The Princess and the Pea

10 pages · 3 min · ages 5+

Based on: Danish (Hans Christian Andersen)

The Prince wanted a true friend. He looked for a real Princess. She must be kind and honest. He traveled many miles by horse. Every girl said she was royal. The Prince felt very sad today. He returned to his big castle.

A giant storm hit the kingdom. Thunder went boom in the sky. Rain fell on the gray stone. The wind blew the old trees. Lightning flashed bright in the dark. The Prince stayed safe inside now. He hoped everyone was warm tonight.

Suddenly, a loud knock was heard. The King opened the heavy door. A girl stood in the rain. Water dripped from her messy hair. Her shoes were full of mud. She said she was a Princess. The Prince smiled at the girl.

The Queen wanted to help her. She had a very clever idea. She went to the guest bedroom. She put a tiny green pea. The pea sat on the bed. It was a very small test. She wanted to see her heart.

The Queen called for many servants. They brought twenty soft, fluffy mattresses. They stacked them high like towers. The tower reached the tall ceiling. It looked like a giant cake. A long ladder was brought out. The girl climbed up very slowly.

The girl lay on the top. The bed felt very, very high. She tried to close her eyes. Something felt very lumpy and hard. She tossed and she turned around. The moon shone through the window. She stayed awake all night long.

The sun rose over the hills. The girl came down the ladder. The Queen asked her a question. Did you sleep well, dear child? The girl looked at the Queen. She did not want to lie. The Prince listened to her words.

The girl spoke with a smile. The bed was very, very soft. But something felt lumpy and hard. I did not sleep at all. She was very polite and kind. She told the truth about everything. The Queen clapped her hands happily.

The Queen showed them the pea. An honest person tells the truth. Others might pretend to be perfect. This girl was brave and sincere. The Prince was very happy now. He found a real, honest friend. Her title did not matter anymore.

The Prince and Princess played together. They shared toys and good stories. They promised to always tell the truth. The tiny pea went into a museum. Everyone in the kingdom felt glad. They lived happily in the castle. Honesty is a very beautiful thing.