Reading the story with your Child
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Allow your child to read this story to you. If your child does not understand a word or is unable to pronounce it, please assist him/ her by defining or providing the correct pronunciation of the word. Let your child repeat the word a few times. Listen for the correct pronunciation of beginning, middle, and ending sounds.

At the end of the story, ask your child a few questions about the story’s plot. Or, have your child retell the story in his/ her own words. Then, have your child click the "comprehension quiz" button.

Rewritten By Bob Eschenbach
Naples, Florida


Once upon a time there lived a rich man, who had a wife, and one daughter, a very sweet and pretty girl. The wife fell sick and died, and, after a while, the father married again. But, he did not choose wisely this time. The lady that he married was snobbish and cross, and she had two grown-up daughters, just like her in all things. Shortly after the marriage, her husband died. His daughter was very sad. 


Soon, her stepmother began to be very harsh toward the sweet girl. The woman disliked her stepchild, because she was so much prettier than her own daughters. Also, the girl's good conduct and gentle manners made the woman's daughters appear more hateful. The stepmother made the girl do all the hard work of the house--scrub the floor, polish the grates, wait on the table, and wash up the plates and dishes. The poor child bore all this without complaint. When her work was done, she would sit for warmth in a corner of the chimney, among the cinders. For this reason, and to show their contempt for her, the unkind sisters called her Cinderella.

One day, the woman received an invitation to a ball that was to be given at the palace of the King. The ball was to honor his son, the Prince, who had just come of age. The woman gave the invitation to her two daughters, but not to Cinderella. Since it was a great honor, the sisters were full of glee. They began making plans to appear at the ball in grand style.

This meant a great deal more work for Cinderella. She had to do all the sewing and ironing, to starch and plait the ruffles, and to run out three or four times a day to buy things. When the day of the ball came, Cinderella had to help her snobbish sisters dress. She even had to arrange their hair, for they knew that she had good taste in all these matters, although they would not admit it openly.


At last the sisters rode off to the ball, being mean enough, at the last moment, to jeer at Cinderella because she was not going. The poor girl retired to her dismal kitchen, and could not help weeping as she sat there, thinking about her sisters' cruelty. Suddenly, her godmother, who was a fairy, appeared by her side, and asked what was the matter. "I--I--should so much have--have liked--" sobbed the broken-hearted girl, but she could say no more.

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