Once upon a time, in a small town near a big palace, there lived a kind girl called Cinderella. She lived with her father, her stepmother and her two stepsisters. Her father sold cloth, so he often went away on long trips, but he always came home with stories and hugs. Cinderella loved sitting by the warm kitchen fireplace, so her apron was often dusted with grey cinders. That is how she got her cosy name, and she didn't mind one bit.
Her stepmother wasn't wicked, but she was very grumpy and very busy. "Cinderella, sweep the floor! Cinderella, fold the laundry!" Her stepsisters were a little bossy too. "Cinderella, fix my ribbon! Cinderella, where's my other shoe?" Cinderella did her jobs with a song, and she was kind to everyone, even when they forgot to say thank you.
One day there was a knock at the door. Knock, knock, knock! "The Prince is holding a grand ball," said the messenger, "and every family in the kingdom is invited!" The stepsisters squealed and ran to find their fanciest dresses. Cinderella helped them curl their hair, tie their sashes and buckle their shoes.
"May I come too?" asked Cinderella quietly. Her stepmother looked at the dusty apron. "You have no dress for a ball, and the kitchen still needs cleaning." And she hurried off with the stepsisters. The coach rolled away, clip-clop, clip-clop.
Cinderella sat down by the pumpkin patch in the garden, feeling a little sad. "I only wanted to dance and see the palace lights," she said. Suddenly the air sparkled, and there stood a lady with silver hair, a warm smile and a little wand. "Hello, dear Cinderella. I am your Fairy Godmother. You have been kind to everyone. Tonight it's your turn for a little magic."
"First, bring me the biggest pumpkin." Cinderella rolled it over. Tap! The pumpkin grew and grew into a shining golden coach. "Now the little mice from the kitchen." Six mice scurried out. Tap, tap! They became six fine grey horses. A plump rat became a jolly coachman, and six lizards from behind the watering can became footmen in green coats. Then the Fairy Godmother waved her wand over Cinderella. Her apron turned into a gown that shimmered like moonlight, and on her feet were two sparkling glass slippers.
"Have a wonderful time," said the Fairy Godmother. "But the magic lasts only until the clock strikes twelve, so please come home before then." "I will. Thank you!"
At the palace, music was playing and lights were glowing. The Prince bowed to Cinderella. "Would you like to dance?" They danced and danced, and talked about their favourite stars and flowers. Then Cinderella noticed one of her stepsisters standing alone with a snapped shoe ribbon. She knelt and tied it for her. "Thank you," said the stepsister, surprised, not knowing who this kind girl was. Later, Cinderella shared a basket of sweet oranges with both stepsisters, and they chatted happily.
Then the big palace clock began to chime. Dong! Dong! Dong! "Oh, it's nearly midnight! Thank you for a lovely evening!" Cinderella hurried down the palace steps, and one glass slipper slipped off her foot. Dong, dong, dong... By the twelfth chime she was home in her garden, with a pumpkin, six mice, a rat, six lizards, and one glass slipper still sparkling in her pocket.
The next day, the Prince went from house to house with the little glass slipper. "The girl who wore this was so kind," he said. "I would like to see her again." Many girls tried it on. Too big. Too small. Too wide. The stepsisters tried too, laughing. "Not quite!" At last Cinderella asked, "May I try?" The slipper slid on perfectly. Then she took the other one out of her pocket.
Her stepmother and stepsisters gasped. "It was you! You tied my ribbon!" said one. "You shared your oranges!" said the other. Her stepmother's cheeks turned pink. "Cinderella, we have been grumpy and unfair to you. I am truly sorry." Cinderella hugged them all. "I forgive you. Let's be a kinder family together."
The Prince invited the whole family to the palace, and Cinderella's father came home just in time for the celebration. Cinderella and the Prince became the best of friends, and one day they were married. And in that palace, everyone remembered that a kind heart shines brighter than any glass slipper.
Parent tip: When the palace clock strikes, count the chimes slowly with your child, saying "dong" and holding up a finger each time until you reach twelve.
Ask your child: After the story, you can ask: “Who was kind in this story, and what did they do?”
This gentle retelling has no cruelty; the stepfamily is only grumpy, and they say sorry and are forgiven.