Rumpelstiltskin

This version of Rumpelstiltskin is retold by Anne Marie Ryan and illustrated by Erica-Jane Waters. Rumpelstiltskin is a German fairy tale with elements of magic. A poor miller wants to impress the king so he boasts to the king that his daughter can spin straw into gold. This got the king's attention and he brought the miller’s daughter to the turret of his castle with a spinning wheel and a pile of straw. The king expected the daughter to spin the straw into gold by morning or she would be thrown into the dungeon. Of course spinning straw into gold was not a talent the daughter possessed. Just as she started to cry, a little man danced into the room. This little man could help the young lady spin the straw into gold, but at what price? The cartoon-like illustrations would be very appealing to a young audience, perhaps 5-8 year olds. This version of Rumpelstiltskin would be appropriate for a young audience to understand. When introducing the genre of fairy tales, this book could be a great example. I would also use this book to talk about the danger of being boastful or dishonest. The miller said that his daughter could spin straw into gold even though she isn’t able to do that. The students could share an example of a time they have been dishonest or boastful. After reading different versions of this fairy tale, you could talk about how different versions have different endings. Some versions have Rumpelstiltskin fly away on a spoon, another one he tumbled through the floor, and in others he runs away. The students could write their own ending to Rumpelstiltskin. What would Rumpelstiltskin do when the queen says his name?