Invitation to Learn Fairy Tales - Cinderella

A Learning Lifestyle

My preschoolers are officially not preschoolers any more. As we step into Kindergarten and 2nd grade, and as a family new to "officially" homeschooling, I recently bought writing curriculum from BraveWriter and breathed a huge sigh of relief.

The guidance offered essentially advocates for 1) focusing on creating an environment filled with books, music, and experiences; and, 2) a language-rich lifestyle - one where you listen to your child, respond thoughtfully, and pursue ideas together. (This builds on what we know about how preschoolers learn, too. ) She, of course, weaves writing lessons into the day and provides structure so parents don't have to come up with everything on their own. (Whew!) 

Books, Music, and Experiences

Despite being regulars at the library, I often find myself scouring the catalog and shelves for books that might work to answer my child's question or delve deeper into the subject du jour. It is no wonder why lists are some of the most popular blogs in the world. You know the ones: "101 Books to Read Before Kindergarten," "10+ Children's Books to Inspire Kindness," and my own  "24 Books for Preschool Engineers."

A Smaller, More Approachable List

The problem is that sometimes we want a smaller, more approachable list. One with fewer books that includes other things. I just want a few good books, a CD, and a video, perhaps a toy. Something like a thoughtful little themed basket.

Invitation to Learn

It is in the spirit of having a small sampling of one topic that I am writing Invitations to Learn. Each invitation grows from our homeschool life and is a pint-sized unit of study for the DIY crowd. With this list, I am inviting you to learn alongside your child and giving you a small amount of guidance for creating a rich learning environment in your home or school.

Read a book one day; listen to an audiobook another day; watch a movie a different day; go on a field trip a different day. By offering one great thing at a time, you are inviting your child to learn with you and enjoy learning with you! Over time you and your child will consider the topic in several different ways, using different materials, have different but related conversations about it, and you will grow your knowledge in wonderfully robust ways.

INVITATION TO LEARN FAIRY TALES - CINDERELLA

I have found some of these at the library or for free online. For your convenience, I will also include affiliate links to Amazon when available.

Peek Inside a Fairy Tale: Cinderella
https://m6038.myubam.com/p/6015/peek-inside-a-fairy-tale-cinderella

The classic fairy tale brought up to date for a modern audience with beautiful illustrations and fine laser-cut holes and cutaways which add depth and drama. Young children will love looking at the details in this book - both in the illustrations and in the peek-throughs and flaps - and sharing and talking about it with a grown-up. Second in a new series which takes the format of the bestselling "Peek Inside" non-fiction series and applies it to much-loved fairy tales.

The following anthology is a good one to start with because the popular Cinderella story is short, sweet, and to the point. Then followed by different versions of the tale from around the world. Start here and then dive deeper into the classic or go to Canada, China, Egypt, Iraq, Ireland, or Mexico, or dig into the Jewish version:

Cinderella Stories from Around the World

Think there’s just one fairy tale with an overworked girl and wicked stepsisters? Think again! Cultures all around the world have their own Cinderella stories. Visit Canada, China, Egypt, and France, and find out whose “glass slippers” are made of red silk, and whose “fairy godmother” is a fish.

Cinderella by Marcia Brown

There is perhaps no better loved, no more universal story than "Cinderella." Almost every country in the world has a version of it, but the favorite of story-tellers is the French version by Charles Perrault.

This translation is excellent for story-telling and also for reading aloud. Marcia Brown's illustrations are full of magic and enchantment from the little cupids putting back the hands of the clock to the last scene at the palace. They are pictures that will stay in a child's mind.

The Rough-Face Girl

From Algonquin Indian folklore comes one of the most haunting, powerful versions of the Cinderella tale ever told.

In a village by the shores of Lake Ontario lived an invisible being. All the young women wanted to marry him because he was rich, powerful, and supposedly very handsom. But to marry the invisible being the women had to prove to his sister that they had seen him. And none had been able to get past the sister's stern, all-knowing gaze.

Then came the Rough-Face girl, scarred from working by the fire. Could she succeed where her beautiful, cruel sisters had failed?

Yeh-Shen: A Cinderella Tale from China

Misty, jewel-like illustrations evoke the mythic past in this Chinese Cinderella story. Ages 4-8. 

The Egyptian Cinderella

This Egyptian spin on the classic Cinderella tale was initially recorded in the first century by a Roman historian and is retold here by folklorist Shirley Climo.

Poor Rhodopis! She has nothing—no mother or father, and no friends. She is a slave, from the far-off country of Greece. Only the beautiful rose-red slippers her master gives her can make Rhodopis smile.

So when a falcon swoops down and snatches one of the slippers away, Rhodopis is heartbroken. For how is she to know that the slipper will land in the lap of the great Pharaoh himself? And who would ever guess that the Pharaoh has promised to find the slipper’s owner and make her queen of all Egypt?

Ella Bella Ballerina: cinderella

Ella Bella loves her ballet class, which is conducted by the kindly Madame Rosa at an old theatre that seems touched by magic. One day, when Ella loses one of her slippers, Madame Rosa lends her another pair for dancing--and is then reminded of Cinderella and her story of the lost slipper. Madame Rosa recounts the tale to her students, and Ella Bella listens with heightened interest. When their day’s lesson has ended Ella lingers at the theatre, then opens Madame Rosa’s music box and listens as it plays melodies from the Cinderella ballet. Suddenly, Cinderella’s fairy godmother magically appears, and Ella Bella is transported into the beloved story of Cinderella. This delightful book’s final page describes the ballet Cinderella, with music by the great Russian composer, Sergei Prokofiev.

Have you ever tried to tell a story in 20 words or less? After reading a few of the longer books, you and your child will likely be very impressed that the story can be told in only a few words in these sturdy board books. Intended for the youngest readers but give plenty of food for thought for the most loquacious among us.

Les Petits Fairytales: Cinderella

Ages 1-3yo.

Discover the magic of Cinderella in this petite edition of the classic fairytale, created especially for little readers with just a handful of words and bright, enchanting illustrations.

AudioBook: Land of Stories: A Treasury of Classic Fairy Tales

Dear Listener, this is a very special book that contains more than 35 classic fairy tales and nursery rhymes, plus your very own survival guide to the Land of Stories. If you notice anything glowing, followed by an inviting humming noise, don't be afraid! That is just the book's magic.

Enter the world of fairy tales in this stunning book that includes more than 35 beloved stories and rhymes retold by New York Times best-selling author Chris Colfer.

This companion book to the Land of Stories series will appeal to new and old fans alike, who will delight in favorite classics such as "Cinderella", "Sleeping Beauty", "Little Red Riding Hood", "Jack and the Beanstalk", and more. Here is the beloved fairy-tale treasury that Alex and Conner fall into in The Land of Stories: The Wishing Spell - a beautifully designed addition to the series and the magical book that started it all!

CLASSIC FAIRY TALES

Cinderella

Hansel and Gretel

Goldilocks and the Three Bears

Jack and the BEanstalk

Little Red Riding Hood

Snow White

The Three Little Pigs

Rumpelstiltskin

The Elves and the Shoemaker

Beauty and the Beast

The Boy Who Cried Wolf

SLeeping Beauty

The Princess and the Pea

Rapunzel

Henny Penny

The Little MErmaid

Three Billy Goats Gruff

The Snow Queen

The Frog Prince

Puss in Boots

THumbelina

The Gingerbread Man

The Ugly Duckling

Pinocchio

MOTHER GOOSE NURSERY RHYMES

Little Bo Peep

Little Miss Muffet

Little Jack Horner

The Old Woman Who Lived in a Shoe

Humpty Dumpty

Rub-a-Dub-Dub

Three Blind Mice

Baa, Baa, Black Sheep

Georgie Porgie

Hey Diddle Diddle

Pat-a-Cake

Jack and Jill

Jack Be Nimble

Cinderella Movies

Two-movie collection featuring Disney's classic animated version of the fairy tale and the 2015 live action adaptation.

In 'Cinderella' (1950), enslaved by her stepmother and two ugly sisters, the beautiful Cinderella (voice of Ilene Woods) seems destined to miss the glittering party at which the Prince (William Phipps) will choose his bride. However, a magical makeover courtesy of her Fairy Godmother (Verna Felton) gets her to the ball on time and Cinderella begins to cast her own spell on the Prince.

Directed by Kenneth Branagh, 'Cinderella' (2015), stars Lily James as the eponymous character alongside an all-star cast including Richard Madden, Cate Blanchett and Helena Bonham Carter. When her widowed father remarries to Lady Tremaine (Blanchett), Ella (James) does her best to be welcoming to her stepmother and her new stepsisters Anastasia (Holliday Grainger) and Drizella (Sophie McShera). However, after the unexpected death of her father, Ella finds herself being mistreated by Lady Tremaine and her daughters, forced to be a servant and nicknamed 'Cinderella'. One day in the woods she encounters a handsome stranger and believes him to work in the Palace, not realising he is in fact Prince Charming (Madden). Ella's household receives an invitation to a royal ball and Ella hopes she will get the chance to see the young man again. When Lady Tremaine refuses to let her attend the ball, a friendly fairy (Bonham Carter) steps in to lend a helping hand.

LEGO Cinderella

Manufacturer Recommended Ages: 4 - 7 Years

• Charming toy for 4-year-olds features cinderella's carriage, with rolling wheels, a seat, and space for her beauty chest, accessory elements include a pumpkin, magic wand, bowl, bone and a beauty chest with brush and lipstick.
• Includes easy-to-follow building instructions, castle with a ballroom and bigger pieces that make building easier.
• Includes mini-dolls: cinderella and prince charming, a puppy and a horse.
• Carriage with horse measures over 3" (9cm) high, 7" (18cm) long and 1" (5cm) wide.
• Castle measures over 5" (13cm) high, 2" (6cm) wide and 3" (9cm) deep.

DUPLO Cinderella

Manufacturer Recommended Ages: 24 months - 5 Years

Disney Cinderella fans will love recreating the ball scene with the Prince in this beautiful castle. Turn the gear wheels to make them dance, but remember to keep an eye on the clock! Develop early construction skills with this easy-to-build set with iconic accessories and decorated bricks to bring the magic to life. Includes two LEGO DUPLO figures: Cinderella and Prince Charming, plus a bird figure.

Little Adventures Cinderella Dress

Our Cinderella dress features a stretchy blue velvet bodice that is elegantly detailed with a gathered white inlay, sparkling silver trim and a beaded flower. The silver trimmed hip drapes capture that authentic Cinderella look. Features: clothing quality fabrics; machine washable. Stretchy, soft and very comfortable. Sizes: S-XL New Sizes available in Large Plus (ages 7-9), Size 9-11 and Size 11-13.

Invitation to Learn Multiplication

A Learning Lifestyle

My preschoolers are officially not preschoolers any more. As we step into Kindergarten and 2nd grade, and as a family new to "officially" homeschooling, I recently bought writing curriculum from BraveWriter and breathed a huge sigh of relief.

The guidance offered essentially advocates for 1) focusing on creating an environment filled with books, music, and experiences; and, 2) a language-rich lifestyle - one where you listen to your child, respond thoughtfully, and pursue ideas together. (This builds on what we know about how preschoolers learn, too. ) She, of course, weaves writing lessons into the day and provides structure so parents don't have to come up with everything on their own. (Whew!) 

Books, Music, and Experiences

Despite being regulars at the library, I often find myself scouring the catalog and shelves for books that might work to answer my child's question or delve deeper into the subject du jour. It is no wonder why lists are some of the most popular blogs in the world. You know the ones: "101 Books to Read Before Kindergarten," "10+ Children's Books to Inspire Kindness," and my own  "24 Books for Preschool Engineers."

A Smaller, More Approachable List

The problem is that sometimes we want a smaller, more approachable list. One with fewer books that includes other things. I just want a few good books, a CD, and a video, perhaps a toy. Something like a thoughtful little themed basket.

Invitation to Learn

It is in the spirit of having a small sampling of one topic that I am writing Invitations to Learn. Each invitation grows from our homeschool life and is a pint-sized unit of study for the DIY crowd. With this list, I am inviting you to learn alongside your child and giving you a small amount of guidance for creating a rich learning environment in your home or school.

Read a book one day; listen to an audiobook another day; watch a movie a different day; go on a field trip a different day. By offering one great thing at a time, you are inviting your child to learn with you and enjoy learning with you! Over time you and your child will consider the topic in several different ways, using different materials, have different but related conversations about it, and you will grow your knowledge in wonderfully robust ways.

INVITATION TO LEARN MULTIPLICATION

These are things we found at our library. (We stream many audiobooks for free.) For your convenience, I will also include affiliate links to Amazon.

Multiplication and Our Bodies

The Three-Headed Monster
We have a trail near our house that we call "Coyote Trail" because of the wildlife that scurries around out there. With two young children exploring the wildnerness, it is common knowledge in our neighborhood that we need to educate them about how to be as safe as possible when sharing the space with snakes, coyotes, and other creatures. The simplest thing to do: look big.

Looking big is hard to do when you are three years old though and so the three of us decided it would be better to stick together so we look like a three-headed, six-legged monster. Staring at the shadow our three-headed, six-legged monster cast on the ground, we have the opportunity to see part of the 3s multiplication table:

• 3 humans x 1 head per human = 3 heads, and 
• 3 humans x 2 legs = 6 legs. 

I have said before that there is no need to do worksheet math with young children. But talking about math in these organic situations is invaluable.

Fingers & Toes 

Using fingers (and toes) to count presents a unique opportunity to learn preschool multiplication, too. With your child you can use just hands to learn the 2s times tables:

• 2 hands x 1 finger per hand = 2 finger
• 2 hands x 2 fingers per hand = 4 fingers
• 2 hands x 3 fingers per hand = 6 fingers
• 2 hands x 4 fingers per hand = 8 fingers
• 2 hands x 5 fingers per hand = 10 fingers

Add toes and learn 4s!

• 4  extremities x 1 digit per extremity = 4 digits
• 4  extremities x 2 digits per extremity = 8 digits
• 4  extremities x 3 digits per extremity = 12 digits
• 4  extremities x 4 digits per extremity = 16 digits
• 4  extremities x 5 digits per extremity = 20 digits

Ready to add some books and music to explore Multiplication? Read on...

Ten Little Fingers and Ten Little Toes by Mem Fox, Illustrated by Helen Oxenbury

"There was one little baby / who was born far away. / And another who was born / on the very next day. / And both of these babies, / as everyone knows, / had ten little fingers / and ten little toes." No matter which part of the world a baby comes from—born on the ice or in a tent—that baby has “ten little fingers / and ten little toes,” the pleasing refrain of this wonderful, rhyming tribute to the chubby, sweet universality of babies of all colors. Helen Oxenbury’s soft, rounded babies are captured perfectly in soft, rounded watercolors.

Recommended age: 3+

"Moose in a Treehouse" by Brent Holmes

Counting Cookies by 1s, 2s, 3s, and 4s. I can't imagine a more enticing way to bring times tables into the lives of our young people!



Moose Multiplication Video

My kiddo and I loved the Moose in a Treehouse song so much that I made a little video about it... Includes imagery to see how the multiplication tables stack up!




10 Little Rubber Ducks by Eric Carle

"Ducks overboard!" shouts the captain, as a giant wave washes a box of 10 little rubber ducks off his cargo ship and into the sea. The ducks are swept away in various directions. One drifts west, where a friendly dolphin jumps over it. A whale sings to another. But as the sun sets, the 10th little rubber duck is left all alone, bobbing helplessly on the big wide sea. Small readers and listeners will empathize with the little duck's plight—and will rejoice at the heartwarming surprise ending.

In this poignant and funny story, illustrated with strikingly designed collages, Eric Carle takes readers on an exciting voyage of discovery. Following the little ducks as they float to all parts of the globe, young explorers can see for themselves the meanings of directional words and learn simple math concepts, such as counting and the use of cardinal and ordinal numbers. Each creature the ducks meet is seen in its own habitat and behaves in a true-to-life manner, offering a very simple first view of biology and geography.

"A wonderful read-aloud for storytimes or one-on-one sharing. It's a definite 10," commented School Library Journal in a starred review. "Beautifully composed illustrations," said Booklist. "As sublimely simple and endearing as the playthings it portrays," agreed Publishers Weekly.

This board book edition with sturdy pages is perfect to share with toddlers. Note that this edition does not include a squeaker at the end.

Recommended for Preschool - Kindergarten

Lift-the-Flap Times Tables by Usborne

Lift-the-flaps to find tips, tricks and practice questions to help you learn all the times tables up to 12x12. You can discover why the tables are so helpful, use the number machine to answer any tables question, and test your knowledge with the times tables challenge.

Recommended age: 6+

LEGO and LEGO-like Bricks

The nature of LEGO bricks make them perfect for doing a lot of maths learning, including multiplication. I am a fan of just letting children build with them and letting them get a visceral understanding of quantity.

For our smallest learners there are MEGA Blocks:

Duplo is a LEGO brand and the bricks are smaller than MEGA Blocks but bigger than LEGO originals.

And, of course, LEGO. There are sets that build something specific or just boxes of bricks for free play...

So get playing with multiplication! I'd love to hear how it manifests in your life!

Repetitive Play: Becoming Who They Are

It was spring semester of my freshman year. I had been living beneath the overcast skies of a Michigan winter for months. Things were dragging and I found solace in the strangest of places: differential equations.

In my dorm room, I sat at my desk and worked problems from the textbook. Then I worked them again. It felt good. The patterns, the rhythm, and the difficulty all gradually increased from 1 to 99. I did the set again. In fact, I did them over and over again. Differential equations became my mantra.

Weird? I know. But merely the academic manifestation of playing with your favorite thing, your favorite patterns. I remember finding great comfort in doing my maths homework over and over again. It seemed like a winning way to spend my time because I was escaping from the drama of dorm life by studying. (Brilliant!)

It turns out that comfort is just one reason repetition is good for you (and for your kids). Repetition invites us to be imagined participants rather than passive dummies. Consider how...

...How Repetition Strengthens

Read the rest at Fat Brain Toys...

Vlog - Free Build with Sqaures

Mikey invites viewers to free-build with squares.

The Preschool Engineer's Definitive Guide to TRUCKS

Before I had a son I called all working machines “trucks.” Alongside my toddler I have learned more about trucks than I ever would have guessed. We have read books (good, bad, and ugly). We have memorized lyrics to songs. We have played with (and, if possible, broken) what seems like every toy truck available.

This is the definitive list of all things TRUCK. It is a summary of the best toys, music, videos, and books for preschoolers about trucks.

TOYS

Outdoor Toys
In our experience, TONKA makes the best toy working trucks. They are rugged and can withstand the rough and tumble playground play of preschool. After being flung down the slide, their pieces remain in tact. Their wheels provide great traction on a variety of surfaces. 

These are the three best trucks for building a working fleet: 

1. a grader (a blade for smoothing surfaces), 
2. a trencher (for scooping and dumping), and 
3. a dump truck (with an angled bed so contents to just fall out when being transported).

The hefty steel trucks by TONKA might be too much for your family. Prefer plastic? Our favorite plastic toy trucks are by BATTAT. And, conveniently enough, they offer three different kinds of trucks to add to the working fleet.

1. front end loader (scoop on the front is agile and easy to maneuver but you will likely have to constantly tighten the screws),
2. garbage truck, and
3. cement mixer (expect your child to directly turn the drum instead using the tiny crank).

Crane trucks are tricky because there is a rope that, presumably, gets cranked up and down that has to also attach to a hook. Our favorite is by Mattel because is is sturdy and has been dragged all over. The catch is that the rope does not do a lot of out and back work...usually my kids tie or tape things on the end. At the high price, I would probably go for a different truck in the fleet but if a crane is what you need then this is our fav:

The trucks I list here have been in our family for three to five years and have withstood the tests of time.

Indoor Toys
Our favorite indoor truck play is with Play-doh's Diggin' Rigs toys. The machines themselves are interesting to work with and putting them together makes for imaginative play that might take over your entire room. These are our favs:

• A circular saw (never did I ever think I would find a toy circular saw!),

• Logging truck (complete with buzzsaw),

• Fire Truck (for spraying water that isn't really water...it is blue play-doh!),

• Brick Mill (a funnel and a crank!),

• Quarry (a crank and tumbling play-doh gravel).

The last awesome toy I'll list is Constructive Eating Utensils. They are my go-to gift for two year olds. These "toys" have also been in my family...for six years...and they are still used on a weekly basis.

MUSIC

Truck Tunes is easy to recommend for truck lovers everywhere. The songs are snappy and strangely stick-in-your-head-y and they describe trucks and the work they do. Thirty songs are available to download!

VIDEOS

The folks over at Twenty Trucks also made music videos of their Truck Tunes. You can preview them on YouTube or download them to your device for on-the-go entertainment (i.e., airplane travel).

Mighty Machines is a show produced in Canada for kids. It features live video footage of real machines at work. The audio is dubbed over and gives voices to the machines who tell the stories of their days. Learn about rock quarries, work on the farm, deep underground, and even take to the seas or skies!

Pick some to buy or watch on Netflix.

Bob the Builder on PBS Kids is a cartoon series and has an empire of its own. Each episode reveals a project for Bob and his team of machines to do. Books, an app and toys are available to coordinate with the show. The story-telling and animation are both awesome. Bob and his team are easy to recommend as additions to your preschooler's world of TRUCKS.

BOOKS

Here is my first word of warning: Steer clear of books by TONKA. They are practically sales catalogs for their toys and the writing is downright awful. If you need something akin to truck-porn then I recommend Richard Scarry's Cars and Trucks and Things that Go or Richard Priddy's First 100 Trucks. 

If you are looking for better books...ones that you can enjoy as much as your child then check out the list below.

For the Love of Trucks
These are the books that tell a story about playing with trucks or loving them.

Trucks and the Work They Do

These books teach about trucks...the sounds they make, the work they do on their own, or as a member of a truck team.

Trucks Come to Life

These books tell the story that has a truck as the main character. [Note: I do not LOVE "Dinotrux" but boy oh boy do kids love it!]