Interstellar Cinderella
What’s inside...
Once upon a planetoid, amid her tools and sprockets, a girl named Cinderella dreamed of fixing fancy rockets. With a little help from her fairy godrobot, Cinderella is going to the ball--but when the prince's ship has mechanical trouble, someone will have to zoom to the rescue! Readers will thank their lucky stars for this irrepressible fairy tale retelling, its independent heroine, and its stellar happy ending.
Series reading
Non-Sequential
Age
3-5
Length
40 pages
Text complexity
Discussion points
How do you think Cinderella felt when she fixed the spaceship? Can you think of a time when you solved a problem on your own?
What do you think makes Cinderella a good friend and a great mechanic?
If you had a tool kit like Cinderella, what would you build or fix?
Why do you think the prince was impressed by Cinderella’s skills?
What would you do if you were in Cinderella’s shoes at the royal space parade?
Tip: Role play these questions
Encourage your child to express their thoughts by affirming their responses and asking follow-up questions based on their answers.
Connect the story to your child’s experiences by relating Cinderella’s adventures and challenges to situations your child has faced.
Discuss the themes of talent and perseverance. Highlight how Cinderella uses her skills to achieve her dreams.
Ask your child to imagine alternative scenarios in the story and discuss how different actions might change the outcome.
Support creative thinking by asking your child what tools they would want in their own space toolkit and what they would create or fix with it.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: Self-Reliance
Explanation: Interstellar Cinderella demonstrates self-reliance by fixing her own spaceship and solving problems without waiting for someone else to rescue her.
Real-World Application: Children learn the importance of independence and being capable of handling situations on their own, which is crucial for personal development and problem-solving in daily life.
Example Lesson: Perseverance
Explanation: Despite facing challenges, Cinderella continues to pursue her passion for spaceship repair, showing resilience and dedication.
Real-World Application: Teaches children the value of persisting through difficulties to achieve their goals, whether in academics, sports, or personal interests.
Example Lesson: Empowerment through Education
Explanation: Cinderella's expertise in spaceship mechanics is a result of her knowledge and education, empowering her to be proactive and resourceful.
Real-World Application: Encourages children to pursue learning and education as a means of empowerment and achieving self-sufficiency.
Example Lesson: Rejection of Gender Stereotypes
Explanation: Cinderella breaks traditional gender roles by being a mechanic, an occupation typically dominated by males, showcasing that interests and skills are not gender-specific.
Real-World Application: This encourages children to pursue their interests freely regardless of gender expectations, promoting gender equality and self-expression.
Example Lesson: Kindness and Integrity
Explanation: Cinderella shows kindness towards others in the story, and she maintains her integrity by choosing her own path rather than marrying the prince.
Real-World Application: Highlights the importance of kindness and staying true to oneself, which are important values in building respectful relationships and maintaining personal integrity.