where Rhodopis is told she has chores rather than being allowed to go. As she sets on her chores, a falcon comes to steal her slipper which he brings to the Pharaoh. The Pharaoh sees the slippers and thinks it is a sign. Because of this, he wants to find the maiden whom the slipper belongs to. As the story shows the Pharaoh’s journey, the Egyptian servant girls are dealt with some unlucky events, showing jealousy and rudeness. In the end, Rhodopis falls into good luck with the Pharaoh.
The genre of the story is fairytale and the author provided an author’s note to describe a more detailed account of how this story is one of the oldest Cinderella stories. As well as, tells the background of the story more in depth. This story talked about cultural differences and how a character can be teased by how they look different than others within that culture. What I love about this story is that in the end, this does not matter and Rhodopis is still called Egyptian even though she does not have the same features as other Egyptian women.
In the classroom this would work best to compare and contrast other works of the story “Cinderella” and could be used to study the Egyptian culture, Greece could be studied, as well as, Greek culture. Good conversation could come about slaves and the study of the history of slaves would be another strong discussion point.
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. The Egyptian girls boss Rhodopis around and give her different tasks that she must do. This story is a bit different as the master is kind by making her red-rose slippers. Then, the girls are invited to see the Pharaoh where Rhodopis is told she has chores rather than being allowed to go. As she sets on her chores, a falcon comes to steal her slipper which he brings to the Pharaoh. The Pharaoh sees the slippers and thinks it is a sign. Because of this, he wants to find the maiden whom the slipper belongs to. As the story shows the Pharaoh’s journey, the Egyptian servant girls are dealt with some unlucky events, showing jealousy and rudeness. In the end, Rhodopis falls into good luck with the Pharaoh.
The genre of the story is fairytale and the author provided an author’s note to describe a more detailed account of how this story is one of the oldest Cinderella stories. As well as, tells the background of the story more in depth. This story talked about cultural differences and how a character can be teased by how they look different than others within that culture. What I love about this story is that in the end, this does not matter and Rhodopis is still called Egyptian even though she does not have the same features as other Egyptian women.
In the classroom this would work best to compare and contrast other works of the story “Cinderella” and could be used to study the Egyptian culture, Greece could be studied, as well as, Greek culture. Good conversation could come about slaves and the study of the history of slaves would be another strong discussion point.
October 30, 2023
Climo, Shirley. The Egyptian Cinderella (1989). Accessed from Palatine Public Library.
"The Egyptian Cinderella" by Shirley Climo is a delightful and culturally rich retelling of the classic Cinderella story. Set in ancient Egypt, the book transports readers to a different time and place, where they can immerse themselves in the vibrant and exotic world of the Nile Valley. The author's skillful storytelling not only captures the essence of the traditional Cinderella tale but also weaves in unique Egyptian elements, making this version a refreshing and captivating read. Young readers and adults alike will appreciate the strong and resourceful protagonist, Rhodopis, who proves that kindness and inner beauty are universal virtues. The colorful illustrations by Ruth Heller complement the narrative beautifully, enhancing the visual appeal of the book. I found myself constantly making comparisons from the traditional storyline I know to this one. This could be great for a compare/contrast lesson for students (for example: king vs. pharaoh, fairy godmother vs. falcon, slave vs. step-sister). There were also many concepts I thought were strange that could make for good discussions with students. For example, he never actually met Rhodopis like the prince did in Cinderella. A falcon brought him her shoe and it was a “message from the Gods.” It is a silly concept to be given a shoe and think, yep whoever owns this shoe I will marry.
I would recommend this book to elementary aged students (4-5th) because of the opportunity for comparisons and the need for some history background knowledge. I thought the images were stunning and it was a very interesting take on a well known story. On the back it says, “It was first recorded by the Roman historian Strabo in the first century B.C. This story is both fact and fable.” That means this story can also be used for fact/fiction lessons. In the author’s note it says, “What is fact is that a Greek slave girl, Rhodopis, married the Pharaoh Amasis and became his queen.” That sounds like something that will be of high interest to students. I would teach a lesson on facts/fiction differences and then have students fill in a graphic organizer with details from the story.
"The Egyptian Cinderella" by Shirley Climo is a delightful and culturally rich retelling of the classic Cinderella story. Set in ancient Egypt, the book transports readers to a different time and place, where they can immerse themselves in the vibrant and exotic world of the Nile Valley. The author's skillful storytelling not only captures the essence of the traditional Cinderella tale but also weaves in unique Egyptian elements, making this version a refreshing and captivating read. Young readers and adults alike will appreciate the strong and resourceful protagonist, Rhodopis, who proves that kindness and inner beauty are universal virtues. The colorful illustrations by Ruth Heller complement the narrative beautifully, enhancing the visual appeal of the book. I found myself constantly making comparisons from the traditional storyline I know to this one. This could be great for a compare/contrast lesson for students (for example: king vs. pharaoh, fairy godmother vs. falcon, slave vs. step-sister). There were also many concepts I thought were strange that could make for good discussions with students. For example, he never actually met Rhodopis like the prince did in Cinderella. A falcon brought him her shoe and it was a “message from the Gods.” It is a silly concept to be given a shoe and think, yep whoever owns this shoe I will marry.
I would recommend this book to elementary aged students (4-5th) because of the opportunity for comparisons and the need for some history background knowledge. I thought the images were stunning and it was a very interesting take on a well known story. On the back it says, “It was first recorded by the Roman historian Strabo in the first century B.C. This story is both fact and fable.” That means this story can also be used for fact/fiction lessons. In the author’s note it says, “What is fact is that a Greek slave girl, Rhodopis, married the Pharaoh Amasis and became his queen.” That sounds like something that will be of high interest to students. I would teach a lesson on facts/fiction differences and then have students fill in a graphic organizer with details from the story.
January 9, 2016
I read this book too late to enjoy it. As a small girl, I would have just relished the familiar retelling of my all-time favorite fairy tale. But I read it as a junior classics student in college, the semester I was taking several classes on Egypt and how it was influenced by the Hellenistic period, no less. 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).
I opened the book expecting an Egyptian girl, and was disappointed to see a lone, sunburned Greek heroine amid nameless Egyptians. It was like the story was saying she was the most deserving girl of all simply because she wasn't Egyptian like all the others, not necessarily because she was kinder than her peers. 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.
The author does note there was a historical pharaoh who married a Greek slave girl, so perhaps she was going for that. Then again, the Greeks did enjoy taking indigenous culture and folklore and Hellenizing the hell out of it, so maybe this story is a result of that---an Egyptian Cinderella after a Greek colonist in Alexandria got ahold of it. Either way, I preferred Climo's Korean Cinderella.
I opened the book expecting an Egyptian girl, and was disappointed to see a lone, sunburned Greek heroine amid nameless Egyptians. It was like the story was saying she was the most deserving girl of all simply because she wasn't Egyptian like all the others, not necessarily because she was kinder than her peers. 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.
The author does note there was a historical pharaoh who married a Greek slave girl, so perhaps she was going for that. Then again, the Greeks did enjoy taking indigenous culture and folklore and Hellenizing the hell out of it, so maybe this story is a result of that---an Egyptian Cinderella after a Greek colonist in Alexandria got ahold of it. Either way, I preferred Climo's Korean Cinderella.
February 4, 2014
Rhodopis is the Egyptian Cinderella in this text who, as a child, was stolen by pirates. Rhodopis is surrounded by servant girls who look and act different from her. Her name means "rosy-cheeked" in Greek which is where she was captured from. While the servant girls tease Rhodopis and bark orders at her, her master believes she is different. He gives her a beautiful pair of slippers.
The story then begins to follow the traditional story of Cinderella to some extent. The prince in this story is the Pharaoh Amasis and he hosts a gathering. While Rhodopis does not attend, a falcon steals one of her slippers and flies with it to the Pharaoh. He drops it into his lap and the Pharaoh then knows he wants to find the woman it belongs to. He took a trip to find her, and of course he is successful. While the servant girls try their hardest to convince the Pharaoh not to choose Rhodopis he did not listen to them.
I also love the illustrations in this text. They are very vibrant and detailed!
I think this would be a good book for students in grades K-2. A great lesson can be taught about accepting others who are different. Rhodopis is Greek and the servants are Egyptian and the servants do not demonstrate tolerance for Rhodopis' differences. The text can be used as a non-example of how to treat others.
The story then begins to follow the traditional story of Cinderella to some extent. The prince in this story is the Pharaoh Amasis and he hosts a gathering. While Rhodopis does not attend, a falcon steals one of her slippers and flies with it to the Pharaoh. He drops it into his lap and the Pharaoh then knows he wants to find the woman it belongs to. He took a trip to find her, and of course he is successful. While the servant girls try their hardest to convince the Pharaoh not to choose Rhodopis he did not listen to them.
I also love the illustrations in this text. They are very vibrant and detailed!
I think this would be a good book for students in grades K-2. A great lesson can be taught about accepting others who are different. Rhodopis is Greek and the servants are Egyptian and the servants do not demonstrate tolerance for Rhodopis' differences. The text can be used as a non-example of how to treat others.
April 20, 2020
This book was used during English lessons in relation to the topic of Ancient Egypt. The children also used this story as inspiration for an 'alternative fairytale' and re-wrote Jack and the Beanstalk using inspiration from this story. With many similarities to the well loved tradition version of Cinderella, this story introduced issues people may have with looking different from others as well as prejudice faced with this - in turn, this encouraged important conversations within the classroom. Beauty is firstly not only skin deep, but people look different and it shouldn't take a Pharaoh to make this apparent to everyone. A very good story I would highly recommend.
September 10, 2012
We recently read The Korean Cinderella by Shirley Climo and Ruth Heller and after reading some of the reviews, I realized they had collaborated on another Cinderella variant as well.
This was an entertaining version of the classic tale. The narrative is interesting and incorporates Egyptian culture. I thought it was fascinating that the story is based on actual people and is one of the oldest versions of the 'Cinderella'-type tale. The illustrations are colorful and complement the story nicely. We enjoyed reading this book together and we will look for The Persian Cinderella next.
This was an entertaining version of the classic tale. The narrative is interesting and incorporates Egyptian culture. I thought it was fascinating that the story is based on actual people and is one of the oldest versions of the 'Cinderella'-type tale. The illustrations are colorful and complement the story nicely. We enjoyed reading this book together and we will look for The Persian Cinderella next.
September 4, 2009
The descriptive language in this book is beautiful, as are the illustrations. The story flows very well. As I read it, I enjoyed making comparisons between this version and the more traditional version of the story. I also thought of all the connections I could make when I teach Ancient Egypt next year to my students. This book would be a great lead into study of daily life in Ancient Egypt, as well as the gods, the pharaohs, geography, and a literature comparison between different versions of Cinderella. It was interesting to read the author’s note about this book. “The story is fact and fable.” It is a fact that a Greek slave named Rhodopis married Pharaoh Amasis. Rhodopis is believed to have been born in Greece, kidnapped by pirates, and sold to a rich man in Samos where one of her fellow slaves was a man named Aesop, who told her stories about animals. A lot of interesting information for children to delve into if they want!
March 1, 2010
The tale of Rhodopis is taken from both fact and fiction. This Cinderella was born in a northern part of Greece and then kidnapped by pirates and taken to Egypt. As a person from Greek decent I was never told of this story or this version of the story. It was interesting to read and learn a little more about my culture. Amasis is the Pharaoh. When a slipper is dropped into his lap he believes the god Horus sends it to him as a sign. "Every maiden in Egypt must try this shoe! She whose foot it fit shall be my queen. That is the will of the gods." Pharaoh still wants to marry Rhodopis even though she is a not Egyptian and a slave. Shirley Climo continues telling the story of Cinderella in one of her many multicultural versions of the traditional story. Students can read the various versions of Cinderella and retell the story by investigating their culture and their traditional version of the story. (Grades 3-5)
February 6, 2013
Rhodopis was taken as a child from her home in Greece and sold into enslavement in Egypt. The household Egyptian servants were jealous after she received a gift of rose-red slippers from her master, later to be lost and found by Pharaoh Amasis. A servant says that Rhodopis is a slave and she isn’t even Egyptian but the pharaoh defends his future bride with, ”She is the most Egyptian of all, for her eyes are as green as the Nile, her hair as feathery as papyrus and her skin the pink of a lotus flower.” This story is an Egyptian twist on the traditional Cinderella story. Birds, flowers, and animals are a common occurrence in the colorful illustrations. The author’s note at the end is informative on some Greek and Egyptian history. As a teacher, this book could be read during a unit on Egypt, folktales, and of course comparing and contrasting different versions of the classic Cinderella story. I think this story would be appropriate for grades 1-3.
May 19, 2020
I was able to view The Egyptian Cinderella by Shirley Climo through YouTube. This is the earliest known variant of the Cinderella story. The story was available as a read-aloud and the reader positioned the book so you could view the pictures and words. In this version of the story, Rhodopis was a slave that was ridiculed by three house servants. Rhodopis was gifted beautiful shoes by her master saw her dancing with the animals. A falcon, believed to be the god Horus, was able to steal one shoe away and the Pharaoh found it. The Pharaoh searched the land until he was able to find the owner of the shoe. In comparison to the traditional Cinderella story, there are similarities and differences. The main differences are the lack of a godmother, there are no stepsisters or stepmother, and no father. This book is intended for ages 4 to 8. This could be a fun book for a read-aloud and could be used as a comparison between Cinderella and Rhodopis.
February 13, 2012
I was excited to read new version of the Cinderella story with my nieces and nephews, but instead this seemed to vilify the Egyptians and teach that the only person beautiful enough to be queen was the white skinned, blond haired Greek girl. I found this really off-putting, but I guess the story is based on a factual king and his Greek wife that came from slavery. So.....I feel neutral on it. The illustrations are nice, but I wanted something different from a book titled The Egyptian Cinderella.
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