Fairy tale · 声匠改编 · 4:12
The Frog Prince
A golden ball, a deep well and a frog who holds a princess to her promise. A funny bedtime retelling of the Grimms' The Frog Prince, with faithful Henry.
Narrator
The Princess
The Frog
The King
The Prince
Faithful HenryOther languages · 2 languages
About this story
The Frog Prince, called The Frog King, or Iron Henry, is the very first story in the Brothers Grimm's Children's and Household Tales of 1812. This bedtime version keeps the golden ball, the well, the frog at the dinner table and faithful Henry's iron bands. In the Grimms' story the princess loses her temper and throws the frog against the wall, and that is what breaks the spell; here she keeps her promise instead, so nobody gets thrown.
What it teaches
A promise is a promise, even when it becomes inconvenient. The story also reminds us not to judge anyone by how they look, and to be grateful to those who help us.
Suits
Ages 4–9
Tips for telling it
- Knock on the bed frame when the frog knocks at the door.
- Give the frog a croaky voice and let your child do the ribbits.
- Ask your child about a promise they kept, even when it was hard.
Questions people ask
- What is the moral of The Frog Prince?
- Keep your promises, even ones you made without thinking. As the king says, someone who helped you when you needed it deserves to be treated kindly afterwards.
- Does the princess kiss the frog in the original story?
- No. In the Brothers Grimm's 1812 version she throws the frog against the wall in a temper, and that breaks the witch's spell. The kiss comes from later retellings.
- Who is Iron Henry in The Frog Prince?
- Henry is the prince's faithful servant, who had three iron bands put round his heart so it would not break with sorrow. The bands snap off one by one when his master is free, which is why the Grimms called the tale The Frog King, or Iron Henry.
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