One way to engage readers over the summer months is to work on comprehension skills. Fairy tales are one of the many forms of literature that fall into the public domain, allowing rewriting and modification to occur without copyright infringement. There are countless versions of Cinderella for example, that we’ll be using in our fairy tale comparison comprehension activity.
There is the traditional tale of Cinderella, but have you heard about Dogerella? Dogerella is a canine version with enough difference from the traditional tale to generate discussion. The book uses both humans and dogs in the story with an emphasis on kindness and friendship, rather than a magical kiss to determine Dogerella’s fate. The book by Maribeth Boelts is from Random House’s STEP into READING series, a Level 3 book designed for grades 1-3 or “Reading on Your Own.”
Using this chart, compare and contrast several Cinderella stories, working with your reader to support the project. I recommend reading a very traditional Cinderella tale before moving onto modified versions, or even the “fractured fairy tale” versions common on the market today. Ask your local librarian for ideas or get started with these titles:
Cinderella by Kinuko Y. Craft
Cinder Edna by Ellen Jackson
Interstellar Cinderella by Deborah Underwood
This activity would be perfect for a rainy day or any day that you’re looking to add a little something extra into daily reading practice.
