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LET’S DISCUSS THE STORIES ~ IDEAS FOR TALKING WITH KIDS

Friendship

1. Santa is really worried when Iris goes missing! He spends a long time looking for her. Why do you think he does this?

2. What other kinds of things do people do for their friends?

Bedtime Story written by T. Ferries

Illustrated by Halina Prakapenka

Music Video and sound effects from www.zapsplat.com and additional music by “Wish Background” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com), “Sneaky Snitch” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com), “Magistar” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com), “Whiskey on the Mississippi” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com), “Hyperfun” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com), “Brandenburg Concerto No. 4 in G, Movement I (Allegro), BWV 1049” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com), “Angels We Have Heard on High” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com), “8bit Dungeon Boss” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com), “Frost Waltz” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com), “Arcadia” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com), “Feelin Good” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com), “Winner Winner!” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

The post Where is Santa’s Cat? first appeared on Bedtime Stories.

© Storyberries 2023

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LET’S CHAT ABOUT THE STORY ~ IDEAS FOR TALKING WITH KIDS

Stranger Danger, Conversation

1. Every family has different rules. Do you know what to do if someone asks to you to do something or go somewhere without your parents knowing? What would you do?

2. What are some things that Simha might say if someone ever asks him to sneak away with them in future?

3. What are some good things that you might say, if someone asked you?

Bedtime Story for Kids written by Prarthana Gururaj and Anu Madhavan

Illustrated by Poornima Dollamullage

Book design by Jade Maitre

The post When Simha Broke ALL The Rules! first appeared on Bedtime Stories.

© Storyberries 2022

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LET’S CHAT ABOUT THE STORY ~ IDEAS FOR TALKING WITH KIDS

Stranger Danger, Independent Thinking

1. Emmie says No when the old lady asks her and her friends into her home. Why do you think she says No? Was this the right thing to do? Why or why not?

2. If the old lady didn’t look spooky, do you think Emmie should have done the same thing? Why or why not?

Short Story for Kids written by Andrea Kaczmarek

Illustrations by Zeinab Khalifi

Book design by Jade Maitre

Music Video by “Children’s Theme” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com), “Unease” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com), “Ghost Story” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com), “Classic Horror 2” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com), “Trepidation” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com), “Measured Paces” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com), “Marty Gots a Plan” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

The post The Three Halloween Cats first appeared on Bedtime Stories.

Let’s Chat About The Stories ~ Ideas for Talking With Kids

Conversation

1. Have you ever been to a carnival? What did you do there? What was your favourite activity?

Stranger Danger

1. Little Mouse and Littler Mouse are very worried when they lose their friend. Do they do the right thing in looking for Tiny Mouse? What would you do in this kind of situation?

Bedtime Story written by Syamphay Fengsavanh, translated by Alisha Berger

Bedtime Story illustrated by Nivong Sengsakoun

Other Credits:

This story: A Day at the Carnival is translated by Alisha Berger. The © for this translation lies with Room to Read, 2015. Some rights reserved. Released under CC BY 4.0 license. Based on Original story: ‘ມື້ໜຶ່ງທີ່ງານບຸນ’, by Syamphay Fengsavanh . © Room to Read , 2018. Some rights reserved. Released under CC BY 4.0 license.

This story ‘A Day at the Carnival’ has been published on StoryWeaver by Room to Read.

* THE STORY ‘A DAY AT THE CARNIVAL’ WAS CREATED BY ROOM TO READ AND IS LICENSED UNDER A CREATIVE COMMONS -BY-4.0 LICENSE. FORMATTING CHANGES HAVE BEEN MADE TO THE ORIGINAL WORK FOR EASE OF READING ON OUR WEBSITE.

The post A Day At The Carnival first appeared on Bedtime Stories.

Children run into unknown people all the time – on the street, in stores and in the park. In most cases the people they meet are very nice.  However, there is also the chance they will come across people who are not, so it’s very important that children know how to recognise situations that may involve risks with strangers.

Who is strange and who is not?

The fact that a person is a stranger to a child does not mean they are dangerous, so it is important for children to be able to  differentiate between unknown people who are better to avoid, and people from whom they do not need to doubt.

Keeping safe and getting help

At any given time, our children may find themselves in a situation where they need to enlist the help of a stranger, for example, if they are lost.  Children need to know how to identify situations that might be dangerous, how to detect signs of risky or suspicious behavior, and how to get help.

Where do I start?

Please read on…Storyberries provides free online children’s books, and parenting tips on how to have discussions with kids around safety.

Teach kids to be suspicious, and seek immediate help, if a stranger:

Invites them for a car ride
Offers them a gift
Tries to convince them to do something without permission
Asks them to go and help with something
Asks them to keep a secret
Tries to touch the child, or asks the child to touch them
Bothers them in any way

Four Steps to Remember

To prevent your child from facing risks with strangers, make sure they are prepared to follow these four steps if they face any of these situations:

Say “no”.
Get out of there immediately.
Scream loudly for help.
Tell a trusted adult what has happened

Safety in numbers

Motivate children to play in a group; it is always better for children to accompany one another.

Identify safe zones in advance

Explain to kids the difference between a safe place and one that is less safe, and show them examples.
Show them places where they would be less likely to encounter trouble.
Encourage them to trust their instincts. When we do not have a good feeling about a person or situation, it is better to move away.
Tell them where to go for help.

Staying safe online

Another very important issue is to supervise and protect children’s use of the Internet, as social networks can hide many dangers. Children can face the malicious intent of adults who try to manipulate and deceive them, and it is important to offer them guidance, information and strategies on the safest ways to negotiate appropriate online spaces, and to monitor their activities.

Instruct kids where to go for help

Instruct them to first find someone wearing a uniform, preferably a police officer, a guard, or a store employee. If they do not see anyone in uniform, it is best to look for people accompanied by children, or someone elderly. 

Also, teach that it is best to ask for help in a public place. It is also important that children recognise the houses of friends and family, as well as shops and restaurants in the neighborhood, where they can go to get help if needed. 

 

Some Free Books About Stranger Danger and Keeping Safe At Storyberries

Danger Worm

Papa worm is often telling the worm children about the dangers of being outside (there are birds, frogs, and even children with big welly boots!). A super story for introducing kids to the importance of keeping safe when they are playing outside.

The Runaway Pig

Lalita the pig goes on an adventure when she sees the garden gate left open! She has such a merry time exploring! A super, entertaining, story offering opportunities to talk about the fun of adventuring, balanced with the need to keep safe.

The Mystery of the Cyber Friend

A story (broadly aimed at 7-12 year olds) that deals with the dangers of online deception. As this story deals with potentially adult themes, please look at it to assess whether it is appropriate, before showing it to your child. Offers valuable and important messages about online safety.

Article by Luzmery M. Romero Gamboa and Fleur Rodgers

Luzmery works in the area of clinical psychology as a psychotherapist for children, adolescents and families. Since 2016, she has run a Psychological Center in Venezuela called Psicoluz. She offers workshop facilitations to parents, is involved in recreational activities for children, and has been working as a freelancer since 2017 performing online psychotherapy. 

Fleur is a meditation teacher in France and uses a compassion and loving-kindness based approach to meditation and slow-minded living. Fleur posts regularly to Instagram @rodgers.fleur . She has two children, is a qualified teacher in adult education and is the founder of Timeouttobreathe.com 

The post Stranger Danger first appeared on Bedtime Stories.

Once upon a time there was a woman who had seven hungry children, and she was baking pancakes for them. There was dough made with new milk, and it lay in the pan, and was rising so plumply and comfortably, that it was a pleasure to watch it. The children stood around it, and their grandfather sat and looked on.

“Give me a little bit of pancake, mother, I’m so hungry!” said one of the children.

“Dear mother!” said the second.

“Dear, sweet mother!” said the third.

“Dear, sweet, good mother!” said the fourth.

“Dear, best, sweet, good mother!” said the fifth.

“Dear, best, sweet, good, dearest mother!” said the sixth.

“Dear, best, sweet, good, dearest, sweetest mother!” said the seventh, and so they all begged around the pancake, one more sweetly than the other, for they were all so hungry and so well-behaved.

“Yes, children, wait until it turns around,” said she—until I have turned it around, she should have said—“then you shall all have a pancake, a lovely best-milk pancake. Just see how fat and comfortable it is lying there!”

When the pancake heard that it was frightened, turned itself around suddenly, and wanted to get out of the pan; but it only fell on its other side, and when this had baked a little, so that it took shape and grew firmer, it leaped out on the floor, and rolled off like a wheel, out of the door, and down the street.

Hey there! The woman was after it with the pan in one hand, and the spoon in the other, as fast as she could, and after her came the children, and last of all, their grandfather came hobbling along.

“Will you wait! Halt! Catch it! Hold it!” they all cried together, and wanted to catch up with it and grab it on the run; but the pancake rolled and rolled, and sure enough, it got so far ahead of them that they could no longer see it, for it had nimbler legs than all of them. After it had rolled a while it met a man.

“Good-day, pancake,” said the man.

“Good-day, Man Tan,” said the pancake.

“Dear, good pancake, don’t roll so fast; but wait a little and let me eat you!” said the man.

“Mother Gray and grandpa I’ve left behind, and the seven squallers, too, you’ll find, so I think I can leave you as well, Man Tan!” said the pancake, and rolled and rolled until it met a hen.

“Good-day, pancake,” said the hen.

“Good-day, Hen Glen,” said the pancake.

“Dear, good pancake, don’t roll so fast, wait a little and I will eat you up!” said the hen.

“Mother Gray and grandpa I’ve left behind, and the seven squallers, too, you’ll find, and Man Tan, so I think I can leave you as well, Hen Glen!” said the pancake, and rolled along the road like a wheel. Then it met a rooster.

“Good-day, pancake,” said the rooster.

“Good-day, Rooster Booster,” said the pancake.

“Dear, good pancake, don’t roll so fast. Wait a little and I will eat you up!” said the rooster.

“Mother Gray and grandpa I’ve left behind, and the seven squallers, too, you’ll find, and Man Tan and Hen Glen, and so I think I can leave you as well, Rooster Booster,” said the pancake, and rolled and rolled as fast as ever it could. And after it had rolled a long time it met a duck.

“Good-day, pancake,” said the duck.

“Good-day, Duck Tuck,” said the pancake.

“Dear, good pancake, don’t roll so fast. Wait a little and I will eat you up!” said the duck.

“Mother Gray and grandpa I’ve left behind, and the seven squallers, too, you’ll find, and Man Tan, and Hen Glen and Rooster Booster, so I think I can leave you as well,” said the pancake, and rolled on as fast as ever it could. After it had rolled a long, long time, it met a goose.

“Good-day, pancake,” said the goose.

“Good-day, Goose Loose,” said the pancake.

“Dear, good pancake, don’t roll so fast. Wait a little and I will eat you up!” said the goose.

“Mother Gray and grandpa I’ve left behind, and the seven squallers, too, you’ll find, and Man Tan and Hen Glen and Rooster Booster and Duck Tuck, and I think I can leave you as well, Goose Loose,” said the pancake, and rolled away.

After it had again rolled for a long, long time, it met a gander.

“Good-day, pancake,” said the gander.

“Good-day, Gander Meander,” said the pancake.

“Dear, good pancake, don’t roll so fast. Wait a little and I will eat you up!” said the gander.

“Mother Gray and grandpa I’ve left behind, and the seven squallers, too, you’ll find, and Man Tan and Hen Glen and Rooster Booster and Duck Tuck and Goose Loose, and I think I can leave you as well, Gander Meander,” said the pancake, and began to roll as fast as ever it could.

After it had rolled a long, long time, it met a pig.

“Good-day, pancake,” said the pig.

“Good-day, Pig Snig,” said the pancake, and began to roll as fast as ever it could.

“Now wait a little,” said the pig. “You need not hurry so, for we can keep each other company going through the forest and take our time, for it is said to be haunted.” The pancake thought that such was quite apt to be the case, and so they started off; but after they had gone a while they came to a brook.

The pig swam across on his own bacon, which was easy enough; but the pancake could not get across.

“Sit down on my snout,” said the pig, “and I will carry you over that way.” The pancake did so.

“Uff, uff!” said the pig, and swallowed the pancake in one mouthful.

“And now, since the pancake no further goes,
This little chronicle comes to a close.”

Fairy tale written by Peter Christen Asbjørnsen and Jørgen Engebretsen Moe

Let’s Chat About The Stories ~ Ideas for Talking With Kids

Courage, Stranger Danger

1. The pancake was very brave to roll away and escape being eaten by so many people and animals. Are there any things in life that you find scary to do, but you try to do them anyway? Do you think it’s good to do this? Why or why not?

2. The pancake trusted the pig when it offered to give it a ride on its snout. But then the pig ate it! What do you think the story is trying to tell us about people we don’t know?

3. How do you think we should decide whether or not to trust others?

The post The Chronicle of the Pancake first appeared on Bedtime Stories.

This is a vintage fairy tale, and may contain violence. We would encourage parents to read beforehand  if your child is sensitive to such themes.

You know the tale of poor Little Red Riding-hood, that the Wolf deceived and devoured, with her cake, her little butter can, and her Grandmother; well, the true story happened quite differently, as we know now. And first of all the little girl was called and is still called Little Golden-hood; secondly, it was not she, nor the good grand-dame, but the wicked Wolf who was, in the end, caught and devoured.

Only listen.

The story begins something like the tale.

There was once a little peasant girl, pretty and nice as a star in its season. Her real name was Blanchette, but she was more often called Little Golden-hood, on account of a wonderful little cloak with a hood, gold- and fire-coloured, which she always had on. This little hood was given her by her Grandmother, who was so old that she did not know her age; it ought to bring her good luck, for it was made of a ray of sunshine, she said. And as the good old woman was considered something of a witch, everyone thought the little hood rather bewitched too.

And so it was, as you will see.

One day the mother said to the child: ‘Let us see, my little Golden-hood, if you know now how to find your way by yourself. You shall take this good piece of cake to your Grandmother for a Sunday treat to-morrow. You will ask her how she is, and come back at once, without stopping to chatter on the way with people you don’t know. Do you quite understand?’

‘I quite understand,’ replied Blanchette gaily. And off she went with the cake, quite proud of her errand.

But the Grandmother lived in another village, and there was a big wood to cross before getting there. At a turn of the road under the trees, suddenly ‘Who goes there?’

‘Friend Wolf.’

He had seen the child start alone, and the villain was waiting to devour her; when at the same moment he perceived some wood-cutters who might observe him, and he changed his mind. Instead of falling upon Blanchette he came frisking up to her like a good dog.

‘’Tis you! my nice Little Golden-hood,’ said he. So the little girl stops to talk with the Wolf, who, for all that, she did not know in the least.

‘You know me, then!’ said she; ‘what is your name?’

‘My name is friend Wolf. And where are you going thus, my pretty one, with your little basket on your arm?’

‘I am going to my Grandmother, to take her a good piece of cake for her Sunday treat to-morrow.’

‘And where does she live, your Grandmother?’

‘She lives at the other side of the wood, in the first house in the village, near the windmill, you know.’

‘Ah! yes! I know now,’ said the Wolf. ‘Well, that’s just where I’m going; I shall get there before you, no doubt, with your little bits of legs, and I’ll tell her you’re coming to see her; then she’ll wait for you.’

Thereupon the Wolf cuts across the wood, and in five minutes arrives at the Grandmother’s house.

He knocks at the door: toc, toc.

No answer.

He knocks louder.

Nobody.

Then he stands up on end, puts his two fore-paws on the latch and the door opens.

Not a soul in the house.

The old woman had risen early to sell herbs in the town, and she had gone off in such haste that she had left her bed unmade, with her great night-cap on the pillow.

‘Good!’ said the Wolf to himself, ‘I know what I’ll do.’

He shuts the door, pulls on the Grandmother’s night-cap down to his eyes, then he lies down all his length in the bed and draws the curtains.

In the meantime the good Blanchette went quietly on her way, as little girls do, amusing herself here and there by picking Easter daisies, watching the little birds making their nests, and running after the butterflies which fluttered in the sunshine.

At last she arrives at the door.

Knock, knock.

‘Who is there?’ says the Wolf, softening his rough voice as best he can.

‘It’s me, Granny, your little Golden-hood. I’m bringing you a big piece of cake for your Sunday treat to-morrow.’

‘Press your finger on the latch, then push and the door opens.’

‘Why, you’ve got a cold, Granny,’ said she, coming in.

‘Ahem! a little, a little…’ replies the Wolf, pretending to cough. ‘Shut the door well, my little lamb. Put your basket on the table, and then take off your frock and come and lie down by me: you shall rest a little.’

The good child undresses, but observe this! She kept her little hood upon her head. When she saw what a figure her Granny cut in bed, the poor little thing was much surprised.

‘Oh!’ cries she, ‘how like you are to friend Wolf, Grandmother!’

‘That’s on account of my night-cap, child,’ replies the Wolf.

‘Oh! what hairy arms you’ve got, Grandmother!’

‘All the better to hug you, my child.’

‘Oh! what a big tongue you’ve got, Grandmother!’

‘All the better for answering, child.’

‘Oh! what a mouthful of great white teeth you have, Grandmother!’

‘That’s for crunching little children with! ‘And the Wolf opened his jaws wide to swallow Blanchette.

But she put down her head crying:

‘Mamma! Mamma!’ and the Wolf only caught her little hood.

Thereupon, oh dear! oh dear! he draws back, crying and shaking his jaw as if he had swallowed red-hot coals.

It was the little fire-coloured hood that had burnt his tongue right down his throat.

The little hood, you see, was one of those magic caps that they used to have in former times, in the stories, for making oneself invisible or invulnerable.

So there was the Wolf with his throat burnt, jumping off the bed and trying to find the door, howling and howling as if all the dogs in the country were at his heels.

Just at this moment the Grandmother arrives, returning from the town with her long sack empty on her shoulder.

‘Ah, brigand!’ she cries, ‘wait a bit!’ Quickly she opens her sack wide across the door, and the maddened Wolf springs in head downwards.

It is he now that is caught, swallowed like a letter in the post.

For the brave old dame shuts her sack, so; and she runs and empties it in the well, where the vagabond, still howling, tumbles in and is drowned.

‘Ah, scoundrel! you thought you would crunch my little grandchild! Well, to-morrow we will make her a muff of your skin, and you yourself shall be crunched, for we will give your carcass to the dogs.’

Thereupon the Grandmother hastened to dress poor Blanchette, who was still trembling with fear in the bed.

‘Well,’ she said to her, ‘without my little hood where would you be now, darling?’ And, to restore heart and legs to the child, she made her eat a good piece of her cake, and drink a good draught of wine, after which she took her by the hand and led her back to the house.

And then, who was it who scolded her when she knew all that had happened?

It was the mother.

But Blanchette promised over and over again that she would never more stop to listen to a Wolf, so that at last the mother forgave her.

And Blanchette, the Little Golden-hood, kept her word. And in fine weather she may still be seen in the fields with her pretty little hood, the colour of the sun.

But to see her you must rise early.

FRENCH FAIRY TALES EDITED BY ANDREW LANG

LET’S CHAT ABOUT THE STORIES ~ IDEAS FOR TALKING WITH KIDS

Kindness, Stranger Danger

1. Blanchette was very kind to let the grandmother in as she is a kind girl. What are some kind things that you like to do for others?
2. The moral of the story is to be aware of strangers and the danger of letting them into your home. What are some things that you do to be aware of strangers that you may come across?

The post The True History of Little Golden Hood first appeared on Bedtime Stories.

The following story deals with potentially adult themes which may be unsuited to younger readers. Please be aware of the content of the story and consider reviewing it before reading it with older children.

Let’s Chat About The Stories ~ Ideas for Talking With Kids

Digital Safety, Stranger Danger, Independent Thinking

1. Think of some ways that making an internet friend is not like making a friend in real life. Why do you think we have to be careful when making friends on the internet?

2. Can you think of some more ways to be safe on the internet?

Credits

BEDTIME STORY WRITTEN BY ZAC O’YEAH

ILLUSTRATED BY NILOUFER WADIA

Music Video: “Inspired” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com), “Jerry Five” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com),”Envision” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com), “Machinations” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com), “Vicious” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com), “Chillin Hard” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/  and additional music from mixkit.co

The Mystery of the Cyber Friend’ © 2018. ‘The Mystery of the Cyber Friend’ was originally published on StoryWeaver by Pratham Books. The development of this book was supported by CISCO. www.prathambooks.org Guest Editor: Mala Kumar

* THE STORY ‘THE MYSTERY OF THE CYBER FRIEND‘ WAS CREATED BY PRATHAM BOOKS AND IS LICENSED UNDER A CREATIVE COMMONS -BY-4.0 LICENSE. MINOR FORMATTING CHANGES HAVE BEEN MADE TO THE ORIGINAL WORK FOR EASE OF READING ON OUR WEBSITE.

The post The Mystery of the Cyber Friend first appeared on Bedtime Stories.

A powerful and mighty Prince married a thrice-lovely Princess, and he had not yet had time to look upon her, he had not yet had time to speak to her, he had not yet had time to listen to her, when he was obliged to depart from her on a far journey, and leave his young wife in the hands of strangers. The Princess wept much, and the consolations of the Prince were also many, and he advised her not to leave her lofty turret, not to have anything to do with bad people, not to listen to evil tongues, and not to consort with strange women. All this the Princess promised to do. The Prince departed, and she shut herself up in her own room. There she sat, and never went out.

Whether it was after a long time or after a short time matters not, but one day she was sitting by her little window, bathed in tears, when a woman passed by the window. In appearance she was simple and kindly, and she leaned her elbows on her crutch, rested her chin on her hands, and said to the Princess in a wheedling, caressing voice:

“How’s this, darling little Princess, you are forever fretting? Pray come now out of your turret and have a peep at God’s fair world, or come down into your little garden among the sweet green things and drive away your woe!”

For a long time the Princess refused, she did not even care to listen to the woman’s words, but, at last, she thought, “There can be no harm in going into the garden, crossing the brook is another matter.” But she did not know that this woman was a witch, and had come to ruin her because she envied her her bliss.

So the Princess went with her into the garden, and listened to her cunning, wheedling words. And in the garden from beneath the mountain trickled a stream of crystalline water.

“What do you say now,” said the woman, “the day is very hot, the sun is burning with all its might, but this darling little stream is so cold, so refreshing, and hark how it babbles—why should we not have a bath here?”

“Ah, no, no! I won’t,” said the Princess; but she thought to herself, “But why not? There can be no harm in having a bath!” So she slipped off her little sarafan, and bounded into the water, and no sooner had she bathed than the witch struck her on the shoulder and said, “Swim about now as a white duck!”

But the witch immediately dressed herself in the Princess’s robes, tied and painted herself, and sat in place of the Princess in the turret to await the Prince.

And as soon as the little dog began to bark and the little bell fell a-tinkling, she rushed out to meet him, threw herself upon his neck, and kissed and fondled him. The Prince was so overjoyed that he was the first to stretch out his arms towards her, and never noticed that it was not his wife, but an evil witch who stood before him.

Meanwhile the poor duck, dwelling in the bright stream, laid eggs and hatched its young; two were fair, but the third was still-born, and her babies grew up into little children. She brought them up, and they began to walk along the stream, and catch gold-fish, and collect bits of rags, and sew them coats, and run up the banks, and look at the meadows. But the mother said: “Oh! don’t go there, my children. There dwells the evil witch. She ruined me, and she will ruin you!”

But the children didn’t listen to their mother, and one day they played in the grass, and the next day they ran after ants, and went further and further, and so got into the Prince’s courtyard.

The witch knew them by instinct, and ground her teeth for rage; but she made herself so nice, called the little children into the out-house, gave them a good feed, and a good drink, and made them lie down to sleep, and bade her people light a fire in the courtyard, and put a kettle on it, and sharpen their knives.

The two brothers went to sleep, but the still-born one whom the mother had bade the others carry in their bosom that he might not catch cold, the still-born one did not sleep at all, but listened and saw everything.

In the night the witch came to their door and said: “Are you asleep, little children, or not?”

Then the still-born one answered instead of his brothers:

“We do not dream in dreams, but think in our thoughts that you want to cut up the whole lot of us!—the pyres of maple-branches are blazing, the kettles are seething, and the knives of steel are sharpening.”

“They are not asleep,” said the witch, and she went away from the door, walked about and walked about, and then went to the door again:

“Are you asleep, children, or are you not?”

And the still-born again screeched from beneath the pillow instead of his brethren:

“We do not dream in dreams, but think in our thoughts that you want to cut up the whole lot of us; the pyres of maple-branches are blazing, the kettles are seething, and the knives of steel are sharpening.”

“How is it that it is always one and the same voice?” thought the witch; “I’ll just have a peep.” She opened the door very, very softly, looked in, and saw both the brothers sleeping soundly. Then she killed the pair of them.

In the morning the white duck began seeking and calling her children, but her darling children did not come to her calling. Her heart had a foreboding of evil. She shuddered and flew off to the Prince’s courtyard. In the Prince’s courtyard, as white as little white kerchiefs, as cold as little cold split fish, lay the brothers all in a row. She flew down, threw herself upon them, fluttered her little wings, flew round and round her little ones, and cried with a mother’s voice:

“Kra, kra, my darling loveys!

Kra, kra, my little doveys!

I brought you up in woe and fears,

I nourished you with grief and tears,

Dark night it brought no sleep to me,

No food was sweet because of ye.”

And the Prince heard the lament, called the witch to him, and said: “Wife, have you heard this thing, this thing unheard of?”

“You imagine it! Hi! My serving-men, drive me this duck out of the courtyard!”

They began driving her out, but she flew round and round, and again said to her children:

“Kra, kra, my darling loveys!

Kra, kra, my little doveys!

The old, old witch your bane hath been,

The old, old witch, that cruel snake,

That cruel snake that lurks unseen;

Your father from you she did take, 

Your father dear, my husband true;

Us in the running stream she threw.

She changed us into ducks so white,

And prospers as if wrong were right!”

The Prince felt that there was something wrong here, and he cried:

“Bring me that white duck hither!”

They all hastened to fulfil his command, but the white duck flew round in a circle, and none could catch her. At last the Prince himself went out on the balcony, and she flew upon his hands, and fell at his feet. The Prince took her carefully by her little wing, and said:

“White birch-tree stand behind me, and fair damsel stand before me!”

Then the white duck turned into her former shape of thrice-lovely Princess, taught them how to get a little bladder of living-and-speaking-water in a magpie’s nest, sprinkled her children with the living water, and they shuddered; then she sprinkled them with the speaking water, and they began to speak. And the Prince suddenly saw himself surrounded by his family all alive and well, and they all lived together, and lived happily, and chose good and avoided evil.

But the witch, by the Prince’s command, was fastened to the tail of a horse and dragged away over the open steppe. The fowls of the air picked her flesh, and the wild winds of heaven scattered her bones, and there remained not a trace or a memorial of her behind.

Fairy Tale bedtime story by R. Nisbit Bain

LET’S CHAT ABOUT THE STORIES ~ IDEAS FOR TALKING WITH KIDS

Stranger Danger

1. The Princess trusts the old woman when she suggests that she come down from the turret, and again when she suggests that the Princess have a swim in the stream. The Princess rationalises this because she says to herself that she can’t imagine anything bad happening. Do you think this is a reason she should have ignored her first feelings of caution? Why or why not?

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