Cinderella Smith
#1 of 3 in Cinderella Smith Series
What’s inside...
Cinderella Smith has a problem with losing her shoes, and now she's misplaced her most important shoe, a shiny, ruby red tap shoe, which she needs to be chosen as the Pumpkin Blossom Fairy for the fall dance recital. With the new school year also presenting issues like an insensitive teacher, feeling isolated at the smart-boys table, and her old best friend ignoring her, Cinderella feels overwhelmed. To complicate matters, the new girl, Erin, seeks advice about wicked stepsisters, which Cinderella knows nothing about. With the recital approaching and the metaphorical stepsisters symbolizing her problems, Cinderella and Erin must work together to resolve these issues.
Character compass
Cinderella Smith
Erin
Rosemary T.
Discussion points
How would you feel if you were in Cinderella Smith's shoes and you lost one? What would you do?
Cinderella Smith faces challenges with her friends at school. Can you think of a time you faced a similar challenge? How did you handle it?
What do you think makes Cinderella a good friend? Can you think of qualities that make someone a good friend?
How do you think Cinderella felt when she solved the mystery of her missing shoe? Have you ever solved a mystery or problem by yourself?
Why do you think it's important for Cinderella to keep searching for her shoe? What does the shoe represent to her?
Tip: Role play these questions
Use an empathetic tone to discuss the feelings of the characters, encouraging your child to explore and relate to those emotions.
Enhance the discussion with personal examples, either from your child’s experiences or your own, to connect the story to real-life scenarios.
Encourage critical thinking by asking your child what they would do differently if they were in the protagonist’s place.
Highlight the moral of the story and relate it to everyday lessons about friendship, perseverance, and problem-solving.
Ask follow-up questions based on your child's responses to encourage deeper thinking and understanding.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: Perseverance
Explanation: Cinderella Smith faces challenges such as losing her shoe and dealing with difficult classmates, yet she continues to strive and not give up.
Real-World Application: Children learn the importance of persisting through difficulties, whether it be in school tasks or interpersonal relationships.
Example Lesson: Empathy
Explanation: Cinderella shows understanding and kindness towards others, despite their differences or the conflicts that arise.
Real-World Application: This encourages children to consider the feelings of others and fosters a more empathetic approach in their interactions.
Example Lesson: Problem-solving
Explanation: Cinderella creatively uses her wits to deal with the mystery of her missing shoe and other problems she encounters.
Real-World Application: Kids are inspired to think critically and come up with innovative solutions to problems they face at home or school.
Example Lesson: Resilience
Explanation: Despite setbacks, Cinderella maintains a positive attitude and bounces back from her challenges.
Real-World Application: This story exemplifies how maintaining resilience can help children overcome obstacles in various aspects of their lives.
Example Lesson: Friendship
Explanation: Cinderella values her friendships and works through misunderstandings, showing the importance of communication and trust.
Real-World Application: Children learn the significance of building and maintaining healthy friendships and the role of communication in resolving conflicts.