Overview and Outcomes:

This is a 3 week Writing Root using Rumaysa by Radiya Hafiza, illustrated by Rhaida Eltouny, in which children explore and discuss fairytales. They go on to create a number of varied written outcomes using the text as a starting point including narratives, dialogue, character descriptions, setting descriptions and diary entries before using the ideas and authorial devices identified within the text to plan, draft, edit and publish their own fairytale prequel, telling the backstory of the witch. This gorgeous text has three parts and this Writing Root covers the first of these. After session 10, the story can continue to be read to children when time permits.

Synopsis of Text:

For as long as she can remember Rumaysa has been locked away in her tower, forced to spin straw into gold for the evil Witch, unable to leave. Until one day, after dropping a hijab out of her small tower-window, Rumaysa realizes how she might be able to escape.. Join Rumaysa as she adventures through enchanted forests and into dragon's lairs, discovers her own incredible magical powers and teams up with Cinderayla and Sleeping Sara! Rumaysa: A Fairytale is a magically fresh, empowering and funny debut, which retells three classic fairytales – Rapunzel, Cinderella and Sleeping Beauty – with beautiful inside illustrations by Rhaida El Touny and cover illustration by Areeba Siddique. 

Text rationale:

This is the debut novel from the author Radiya Hadiza which puts a fresh twist on the classic fairytales: Rapunzel, Cinderella and Sleeping Beauty, retelling these fantastical, traditional tales within an authentic Islamic world. Rumaysa is an empowering role model and each of the stories in this text deals with a range of themes such as grief, friendship and kindness. Rumaysa was the Waterstones Children’s Book of the Month and now has a sequel Rumaysa, Ever After.

Links and themes:

Legends and folklore, grief, friendship, courage, kindness, good vs evil

Date written: January 2025