**Please use your own judgement before sharing these stories with children. Although I do my best to keep the language friendly, the content may not be everyone’s cup of tea.

Summary

The fairy Dindonette misguidedly creates a magic fountain that ages children, and turns elders into babies.

Many years later, the fairy Selnozoura and her wards, Toupette and Cornichon, arrive on the deserted island. The children drink from the fountain and begin aging.

With the hindrance and help of the genius Kristopo and cooperation of the fairy court, they are ultimately freed from the spell.

Questions or Comments?

Email: StoriesWeLoveToTell@gmail.com

Or Fill out this Google Form

Book

The Grey Fairy Book by Andrew Lang

Music

"Princess (Instrumental Version)" by Josh Woodward.

Free download: https://www.joshwoodward.com/

**Please use your own judgement before sharing these stories with children. Although I do my best to keep the language friendly, the content may not be everyone’s cup of tea.

Summary

After terrible mistreatment, a boy named Antonio runs away from home. He meets an ogre who offers him shelter and employment. Under the ogre’s care, the boy thrives, but in time he becomes homesick.

Before sending him home, the ogre gives Antonio a donkey and a warning not to say the word “bricklebrit” near it. Curiosity wins, and when the boy speaks the word precious stones pour out from the donkey. When he stops at an inn for the night and gives the ogre’s warning to the innkeeper, he too tries out the word and decides to steal the magic donkey.

When Antonio arrives home and the imposter donkey fails to produce any precious stones, he is again mistreated and returns to the ogre.

Time passes and the scenario plays out again, this time with a magic tablecloth. Once more, Antonio disregards the ogre’s warning, and again the duplicitous innkeeper replaces the magical object with a plain one. Antonio is chased from his home, and flees back to the ogre.

The next time Antonio grows homesick the ogre sends him on his way with a warning and a magic stick. Testing it out as usual, Antonio learns that it will beat senseless whoever speaks the magic words.

At the inn, he uses this to his advantage, and has the magic donkey and tablecloth restored to him in return for ending the spell of the beating stick.

Finally he returns home in good fortune, and he and his family live happily ever after.

[Appologies for the audio quality in this episode, I’ve been experiencing some technical issues.]

Questions or Comments?

Email: StoriesWeLoveToTell@gmail.com

Or Fill out this Google Form

Book

The Grey Fairy Book by Andrew Lang

Music

"Princess (Instrumental Version)" by Josh Woodward.

Free download: https://www.joshwoodward.com/

**Please use your own judgement before sharing these stories with children. Although I do my best to keep the language friendly, the content may not be everyone’s cup of tea.

Summary

An aging king wishes for his beloved daughter, Cannetella, to marry. Although she does not want to, she agrees for her father’s sake. But, she says, she will only marry a man with golden hair and teeth.

Quickly the king sends out a proclamation that the man who fits that description shall wed the princess and inherit the kingdom.

The king’s enemy, a powerful sorcerer named Scioravante, learns of this. Immediately he casts a spell and becomes the man fitting the description. He then goes to claim his bride.

Refusing the king’s assistance, he loads Cannetella onto his horse and rides away.

After some time, they arrive at a stable where he leaves Cannetella with strict instructions that she may not leave. Sad and alone, she obeys until one day when she notices a garden through a crack in the wall. Thinking no harm could come of it she ventures out for a short time, but is punished for it when Scioravante returns. After threatening her again, he leaves.

One day, the princess recognizes a cooper from her father’s palace, and with his help she returns home. Scioravante tracks her there and casts a spell on the entire palace, but when he tries to seize Cannetella the spell is broken. Her father’s servants rush to rescue her, and Scioravante is put to death.

Points to Ponder

Canatella’s mother is named Renzolla, the same name as the protagonist of The Goat-

Faced Girl. Could this be the same character?

[Apologies if some of the audio sounds off, I encountered a number of technical difficulties with this episode.]

Questions or Comments?

Email: StoriesWeLoveToTell@gmail.com

Or Fill out this Google Form

Book

The Grey Fairy Book by Andrew Lang

Music

"Princess (Instrumental Version)" by Josh Woodward.

Free download: https://www.joshwoodward.com/

**Please use your own judgement before sharing these stories with children. Although I do my best to keep the language friendly, the content may not be everyone’s cup of tea.

Summary

After eating a magical gold-fish, a couple, as well as their dog and horse, are blessed with twin sons. Once grown, the young men wish to travel, but their father will only allow one of his precious sons to leave at a time.

Before leaving, the first tells his brother to keep watch of the cypress trees by the front of their house. If he should see them wither, it is a sign that his brother is in distress, and he should immediately seek him out.

As he journeys, he sees a castle and learns it is where “the fairest in the land” lives. He plays his zither, and she is immediately smitten. Her father agrees to let them marry if the traveler is able to pass three tests, which he is only able to do with her help. Just before they marry, the twin says he must leave, but will return in fourteen days.

Shortly, he arrives in another town, where he learns the only spring is guarded by a giant, who only allows it to be drawn from once a year when he is given a maiden to eat. Fortunately for the traveler, he arrived on that very day. When he approaches the spring he has his dog defeat the giant and rescues the princess. The traveler and the princess marry and live in the castle for a time before he is again struck with wanderlust.

On this journey he meets an old woman who promises water, but tricks him and turns him to stone.

Back at home, the second twin sees the cypress trees wither and immediately sets out to find his brother. Along the way he is mistaken for his brother by many people including the princess. Finally, he finds his brother and is able to rescue him. Angered that his wife mistook his twin for himself, the first twin kills his brother. He then returns to the castle.

When the princess learns of what transpired she asks him to show her to the place he struck his brother. He does, and she is able to revive the twin.

In the end, the second twin marries the “fairest in the land” and they, and their parents, live together in joy and happiness.

Questions or Comments?

Email: StoriesWeLoveToTell@gmail.com

Or Fill out this Google Form

Book

The Grey Fairy Book by Andrew Lang

Music

"Princess (Instrumental Version)" by Josh Woodward.

Free download: https://www.joshwoodward.com/

**Please use your own judgement before sharing these stories with children. Although I do my best to keep the language friendly, the content may not be everyone’s cup of tea.

Summary

Four disowned animals join together to start a musical act, and find themselves a lovely home after scaring away a band of robbers.

Points to Ponder

Have you heard this story before? What differences are there between this version and the one you already know?

Questions or Comments?

Email: StoriesWeLoveToTell@gmail.com

Or Fill out this Google Form

Book

The Grey Fairy Book by Andrew Lang

Music

"Princess (Instrumental Version)" by Josh Woodward.

Free download: https://www.joshwoodward.com/

**Please use your own judgement before sharing these stories with children. Although I do my best to keep the language friendly, the content may not be everyone’s cup of tea.

Summary

Moschino, the simple son of a rich man, is sent out to seek his fortune. Along the way he befriends and gathers together a band of young men with extraordinary abilities. With the help of his friends, he wins a king’s fortune and returns home to his father.

Questions or Comments?

Email: StoriesWeLoveToTell@gmail.com

Or Fill out this Google Form

Book

The Grey Fairy Book by Andrew Lang

Music

"Princess (Instrumental Version)" by Josh Woodward.

Free download: https://www.joshwoodward.com/

**Please use your own judgement before sharing these stories with children. Although I do my best to keep the language friendly, the content may not be everyone’s cup of tea.

Summary

A king and queen with no children are deeply saddened for want of a son. In an attempt to hide his sadness from the queen, the king goes on a journey through their lands.

When he for a drink of water at what seems to be a freshly dug well, it is revealed to be a trap set by the mysterious and magical king Kostieï, who only agrees to release the king after he promises to give Kostieï “the most precious thing [his] palace contains, which was not there when [he] left it.” When he arrives home, the king is grieved to realize that “precious thing” is his newborn son.

Years pass, and the boy grows into a fine prince. While he is out hunting one day, a mysterious man tells him of his father’s debt. Upon learning the truth, he sets out on a journey determined to find a way to free himself from Kostieï.

Along the way he discovers twelve shapeshifting princesses: the daughters of Kostieï. With help from the youngest, he passes a series of tests and, with her, manages to outrun and outwit Kostieï.

Questions or Comments?

Email: StoriesWeLoveToTell@gmail.com

Or Fill out this Google Form

Book

The Grey Fairy Book by Andrew Lang

Music

"Princess (Instrumental Version)" by Josh Woodward.

Free download: https://www.joshwoodward.com/

**Please use your own judgement before sharing these stories with children. Although I do my best to keep the language friendly, the content may not be everyone’s cup of tea.

Summary

The three sons of a man with peculiar eyes wonder at their father’s condition. When the youngest learns the source of his sadness, they set out to retrieve their father’s stolen object: a magical vine that produces a full cask of wine every hour. Quickly they split up, and the youngest son is left on his own. Through kindness, he gains the help of a limping fox who advises him through many adventures.

Questions or Comments?

Email: StoriesWeLoveToTell@gmail.com

Or Fill out this Google Form

Book

The Grey Fairy Book by Andrew Lang

Music

"Princess (Instrumental Version)" by Josh Woodward.

Free download: https://www.joshwoodward.com/