Ella Enchanted, by Gail Carson Levine, winner of the Newbery Medal, is a delightful full length Cinderella novel.  Another terrific full length novel included is Bella at Midnight by Diane Stanley.  Also included in this 2 Cinderella Picture Books (Baba Yaga and Vasilisa the Brave, the Russian Cinderella and The Persian Cinderella) will enrich and extend your understanding of the Cinderella fairy tale. This collection is perfect for independent, paired, group, or whole class study.

CINDERELLA is the oldest fairy tale in existence with more versions than be counted. Kids Wings has put four award-winning Cinderella books together in a group that will offer the best overview of the fairy tale study. Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine won the coveted Newbery Award in 1998 and has been made into a precious movie. Bella at Midnight by Diane Stanley is one of our all-time favorites. Two picture books contrast the moods and characters in Russia and Persia. 

ELLA ENCHANTED, winner of the Newbery Medal of 1998, by Gail Carson Levine is amazing.
When she was born, Ella is accidently cursed by a fairy named Lucinda. Hers is the "gift" of obedience. Whatever anyone tells her to do, Ella must obey.

You might think that would devastate the feisty Ella, but as she tells her story, you will see how Lucinda's curse made a rebel of her. When her beloved mother dies, leaving her in the care of a mostly uninterested father, and later, a loathsome stepmother and two treacherous stepsisters, Ella's life and well-being seem to be greatly endangered. In Ella Enchanted she will tell you how she used her intelligence and frisky nature to keep her balanced as she sets out on a quest for freedom and self-discovery.

But, what will happen as she tries to track down Lucinda and get her to undo the curse? Will she explain how she handles ogres she meets, how she befriends elves, and of course, how she falls in love with a prince along the way? Will there be a pumpkin coach? A glass slipper? A happily ever after?

Most readers agree that this is the most remarkable, delightful, and profound version of Cinderella ever written.

ELLA ENCHANTED, THE MOVIE: http://amzn.to/2luVoV1 

ELLA ENCHANTED, ACTIVITIES:

The Kids Wings literature guide for Ella Enchanted contains 22 pages of fun, skills, and interaction including:
Teacher Secrets,
If I Had Been Cinderella,
Draggin' in Magical Vocabulary,
Fairy Tale Creature Logic,
Preparing Your Intellectual Tools,
Drawing Fairy Tale Creatures from Descriptions, 
Chapter Titles,
Is Ella Enchanted a Fairy Tale?
Too Much of a Good Thing: Choices and Consequences,
Royal Vocabulary,
Writing a Readers' Theater Script,
Figurative Language and Language Master,
Map of Kyrria,
Kyrrian Map Math,
What's Magical About Apostrophes,
A Drawn Out Tale,
Interesting Inferences,
The Leadership of a Servant,
Writing Prompts Across the Writing Spectrum,
Answer Keys

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BELLA AT MIDNIGHT, by Diane Stanely:
In the midst of a hundred year war between Kingdom of Moranmoor and the Kingdom of Brutanna, the birth of a tiny baby began a series of ripples that would lead to great and miraculous things. Her birth was followed by two unfortunate events...the death of her beloved mother, Catherine, and the total rejection of her father.

What would become of this child? Would the place her Aunt Maud found for her in a simple country home provide love and companionship as she grew? Could this be the same home where Prince Julian had been brought three years before when he was a newborn? What would happen when the war comes to Moranmoor? Would they be safe in the castle? Who would be lost?

Caught up in the ripples of war, pride, and family confilct, Bella and Prince Julian are swept into a magical adventure that once again proves God is beside us, bringing courage, guidance, and miracles to those who believe.

BELLA AT MIDNIGHT, the Activities:
The Kids Wings Literature Guide by Suzy Red comes in both PDF and PowerPoint formats. The activities include:

• Background Building Teacher Page
• Prereading Discussion Cards
• Anticipation Guide
• Crossword Puzzle
• 2-page Readers’ Theater Script
• Journaling to Build Independence
• Map Study
• Vocabulary Activity
• Predict/Confirm Chapter Questions
• Multiple Choice Comprehension
• Note Taking: Heirs to the Throne and Character Comparisons
• Writing Lesson
• Logic Puzzle 
• Discussion Cards 
• Character Web
• BELLA'S BALLAD/USING SEQUENCE TO ADD VERSES! A recorded song and melody by Ted Newman are included to introduce the story and invite students to write and sing their own summary-ballad verses as they read.
• Math from the Story
• Comparing Cinderella Stories
• Royal Ripples Chart
• Multiple Choice and Short Answer Comprehension
• Research and Report: A Coat of Arms
• Writing Prompts
• Do a Fairy Tale Survey
• Sample Coats of Arms
• Design a New Cover
• PLUS a 53-slide Jeopardy-type game as a grand finale!

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THE PERSIAN CINDERELLA by Shirley Climo, The Story:
How would the Cinderella story be different if she had lived in Persia? The setting of the story is its roots! Change the roots, and you have change how the characters live, what they value, and how they solve problems. This story proves that Cinderella can adapt to any setting!

Activities in the Kids Wings unit for The Persian Cinderella include:
Locating Persia;
Multiple Choice: A New Setting;

• Multiple Choice: A Cinderella Comparison;
• Fairy Tale Factory;
• Factory Built Fairy Tales (Writing Plan);
• Fairy Tale Factory Story Mapping (Writing Plan);
• Answers

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BABA YAGA AND VASILISA THE BRAVE by Marianna Mayer, the story:

This Russian Cinderella stays true to the Cinderella tradition, but the witch is even move vicious and evil than ever and the heroine is even more sweet, kind, and patient with her plight. 

As Bruno Bettelheim points out in his book, The Uses of Enchantment The Meaning and Importance of Fairy Tales, children who experience fairy tales at an early age form a clear understanding of good and evil. There's no gray area in well written fairy tales! Be sure to see the C.S. Lewis Quotes on Fairy Tales as well.

BABA YAGA AND VASILISA THE BRAVE, The Activities include:

• Is It a Fairy Tale?
• Fairy Tale Trio Quilt;
• Vocabulary: Fairly Easy Fairy Words;
• That Special Little Voice, A Cooperative Survey;
• Who, What, Where, When, Why?
• What Really Happened?
• Answer Keys