Module 2
Folktales
Additional Book 

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Zelinsky, Paul.  1986.  RUMPELSTILTSKIN.  New York:  Dutton Children’s Books. ISBN  0140558640

2.  PLOT SUMMARY
Rumpelstilskin is someone that is going to help, but he is going to get something is return for his service.  There was a poor miller that had a beautiful daughter.  The miller told the king that his daughter could spin straw into gold.  He brought his daughter to the king.  The king put her in a room full of straw and told her she had to spin all of it into gold or she would die.  She knew should could not spin the straw into gold, so she just sat there and wept.  Then a little man shows up and told her he could spin the straw into gold.  He asked what she would give him in return and she gave him her necklace.  He agreed and spun all her straw into gold.  When the king came back in the morning he saw all the gold and wasn’t satisfied, so he put her in an even bigger room full of straw to spin if she valued her life then she would do it.  Again, she just sat there and wept because she knew she couldn’t do it.  The little man came back again and offered to spin it for her.  This time she gave him her ring.  When the king came back he still wanted more. This time he put her in a room and told her if you spin all of this I will make you my wife.  The little man came back for a third time and this time the woman had nothing to offer him.  So, he told her when you marry the kind and have your first-born child you have to give it to me.  She agreed because she wasn’t sure if any of this would happen.  He spun all of the straw into gold, then the king came back and the morning and said he was going to marry her.  Sure enough a year after they marry they have little baby boy.  The little man shows up and wants the baby.  She offers him all the royal treasure to keep her child and he still says no.  He gives her three days to tell figure out his name.  If she does she gets to keep her baby.  She sends her best servant to figure out the name and sure enough her does.  The little man comes back, she tells him his name, he says the devil told her and then her disappears.  She never sees the little man again.        

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
This story is a very clear story of Rumplstilskin.  This would be a good one to read if introducing this folktale for the first time.  The illustrations are very detailed and show exactly what is going on.  For example whenever you see a picture of the woman you can tell how she feels based on the emotions on her face.  You can also tell by the look on the little man’s face that he is up to no good.  You would need to be careful whom you read it to because it does talk about death and beer.  

4. REVIEW EXCERPT(S)
Good Reads review: “I would use Zelinsky's version to teach the story since it is clear and well told. I would also use his illustrations to showcase artistic skills and for art criticism lessons.”
Happily Ever Tales Blog review: “I really enjoy the painting of the scene where the queen guesses the little man's name.  The queen's stance and face are perfect and the baby is icing on the cake. These are smooth, pretty illustrations, which add to this classic tale.”

5. CONNECTIONS
*This story would be good to read to older kids.  They could discuss how we should offer something we really don’t want to give.  Also, they could re-write this using something they like.