Miss Huggins was very upset about losing her umbrella and reported it to the police. They searched everywhere and asked a lot of people. But none had seen the umbrella. One day, however, a small elf named Inkle was arrested and brought to the police station. He had been caught with the stolen umbrella. “Where […]

Prince Max had a habit of saying, “Never mind!” in reply to anything. When the stable groom asked if he wished to ride, he’d say, “Never mind!” If dinner was announced, he’d say, “Never mind!” If he was called into the court, he would repeat, “Never mind!” Everyone in the palace was fed up. The

Many princes came to win Princess Marina’s hand and quarrelled among themselves. Finally, they decided that they would play a game of cards and whoever won the game would marry the Princess Marina. When the princess heard this, she was furious. She announced that she wouldn’t marry any of the princes. She would only marry

“I would like glass slippers like Cinderella!” wailed Princess Penny. “Penny, the glass will break,” said the queen, for the princess was rather large and plump! But Penny continued to weep. Many kinds of shoes were brought in for Penny: leather, silk, satin, wooden, cork! But Princess Penny was throwing a big tantrum. Finally, a

The river flowed sparkling through the forest. Water nymphs and sprites lived in the river. They had a beautiful princess and went up and down the river to find a suitable husband for her. Near a waterfall some nymphs found a handsome young man who was covered with bright water-drops; he was sitting on a

The king was very puzzled. When his twelve daughters went to bed, they had new shoes, but every morning the shoes were worn out. He announced that anyone who could find out the reason for this would marry one of them and be king. Many princes tried but failed. A soldier, coming to the city,

Miss Bellamy’s school was a good place for the children to study. She had only one student who was so slow that it was with great difficulty that he had finally passed out of school. This was Stephen, the Slow-Top! Miss Bellamy was very relieved. She sent him to the blacksmith where he got a

Morris was so muddled that he could mix up practically anything. He posted socks and left the milk outside, so the cat drank it up; he would ask the butcher for stamps and give the baker bananas instead of money! One day, there was a great procession in the city. The king and the queen

In the heart of a forest, there was a beautiful lake. It had fish, frogs, ducks and a turtle. And on its banks lived cranes, crabs and many other creatures. One day, a swan came to live in the lake. Everyone was a little jealous because she was so beautiful. The turtle alone was friendly.

Prince Ivan rode across his kingdom, searching for a bride. One night, he reached an inn and decided to rest there. The innkeeper had two beautiful daughters. The elder girl, Jennifer, sat next to the prince and talked to him while the younger one, Caroline, looked after the prince, all the other visitors and her

Leo, the jungle king, had a large pride of three lionesses and four cubs, named Joe, Mel, Ruby and Alix. He was feeling lazy and didn’t wish to hunt. But then the pride would be hungry. And the lionesses were a little weak after the cubs were born. Leo decided it was time to train

A witch took a baby-girl from her neighbours and brought her up locked in a high tower with no stairs! Rapunzel grew into a beautiful girl with very long golden hair. The witch would ask her to let down her hair and would climb up using it as a rope. Rapunzel was lonely and would

Misty was a lovely little fairy who lived in a buttercup. Her favourite colour was golden yellow. The Fairy Prince happened to see Misty and fell in love with her, but he did not know how to win her for his bride. He asked the ladybirds and the butterflies but none could help him. One

Bettina was the most troublesome daughter of the king and the queen. She loved to run away whenever possible. She ran away from piano lessons and from French classes; she climbed out of the window and ran away to play on the meadow; or she ran away to ride all over the countryside! Prince Charles

Prince Louis didn’t want to be a prince at all. He wished to study and invent fantastic things. He was always seen with his hair on end and his clothes in a mess. His room was full of all kinds of mechanical things that whirred and ticked and rocketed around, smashing windows, lamps and vases