Cindy Ellen: A Wild Western Cinderella
What’s inside...
Cindy Ellen loses one of her diamond spurs at the square dance in this wild western retelling of the classic Cinderella story. You may think you've heard the story before -- but not like this. Cinderella meets the Old West in this paperback edition of Susan Lowell and Jane Manning's hilarious story. It's sure to give you a laughter belly-ache
Age
4-8
Length
50 pages
Text complexity
Character compass
Cindy Ellen
Joe Prince
Stepsisters
Stepmother
Discussion points
How do you think Cindy Ellen felt when her fairy godmother helped her? Can you think of a time someone helped you in a similar way?
What are some of the differences you noticed between this story and the original Cinderella story? Which version do you like more, and why?
What qualities do you admire in Cindy Ellen? Are there any qualities you would like to have?
How do the characters in the story show kindness or unkindness? What impact does that behavior have on others?
If you could change one thing in the story, what would it be and why?
Tip: Role play these questions
Encourage your child to express their feelings about the story’s characters and events, validating their feelings and connecting them to real-life situations.
Use the differences between this western version and the traditional Cinderella story to discuss adaptability and cultural variations in storytelling.
Point out character traits and actions, asking your child if they see similar traits in people around them or themselves, fostering a deeper understanding of character development.
Discuss the outcomes of kind and unkind actions within the story to reinforce moral values and the consequences of one's actions.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: Resilience and perseverance
Explanation: Cindy Ellen faces challenges but remains determined and resilient, showing that adversity can be overcome with perseverance.
Real-World Application: Children can learn to keep trying and not give up easily when faced with difficulties in school or in personal tasks.
Example Lesson: Kindness and compassion
Explanation: Despite her poor treatment, Cindy Ellen shows kindness to others throughout the story, illustrating the importance of compassion.
Real-World Application: This teaches children to treat others with kindness, even when they themselves are not treated well, fostering empathy and social connection.
Example Lesson: Honesty and integrity
Explanation: Cindy Ellen stays true to herself and demonstrates honesty, even in difficult situations. Her integrity eventually leads to her happiness.
Real-World Application: Children learn the value of being honest and maintaining their personal integrity, which are valuable traits that help in building trust and strong relationships.
Example Lesson: Self-worth and confidence
Explanation: Cindy Ellen grows in confidence throughout the book, learning to value herself regardless of her circumstances.
Real-World Application: This encourages children to believe in themselves and understand that self-worth comes from within, not from external possessions or status.