Over the centuries, many different versions of the "Cinderella" story have been .
Some are written with children in mind while others are strictly for adults. Three popular versions are those of Jakob and Wilhelm Grimm, Tanith Lee, and Walt Disney. Most parents know that it is very important to monitor content when reading to children. When choosing which version of "Cinderella" to read to your child, it is important to consider many issues. I would choose Walt Disney's version of "Cinderella" to read to children due to the lack of violence and gore, the ease with which it reads, and its length. .
With all the violence in today's society, children need to be sheltered more so than in past generations. Today, you can turn on the television and see any number of violent acts whether it is on CNN or the Cartoon Network. Children are constantly being exposed to and desensitized to violence through television. Books and stories however, are things that a parent can pick and choose for their children based on the level of violence contained within. When choosing a story to read children, "Cinderella" is a popular selection. Grimm's version called "Ashputtle," like Lee's version "When the Clock Strikes" is very violent and gory. Not only do these versions include women cutting of parts of their bodies to fit in shoes, but also they graphically describe the blood spurting out. In addition, there are birds plucking out the eyes of sisters, witchcraft, Satanism, murder, insanity and demons. Disney's version however, contains none of the previously mentioned violence. It is a very simple story containing no violence at all. There is some cruel treatment of Cinderella by her stepsisters, but never any bloodshed. Also, there is never mention of witchcraft, or demons. There is only a fairy godmother that, like the tooth fairy, is a very non-intimidating figure. Based on the lack of violence contained in Disney's version of "Cinderella", it is the version I would choose to read to a child.