![]() The Golden Sandal: A Middle Eastern Cinderella Story by Rebecca Hickox and illustrated by Will Hillenbrand gives a somewhat abridged version of the classic Cinderella tale while weaving in elements of Middle Eastern culture and heritage. The story is set in Iraq with the protagonist Maha. While there are some very similar parallels between classic Cinderella and the Middle Eastern version, there are enough differences to make Hickox tale stand alone. Instead of a fairy godmother, Maha has a red fish who she saves from being eaten and in return for her kindness, the fish helps her when she is in need. This portion of the story felt like an amalgamation of the German foktale of The Fisherman and his Wife and Aesop’s tale of The Lion and the Mouse although I am not sure the similarities are intentional. I just immediately thought of these stories as I read this tale, and it made me realize how many fables, fairy tales, and folk tales have been altered and adjusted a bit over time for different cultures. In The Golden Sandal, the readers are given a window into Middle Eastern culture when a daughter of a town merchant is to be married and the women prepare to gather to paint henna on the hands and arms of the bride to be. Through Maha’s desire to attend, the reader learns that this is an important time for women to gather and for mothers to meet perspective brides for their sons. Although the reader can tell from the illustrations that the story is probably set in somewhat ancient or older time, Middle Eastern culture shines through in the character’s garb such as the robes/gowns worn by the women, Tariq’s head turban, and the golden slipper itself and in the mention of foods like dates. It is interesting to see how many cultural adaptations of Cinderella have been made, and I research and found that the Cinderella tale we are familiar with in Western culture is also not original; it seems that the earliest tale dates back to Ancient Greece. It is curious to me that this is a tale that some many cultures seem to relate to or find relevancy with. I do know that I grew up hearing the fairy tale Cinderella and watching several movie adaptations, and I remember feeling somewhat vindicated as the sweet and dutiful Cinderella beats out the miserly and hateful stepmother and even becomes a princess at the end of the story. I am glad that little children around the world in different lands have these similar “Cinderella” stories that can relate to and see themselves and their culture mirrored back at them. Approximate Reading Level: 2nd-4th grades
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