Theatre: Cinderella Eats Beans and Rice

It's the time of year when theatre is glutted with pantos galore, especially in the UK, many without much distinguishing information for me to share on this blog. I try to highlight unusual interpretations of fairy tales--and grand scale ones--but there are too many productions to cover them all. However this one caught my eye this week so here's one to share.


Hartford Children's Theatre Presents CINDERELLA EATS RICE AND BEANS: A SALSA FAIRY TALE 1/15-31/2010

CINDERELLA EATS RICE AND BEANS: A SALSA FAIRY TALE is a critically acclaimed, bilingual children's musical by the award-winning team of playwright Karen Zacarias and composer Deborah Wicks La Puma. The contemporary, Latin-American musical delightfully turns the classic fairy tale on its head, telling the story from both Cinderella and her stepsisters' perspectives. Cinderella, an exchange student from Puerto Rico, comes to the United States to visit her "stepsister" Rosa. The two girls must work together to cross language barriers and cultural differences in order to come to an understanding at the (basket) ball game. With a Fairy Godfather and other delightful twists to the original story, CINDERELLA EATS RICE AND BEANS teaches a subtle lesson on empathy, sportsmanship and respect in the form of a fresh and lively salsa musical.

You can read more about it here or even get tickets if you are anywhere near Hartford, CT: CINDERELLA EATS RICE AND BEANS A Salsa Fairy Tale.

History 101, Butter and Little Red Riding Hood, too

I almost didn't look at this article, but I am glad I clicked through to read it. Essentially it is the story of a professor's lecture in History 101 in which real butter was made in the classroom. Little Red Riding Hood makes a guest appearance in the article, too. So here's the link and a quote: Catching More Flies with … Butter? by TRobey in the Cuny Graduate Center Advocate.

As I took back the jar from the last stu­dent and poured out the but­ter­milk I fielded ques­tions. Is this safe to eat? — yes. Are we going to die? — yes. But not from this. Is this the way peo­ple made but­ter in early mod­ern Europe? — yes, although they had other, big­ger ves­sels for agi­tat­ing the cream. Isn’t but­ter what Lit­tle Red Hood was tak­ing to her grand­mother in the sec­ond ver­sion of the story that we read?

Yes. In an instant, the net of ill­ness that had secretly sep­a­rated me from them was gone, and off we went, rac­ing to com­pare the ingre­di­ents of Miss Hood’s bas­ket in each of three ver­sions of the tale, talk­ing about respec­tive value of the food­stuffs in her bas­kets, and how the richer ingre­di­ents in later ver­sions betray the move­ment of fairy tales up the social ranks to the King of France’s own sec­re­tary. I shared the­o­ries about the trans­mis­sion of cul­ture in early mod­ern Europe. Hands bobbed for atten­tion, voices blurted out ques­tions and answers, and I scrib­bled some quick notes on the board.

Finger Puppet Fun: Artfelt

Yesterday's post of handmade felt finger puppets reminded me of my favorite resource for quality handmade finger puppets. I learned about Artfelt when I worked as a librarian in California and was quickly converted by the materials, especially the flannel board. I had always hated doing flannel boards until I started using this board and many of the kits.

The puppets are sewn to be used either as finger puppets or as flannel board pieces. They adhere very well to a flannel surface. And in fitting with the blog, here are the fairy tale themed kits that are available, although several more with other themes are also produced.


The Three Little Pigs

Goldilocks and the Three Bears


A Gingerbread Man Story-Rhyme Arfelt also has rhymes and stories with each set and I have used the Gingerbread Man one several times over the years to tell the story.

"Once there was a Gingerbread Man,
Baking in a gingerbread pan,
Rasin eyes and cherry lips,
Trimmed right down to his finger tips.
A Gingerbread Man in a gingerbread pan!"

The Three Billy Goats Gruff


And this isn't a fairy tale, but this set is the one I've used so much that I have two just in case pieces disappear. It's a favorite and I still receive emails and inquiries about it. It's Five Elephants in a Bathtub. See my Elephant story time ideas on SurLaLune Storytime. Mouse Paint runs a close second though...


And finally the boards. They come in two colors and two sizes. I have this blue one and treasure it. I used it over Christmas for some activities. It's heavyweight but folds flat so it is easy to store. It also doesn't tip over when placed on a flat surface, so it is safer around the toddlers who manage to knock over so much with no sharp corners to cut skin like so many of the metal framed versions do from other resources. The pyramid shape also allows for easy prestaging on the backside (both sides are covered in high quality felt) or puppets can be hidden in the interior. Love it.

I imagine the puppets I featured yesterday would also work well as flannel board pieces since they are made of high quality felt, too.

I am not affiliated with Artfelt--I'm just a fan and I have ordered from them for many years. My flannel board is about seven years old now--I bought my own after leaving the library--and it still looks almost new despite much traveling and usage.

New Release: Calamity Jack by all sorts of Hales

Released today: Calamity Jack, the new graphic novel by Shannon and Dean Hale and Nathan Hale (the first two are married to each other but Nathan is not related).

I haven't seen the book in person yet, but here are some reviews for your edification. This is technically a sequel to Rapunzel's Revenge. The cover looks quite steampunky, too, which should appeal to those enjoying that current trend in science fiction and fantasy. And, yes, Rapunzel appears in this new book, too. She's on the cover...

Review from School Library Journal:

Gr 4-9–The Hales follow up Rapunzel’s Revenge (Bloomsbury, 2008) with this fast-moving story focusing on Jack. It begins in the city of Shyport with his birth. Even as a child, Jack tends toward scheming, conning, and thievery with various accomplices, including Pru, a hat-fancying pixie. One scheme involving magical beans and the wealthy and corrupt giant Blunderboar goes awry, leaving Jack’s tenement and his mother’s bakery destroyed. Jack’s mother orders him to go, and go he does with a certain goose under his arm. After the events recounted in Rapunzel’s Revenge, Jack and Rapunzel head back to Shyport to set things right. They arrive to find that Jack’s mother is being held prisoner by Blunderboar, who is virtually running the city. They team up with Pru and Freddie Sparksmith, a young journalist, to save Jack’s mom and the day. Nathan Hale’s artwork again places the action in a fairy-tale version of the American West, now with the city as backdrop. His character sketches are delightfully expressive, and the book has the same rich palette as the previous story. It should satisfy readers who enjoy adventure, fairy tales, and anyone who loves a rogue. Some fans of Bill Willingham’s “Jack of Fables” series (Vertigo) may also enjoy this take on the “Jack” stories for a younger audience.–Eric Norton, McMillan Memorial Library, Wisconsin Rapids, WI

Review from Publishers Weekly:

Calamity Jack follows up Rapunzel's Revenge, the 2008 graphic novel that imagined the famous damsel in distress taking matters into her own hands. Children's author Shannon Hale and her husband, Dean, and illustrator Hall offer a charming update of Jack and Beanstalk, set in a world that combines elements of fairy tales, a Gilded Age American city, and the Wild West. Jack is a young huckster until one of his schemes leads him to stumble upon a dastardly plot by the evil giant who lives in a penthouse that towers above Shyport. Teaming again with Rapunzel, and a few other allies, Jack leads readers on adventure trekking through sewers and taking to the sky. The dynamic artwork fits well with Jack and Rapunzel's quick tongues, as they flirt their way through numerous hair-raising situations. Ages 10–up. (Jan.)

Jacob Grimm

Jacob Grimm was born today in 1785, making this his 225th birthday.

David Hockney: Grimm's Fairy Tales Exhibit

From The art of the fairytale to be displayed at museum:

An exhibition of magical etchings by artist David Hockney will be displayed in Tunbridge Wells for the next month.

The popular British artist made 39 illustrations from six of the classic fairy tales of the Brothers Grimm, including Rapunzel and Rumpelstilzchen, in the late Sixties.

After reading the 20 stories transcribed by the 19th century German academics, Hockney, 72, was inspired to create vivid images from them by drawing directly on to copper plates.

“The etchings took Hockney six months in 1969 after he had read all of the Grimm’s fairy tales, which really captured his imagination.

“He was really drawn to the most gruesome ones and rather than illustrating them he looked to capture a mood or moment.”

The 39 etchings will be displayed at Tunbridge Wells Museum and Art Gallery in Civic Way from next Saturday until Sunday, February 7.

If, like me, you are no where near the exhibit, many of the images are available online on David Hockney's website and even available as prints.

Finger Puppet Fun: Clara Clips

I love finger puppets and have quite a collection from my librarian days. I have some fairy tale themed sets, but I recently discovered these new handmade designs by Clara Clips on Etsy and fell instantly in love.


I am very picky about handmade items--I love and cherish such items, but I want them to be well-made, too. I haven't seen these in person, but the photos are exquisite from design to execution. I am very impressed.


I also love this Goldilocks and the Three Bears set. Isn't Baby Bear great?


And, of course, there are Beauty and the Beast which I adore, but it is a much harder story to tell with finger puppets. Doesn't keep me from wanting to add these to my collection though... Still, I think the transformed prince is needed, too, don't you?


These sets probably work well on flannel boards, too, since they are made of felt. That makes them versatile and even more appealing for your favorite teacher or librarian or child.

I haven't 'met' Clara online since she has been shut down for the holidays, but her shop promises more fairy tale designs in the future. I can't wait to see what she creates next. If you explore her site, you will also see Christmas and Alice in Wonderland themed sets which are just as charming.

Her photography using the tale's text as a backdrop is also pretty wonderful. I love those thoughtful details.

(Disclosure: I am not affiliated with this seller. I just liked her stuff and wanted to share.)