Little Gold Star: A Spanish American Cinderella Tale

**This review was created for an assignment at Texas Woman's University**

Book Review: Little Gold Star: A Spanish American Cinderella Tale

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY
San Souci, Robert D. 2000. LITTLE GOLD STAR: A SPANISH AMERICAN CINDERELLA TALE. Ill. By Sergio Martinez. Singapore: Harper Collins Publishers.
ISBN: 068814781X

2. PLOT SUMMARY

This translated Spanish American Cinderella Tale begins when Teresa’s widowed Father Tomas marries a wicked woman with two daughters. Tomas’s new wife and her children are mean and demanding of Teresa as Tomas works in the fields all day. Teresa meets the Blessed Mother Virgin Mary, who becomes her fairy godmother.

Teresa earns a gold star that shines brightly from the Blessed Mother and her sisters become jealous. Inez and Isabel are given chances by the Blessed Mother to do well by helping others (Baby Jesus and Joseph), but instead they treat the baby and Father poorly. Inez and Isabel grow horns and donkey ears much to their Mother’s dismay for their ill intended actions.

Teresa catches the hero’s eye at the fiesta held in honor of the patron saint of the town. Don Miguel meets Teresa and is intrigued by her beauty and gold star. Teresa leaves the ball in a hurry after being criticized by her stepmother, which leads Don Miguel on a search to find his true love.

This story ends happily ever after with Teresa and Don Miguel receiving eternal blessings by the Blessed Mother for their good deeds and service to others.

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS

Strong religious and Christian themes that run throughout this tale, which may or may not be an issue for public school teachers. San Souci’s translated text of the traditional Cinderella Tale offers readers a twist with a glimpse into Spanish American culture and the Catholic faith.

The illustrations add depth to the story and images that help the reader get a feel for the setting, the dress of the characters, cultural customs, and religious traditions.

The redemption of the wicked stepmother and sisters in this tale differs from the traditional Cinderella tale offering readers a new perspective on how characters can be influenced by good deeds of others.

4. REVIEW EXCERPT(S)

School Library Journal: “San Souci's telling is smooth and fluid. Martinez's lovely, luminous watercolor illustrations are a perfect match for the text. His accomplished sense of extended line gives all of his figures a romantic, elongated look, and his command of expression is exceptional. A noteworthy addition to an already impressive crop of Southwestern "Cinderella" stories.”

5. CONNECTIONS
*Teachers can discuss characteristics of fairy tales andprovide students with exposure to a variety of tales through book study, author study, and reading aloud.

*Multi-cultural versions of Cinderella Tales can be read and paired together for students to examine the similarities and differences between the stories.

*Students can research the region from which the different tales come from discussing cultural and religious traditions of the region.

Web Resources:

http://childrensbooks.about.com/cs/fairytales/a/cinderella.htm

http://www.emints.org/ethemes/resources/S00000849.shtml