Fairy Tales

The Wild Swans

The Wild Swans

Once there was a king who had much happiness and great fortune. Of all his treasures, he was proudest of his four children, the most perfect children in the land. His three fine, strong sons would do anything for their father. And the king’s greatest joy, his daughter Elise, was clearly the dearest, sweetest, and…

Puss in Boots

Puss in Boots

Puss was a very clever cat. For a long time, he belonged to an old farmer. But when the farmer died, Puss could not live on his own. He decided that he would need a new master. Puss went to see the farmer’s son. “I was quite loyal to your father,” Puss said, “and he…

Rumpelstiltskin

Rumpelstiltskin

There once was a penniless miller whose greatest joy was his kind and loving daughter. One warm spring morning, the miller and his ­daughter went to the royal palace to deliver some sacks of flour to the king. The miller wanted to impress the king. The miller boasted, “Your Majesty, not only do I sell…

The Frog Prince

The Frog Prince

Once upon a time, in a faraway kingdom, there lived a king and his fair young daughter. In the summer, when the kingdom broiled with heat, the young princess would sit by the edge of a deep, cool well and daydream. She imagined faraway lands and the people who lived there. And sometimes, when she…

Three Golden Flowers

Three Golden Flowers

Once there was a chief who ruled an island tribe. He lived a happy life until one day his daughter became very ill. The chief called for the tribe’s healers. The healers did everything they could for the princess; they gave her herbs, bathed her in oils, and burned spices to soothe her. But the…

Rapunzel
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Rapunzel

Romaina was a powerful witch who lived in a big castle. She had a magic garden that grew the biggest, juiciest plants all year long. A little wood shack stood next to Romaina’s castle. It belonged to a poor couple named Samuel and Bettina. They were very happy and hoped to have a child soon….