Hi-Otoko |Fire Boy

long times ago
lived an old man and old woman in a village.

The old man was kind and hardworking.
He always went to a mountain to gather woods.

The old woman was greedy and lazy.
She didn't like to work and she was always at home.

One day, when old man was gathering woods in the mountain, he heard the voice from somewhere.

"Give me woods."

He follow the voice and knew it came from a hole in the ground.
Whenever he took woods in front of the hole, they were absorbed into it.
Old man want to know what's down there, so He looked into it,
and old man got absorbed there, too.

fire Fire was burning there and he was invited to a fire shrine.
He met the God of fire.
The God said to him,
"Thank you for your woods. I'll give you this bundle in return for woods."

Returning his house in safe,
he found a little boy with funny face in the bundle.

The greedy old woman was very angry at the present,
but the kind old man named the little boy 'Hi-Otoko(Fire Man)' and took good care for him.

The little boy did nothing, just sit and touch his navel every day.
Though the old man told him not to touch it,
he never stopped until it got swollen very big.

Feeling great sorry for him, though the old woman ignored him,
the old man hit him on the navel with his cigar holder.
Then a gold coin came out of it. He hit once more.
A gold coin came again.

The old greedy woman was much pleased at it.
fire boy After that the old man hit him lightly on the navel three times a day.

Though they became very rich soon,
the old man went to the mountain to gather woods everyday.
One day while old man was working in the mountain,
the old greedy woman, having a larger cigar holder, ran after him, saying:
"Hiotoko!If I hit you on the navel with this cigar holder, I can get many gold coins."

The little boy ran
and ran away from her
and jumped into a burning kitchen stove.
He returned to the country of fire, the place of Fire God.

The old man missed the little boy very much
and made his mask and put it on a pillar near the kitchen stove.
And then, Japan have a habit to hang a mask of 'Hi-Otoko' near a kitchen stove.

The Gingerbread Boy

Once upon a time,

an Little old woman
and Little old man
lived alone in a little old house.
The couple had no child, and being lonely.

One day, Little old woman baking gingerbread, she cut the cake into shape like a boy.
She added sugar icing for his hair, mouth, and clothes, and she used candy chips for buttons and eyes. What a fine looking gingerbread boy he was! The old woman put him in the oven to bake.

After he was fully done, she slowly opened the oven door.
As soon as the oven door was opened, the little gingerbread boy jumped out, and began to run away as fast as he could go.

"Run, run, as fast as you can!
You can't catch me!
I'm the Gingerbread Boy!"
The Little old woman and Little the old man ran after him, but they could not catch him.

While he running, he met a cow.
"Moo, You look very fine! Fine enough to eat!" And the cow started to chase to little man.

But the Gingerbread Boy ran faster, saying,
"I ran away from an old woman,
I ran away from an old man,
And I can run away from you! I can!"

And he laughed,
"Run, run, as fast as you can!
You can't catch me!
I'm the Gingerbread

I've run away from a little old woman,
A little old man,
And I can run away from you, I can!"
The cow ran after the Gingerbread Boy, but she could not catch him.

The Gingerbread Boy kept running, and soon he met a horse.
"Neigh, You look mighty tasty. I think that I would like to eat you."said the horse.

"But you can't!" said the Gingerbread Boy.
"I ran away from an old woman,
I ran away from an old man,
I ran away from a cow,
And I can run away from you! I can!"

And so he ran singing,
"Run, run, as fast as you can!
You can't catch me!
I'm the Gingerbread Boy!"
The horse ran after the Gingerbread Boy, but he could not catch him.

The Gingerbread Boy ran and ran, laughing and singing. While he ran, he met a chicken.
"Cackle, cackle, You look fine enough to peck for dinner. I'm going to eat you, Mr. Gingerbread Boy."said the chicken.

But the Gingerbread Boy just laughed.
"I ran away from an old woman,
I ran away from an old man,
I ran away from a cow,
I ran away from a horse,
And I can run away from you! I can!"

And so he ran singing,
"Run, run, as fast as you can!
You can't catch me!
I'm the Gingerbread Boy!"
The chicken ran after the Gingerbread Man, but she could not catch him.

The Gingerbread Boy was proud that he could run so fast.
"Nobody can catch me," he thought.

So he kept on running until he met a fox. He just had to tell the fox how he ran faster than all the others.

"Mr. Fox," he said,
"As tasty as I appear to be,
I cannot let you catch and eat me.
I ran away from an old woman,
I ran away from an old man,
I ran away from a cow,
I ran away from a horse,
I ran away from a chicken,
And I can run away from you!
I can!"
But Mr. Fox did not seem to care.

"Why would I want to bother you?" asked Mr. Fox. "You don't even look that tasty. No, young man, I don't want to eat you at all."
The Gingerbread Boy was so relieved.

"Well, indeed, Mr. Fox," said the Gingerbread Boy.
"If you don't mind, I think I'll take a little rest here." And the Gingerbread Boy stopped running and stood still.

And right when he stood still. Snap! went Mr. Fox's jaws right into the Gingerbread Boy until he was gone.

"He was very tasty after all," thought the fox.

The Tree Hugger

"What is contained in the forest?"
"Land, water and pure air."
Those were the words spoken by the girls when they wander in the woods.

It was the winter day sunny, and the girls are the girls from the Bishnoi tribe of ancient India. Their leader is soft and full of magic, Teacher Jambheshwar, has established 29 principles that must be endured by the people, and among them the belief that the most important are:

Animals and trees are sacred.

So, in the world of Bishnoi, deer and antelope, buffalo and buffalo, grazing peacefully.
Each tree maintained with love and compassion, no one was destroyed. People only use the parts they need from the trees to build their modest homes, but they never cut down trees, so the forest is very dense and fragrant.

"Love the animals we loved, appreciated the trees"

"Hold it, then everyone will live in harmony ..."

One of the girls who love the forest is Amrita Devi, she love trees more than all people at her village. For her, trees are life. Since child, she got up every morning and walked into the woods. There, she'll visit one special tree, secretly friend, Khjeri tree.  Thorny tree with never fall leaves, branches slender and pursed thorns. In the spring, it was filled with small yellow flowers, and in summer it offers a shade. Amrita's tree sturdy and strong, it can withstand the hottest winds, driest days, and the freezing cold. Amrita loves that vitality, beauty and strength.

Amrita often hug the tree trunk and whispered,

"I will always protect you"

and smell the fragrant of bark and leaves.

Amrita faithful to his promise. As an adult, she remained loyal to the tree, and when she got married, she still visited Khjeri tree. When her daughter was born, her introduced each of her children to the lessons she has learned when she was a child. So, Asu, Ratni, and Bhangu bai grow to love and admire the trees like their mother.
Sometimes, when they walk at the woods, Amrita Devi sing,

"What is contained in the forest?"

And her childrens will replied,

"Land, water and pure air."

Amrita said to her childrens for thingking what will happen if they lost their trees.
"Imagine the heat of the sun without shade."
"Imagine blinding storms without the trees that protect us."
Amrita's children become shriveled think all of scary imagination.

Someday, Maharaja Abbay Singh, the lord of Jophur Kingdom, delegate some people for chop down Khjeri trees for his new palace, because Khjeri woods known as best woods in thats country. So, Maharaja's people marched to the woods and start cutting down trees.

Amrita's heard tree fell down. she immediately gathered his daughters and as many villagers, and together they ran into the woods.

"STOP!" they shouted.
"DON'T CUT OUR TREES!"
Amrita is crying, loggers do not care about what villagers said . Amrita led the villagers to surrounding trees, holding hands. If loggers want to cut down the tree they had to kill the villagers first.

In confusion, loggers back to the Maharaja Abbay Singh to told the villagers behavior.
Angry Maharaja come with more people to cut down all trees.

"All trees is mine, and I'll do whatever I want!"

At that time, Amrita message has spread to the whole village, now each tree guarded by a man, woman or child from the village. Every person hugging a tree.

"We'll never let them destroy our forests." Amrita said the villagers representing seriously.

When Maharaja saw this scene, he grew angry and shouted to the soldiers,

"I DO NOT CARE!, If they should die, they'll die!"

But when he raised his hand to give the signal to the logger forward, a storm hit, whipping him, and became louder and louder when you arrive at the Amrita and the people gathered. The wind was so hard, the soldiers could not hold their axes; they even difficult to stand.

But Amrita people holding on to their trees.

The storm raged for hours, and when the storm subsided, Maharaja looked around and saw the damage.
The houses were destroyed, blank fields damaged, but the trees were still standing, solid and strong.

Suddenly he understood how important the trees were for the people. He understands how wise they are, and how brave, and he promised that he would never cut down their trees.

The villagers are happy, and where the trees grow Amrita becomes a sacred place, a place that is never forgotten anyone. People say that when the wind blows a certain way, they could hear Amrita and the girls sang for beloved trees.

"What is contained in the forest?"

"Land, water and pure air."

Wedding of a Mouse

This is an old story of a Mouse.

Long, long ago there was a beautiful young mouse-lady in a house.
The parents were always thinking like this:
-We must look for the most wonderful bridegroom in the world for ours daughter."-

One day the father said to his wife.
"Mother. It is the Sun most wonderful, because it shines over us and gives us light."
They went to the Sun and asked him,Sun
"Mr. Sun. You are the most wonderful man in the world,aren't you?
Would you mind marrying our daughter?"

The Sun answered, smiling.
"Well, Mr. Mouse. I am not the most wonderful in the world.
It is the cloud that is the most wonderful, because I am hidden by him."
"Oh, I see." said the father.


They went to the Cloud and asked him.
"Mr. Cloud. You are the most wonderful man in the world,aren't you?
Would you mind marrying our daughter?"

cloud The Cloud answered, embarrassed.
"Well, Mr. Mouse. I am not the most wonderful in the world.
It is the Wind that is the most wonderful, because I am blown off by him."
"Oh, I see." said the father.


wind They went to the Wind and asked him.
"Mr. Wind. You are the most wonderful man in the world,aren't you?
Would you mind marrying our daughter?"

The Wind answered, pouting the lips.
"Well, Mr. Mouse. I am not the most wonderful in the world.
It is the Wall that is the most wonderful, because I am stopped by him."
wedding "Oh, I see." said the father.


They went to the Wall and asked him.
"Mr. Wall. You are the most wonderful man in the world,aren't you?
Would you mind marrying our daughter?"

The Wall answered, surprisingly.
"Well, Mr. Mouse. I am not the most wonderful in the world.
It is the Mouse that is the most wonderful, because I am eaten by him."
"Oh, I see." said the father.


The parents decided to make their daughter marry a handsome young mouse living near by.
"Oh, you are the most wonderful bridegroom in the world.
Would you marry our daughter?"

"With pleasure."
Both the father and his wife were very happy.

Soon they had many grandchildren.

The tortoises and the Swans

There are a pair of tortoises and the Swan who live on a lake called Lake Kumudawati.
It was a beautiful lake and lots of flowers, colorful flowers that grow there.

The male tortoise named Durbhuddhi and
a female named Katcapa.
A male swan called Cakrengga and
a female named Cakrenggi.
The two pairs of animals were long time be friends.

The dry season has arrived, the lake has started to dry out.
The two swans will say goodbye to tortoises because swans can not live without water, they will leave lake Kumdawati to the lake Manasasaro at Himalayas.

Tortoises did not want his friend to go.

Finally, the turtles decided to go along with the Swans. Swans would take the tortoise to go along with them by way of biting the middle of the wood and the Swans will hold the edges.
by agreement:

don't be careless, don't talk, don't looking down, and don't answer all question that you hear .

And then, they are begin the journey.
when they flew over Wila Jenggala, two wolf take shelter under a mango tree.

The male named "Si Nohan" and the female "si Bayan".
The female wolf looked up he saw a pair of Swans flying and Si Bayan said to her husband,
"Dad try to look up how strange a pair of geese flying turtle. "
Male wolf replied "That's not a turtle but that is cow dung."

the tortoises heard that, turtles so angry and let go on the wood and eventually the tortoises fall and eaten by wolves.

Geese live with feelings of disappointment and regret why the tortoises will not listen the advices.

Right and Might

While a deer was eating wild fruit, he heard an owl call,
"Haak, haak", and a cricket cry,
"Wat", and, frightened, he fled.

In his flight he ran through the trees up into the mountains and into streams.
In one of the streams the deer stepped upon a small fish and crushed it almost to death.
Then the fish complained to the court, and the deer, owl, cricket, and fish had a lawsuit. In the trial came out this evidence:

As the deer fled, he ran into some dry grass, and the seed fell into the eye of a wild chicken, and the pain of the seed in the eye of the chicken caused it to fly up against a nest of red ants. Alarmed, the red ants flew out to do battle, and in their haste, bit a mongoose.

The mongoose ran into a vine of wild fruit and shook several pieces of it on the head of a hermit who sat thinking under a tree.

"Why did you, O fruit, fall on my head?" cried the hermit.
 The fruit answered: "We did not wish to fall; a mongoose ran against our vine and threw us down."

And the hermit asked, "O mongoose, why did you throw the fruit?"
The mongoose answered: "I did not wish to throw down the fruit, but the red ants bit me, and I ran against the vine."

The hermit asked, "O ants, why did you bite the mongoose?"
The red ants replied: "The hen flew against our nest and angered us."

The hermit asked: "O hen, why did you fly against the red ants' nest?"
And the hen replied: "The seed fell into my eyes and hurt me."

And the hermit asked, "O seed, why did you fall into the hen's eyes?"
And the seed replied: "The deer shook me down."

The hermit said unto the deer, "O deer, why did you shake down the seed?"
The deer answered: "I did not wish to do it, but the owl called, frightening me, and I ran." "O owl,"

asked the hermit, "why did you frighten the deer?"
The owl replied: "I called, but as I am accustomed to call - the cricket, too, called."

Having heard the evidence, the judge said, "The cricket must replace the crushed parts of the fish and make it well," as he, the cricket, had called and frightened the deer. The cricket WAS smaller and weaker than the owl or the deer, therefore had to bear the penalty.

La Belle au Bois Dormant |The Sleeping Beauty Part 2

The fairy condoled with his majesty, and approved of all he had done. Then, being a fairy of great common sense and foresight, she suggested that the princess, awakening after a hundred years in this ancient castle, might be a good deal embarrassed, especially with a young prince by her side, to find herself alone.
Accordingly, without asking any one’s leave, she touched with her magic wand the entire population of the palace–except the king and queen; governesses, ladies of honour, waiting-maids, gentlemen ushers, cooks, kitchen-girls, pages, footmen–down to the horses that were in the stables, and the grooms that attended them, she touched each and all. Nay, with kind consideration for the feelings of the princess, she even touched the little fat lap-dog, Puffy, who had laid himself down beside his mistress on her splendid bed. He, like all the rest, fell fast asleep in a moment. The very spits that were before the kitchen-fire ceased turning, and the fire itself went out, and everything became as silent as if it were the middle of the night, or as if the palace were a palace of the dead.

The king and queen–having kissed their daughter and wept over her a little, but not much, she looked so sweet and content–departed from the castle, giving orders that it was to be approached no more. The command was unnecessary; for in one quarter of an hour there sprung up around it a wood so thick and thorny that neither beasts nor men could attempt to penetrate there. Above this dense mass of forest could only be perceived the top of the high tower where the lovely princess slept.

A great many changes happen in a hundred years. The king, who never had a second child, died, and his throne passed into another royal family. So entirely was the story of the poor princess forgotten, that when the reigning king’s son, being one day out hunting and stopped in the chase by this formidable wood, inquired what wood it was and what were those towers which he saw appearing out of the midst of it, no one could answer him. At length an old peasant was found who remembered having heard his grandfather say to his father, that in this tower was a princess, beautiful as the day, who was doomed to sleep there for one hundred years, until awakened by a king’s son, her destined bridegroom.

At this, the young prince, who had the spirit of a hero, determined to find out the truth for himself. Spurred on by both generosity and curiosity, he leaped from his horse and began to force his way through the thick wood. To his amazement the stiff branches all gave way, and the ugly thorns sheathed themselves of their own accord, and the brambles buried themselves in the earth to let him pass. This done, they closed behind him, allowing none of his suite to follow: but, ardent and young, he went boldly on alone. The first thing he saw was enough to smite him with fear. Bodies of men and horses lay extended on the ground; but the men had faces, not death-white, but red as peonies, and beside them were glasses half filled with wine, showing that they had gone to sleep drinking.

Next he entered a large court, paved with marble, where stood rows of guards presenting arms, but motionless as if cut out of stone; then he passed through many chambers where gentlemen and ladies, all in the costume of the past century, slept at their ease, some standing, some sitting. The pages were lurking in corners, the ladies of honour were stooping over their embroidery frames, or listening apparently with polite attention to the gentlemen of the court, but all were as silent as statues and as immoveable. Their clothes, strange to say, were fresh and new as ever: and not a particle of dust or spider-web had gathered over the furniture, though it had not known a broom for a hundred years. Finally the astonished prince came to an inner chamber, where was the fairest sight his eyes had ever beheld.

A young girl of wonderful beauty lay asleep on an embroidered bed, and she looked as if she had only just closed her eyes. Trembling, the prince approached and knelt beside her. Some say he kissed her, but as nobody saw it, and she never told, we cannot be quite sure of the fact. However, as the end of the enchantment had come, the princess awakened at once, and looking at him with eyes of the tenderest regard, said drowsily, “Is it you, my prince? I have waited for you very long.”

Charmed with these words, and still more with the tone in which they were uttered, the prince assured her that he loved her more than his life. Nevertheless, he was the most embarrassed of the two; for, thanks to the kind fairy, the princess had plenty of time to dream of him during her century of slumber, while he had never even heard of her till an hour before. For a long time did they sit conversing, and yet had not said half enough. Their only interruption was the little dog Puffy, who had awakened with his mistress, and now began to be exceedingly jealous that the princess did not notice him as much as she was wont to do.

Meantime all the attendants, whose enchantment was also broken, not being in love, were ready to die of hunger after their fast of a hundred years. A lady of honour ventured to intimate that dinner was served; whereupon the prince handed his beloved princess at once to the great hall. She did not wait to dress for dinner, being already perfectly and magnificently attired, though in a fashion somewhat out of date. However, her lover had the politeness not to notice this, nor to remind her that she was dressed exactly like her royal grandmother, whose portrait still hung on the palace walls.

During the banquet a concert took place by the attendant musicians, and considering they had not touched their instruments for a century they played extremely well. They ended with a wedding march: for that very evening the marriage of the prince and princess was celebrated, and though the bride was nearly one hundred years older than the bridegroom, it is remarkable that the fact would never have been discovered by any one unacquainted therewith.

After a few days they went together out of the castle and enchanted wood, both of which immediately vanished, and were never more beheld by mortal eyes. The princess was restored to her ancestral kingdom, but it was not generally declared who she was, as during a hundred years people had grown so very much cleverer that nobody then living would ever have believed the story. So nothing was explained, and nobody presumed to ask any questions about her, for ought not a prince be able to marry whomsoever he pleases?

Nor–whether or not the day of fairies was over–did the princess ever see anything further of her seven godmothers. She lived a long and happy life, like any other ordinary woman, and died at length, beloved, regretted, but, the prince being already no more, perfectly contented.

Vassilisa, the Frog Princess II

"please, kindly grandfather, "said the Prince Ivan hopefully."OK. I'll roling this yarn. follow this! if you are wise enough, you will be able to find her."
Prince Ivan very grateful, and then follow the rolling yarn, and only stopped when passing through dense forest and reached the open ground.

There, Prince Ivan saw a bear and intend to shoot.

"Do not kill me, Prince," cried the bear."One day I'll help you."
He felt sorry and let the bear go. The journey was resumed. When the ball of thread to stop, he saw a male swan who flew in the air. He was about to shoot,

"Do not kill me, Prince. One day, I will repay you." Said the goose.
Prince was released. Prince met various animals on her way to a ball of yarn. he met a rabbit, fish, until he found a hen who was scrambling near the small hut.

"Little shack!" cried Prince Ivan."Turn your back against the tree, so I can go."The shed was turned to the door to Prince Ivan. Prince Ivan went to see Baba Yaga, a witch was lying near the fireplace. Long nose touched lagit-sky.

"why are you here?" asked Baba Yaga. Prince Ivan replied, he was looking for Princess Vassilisa.

"Nothing can beat the Old Bones King,because his life is saved at the end of the needle,where the needle was located in a goose egg.The goose was in a rabbit, andthe rabbit was in a stone case at the top of an oak tree, guarded by the king .. "said Baba Yaga.

After thanking, Prince Ivan is looking for an oak tree. He found it, but did not find a way to retrieve the stone case. All of a sudden ...

A bear pulled up to his case oak tree fell,
from the stone case jumped a rabbit,
one rabbit bites another run through the body torn apart,
the swan flewfrom the rabbit into the sky,
The other swan ambush another until the egg fell,
the egg fell into the lake,
Prince Ivan went sad again ......

Then came a fish that had helped Prince Ivan, squeezing the eggs in his mouth.

Eggs were immediately solved,
curved needle until it broke until King of Old Bones dead.

Prince Ivan has now found Vassilisa and their daughter live happily ever after.

The Man in the Moon

There was a blacksmith once who complained: "I am not well, and my work is too warm. I want to be a stone on the mountain. There it must be cool, for the wind blows and the trees give a shade."
A wise man who had power over all things replied: "Go you, be a stone."

And he was a stone, high up on the mountain-side. It happened that a stone-cutter came that way for a stone, and when he saw the one that had been the blacksmith, he knew that it was what he sought, and he began to cut it.

The stone cried out: "This hurts! I no longer want to be a stone. A stone-cutter I want to be. That  would be pleasant."
The wise man, humoring him, said, "  Be a cutter."

Thus he became a stone-cutter, and as he went seeking suitable stone, he grew tired, and his feet were sore.

He whimpered, " I no longer want to cut stone. I would be the sun; that would be pleasant." 
The wise man commanded, "  Be the sun."    And he was the sun. 

But the sun was warmer than the blacksmith, than a stone, than a stone-cutter, and he complained, 
"I do not like this. I would be the moon. It looks cool." 
The wise man spake yet again, "  Be the moon."   And he was the moon. 

"This is warmer than being the sun," murmured he,
"for the light from the sun shines on me ever. I do not want to be the moon. I would be a smith again. That, verily, is the best life." 

But the wise man replied, " I am weary of your changing. You wanted to be the moon; the moon you are, and it you will remain."

The Peacock and the Tortoise

Once upon a time a peacock and a tortoise became great friends.

Peacock who lived in a tree by the river where there are homes turtles, and sometimes after drinking water from lakes, peacocks will dancing with the tortoise with his beautiful peacock feathers.

One unfortunate day, a bird-catcher who was on the prowl caught the peacock and was about taking him away to the market. The unhappy bird begged of his captor to allow him to bid his friend the tortoise good-bye, as it would be the last time he would see him. The bird-catcher allowed him his prayer and took him to the tortoise, who was greatly moved to see his friend a captive. The tortoise asked the bird-catcher to let the peacock go; but he laughed at the request, saying that was his means of livelihood. The tortoise then said,

"If I make you a handsome present, will you let my friend go?"

"Certainly,that is all I want." answered the bird-catcher.

Whereupon the tortoise dived into the water and in a few seconds came up with a handsome pearl, which, to the great astonishment of the bird-catcher, he handed to him. This was beyond his expectabons, and he let the peacock go immediately. A short time after, the avaricious man came back and told the tortoise that he thought he had not paid enough for the release of his friend, and threatened that, unless a match to that pearl was obtained for him, he would again catch the peacock. The tortoise, who had already advised his friend to betake himself to a distant jungle on being set free, was greatly enraged at the greed of this man. 

"Well," said the tortoise, 

"if you insist on having another pearl like it, give it to me and I will fish you out an exact match for it." The cupidity of the bird-catcher prevented his reasoning that 

"one in the hand was equal to two in the bed of the stream," and he speedily gave the pearl to the wily tortoise, who swam out with it saying, 

"I am no fool to take one and give two!" and forthwith disappeared, leaving the bird-catcher to be sorry ever after for his covetousness.

La Belle au Bois Dormant |The Sleeping Beauty Part 1

 From “The Fairy Book” by Miss Mulock 
Once there was a royal couple who grieved excessively because they had no children.

When at last, after long waiting, the queen presented her husband with a little daughter, his majesty showed his joy by giving a christening feast, so grand that the like of it was never known.
He invited all the fairies in the land–there were seven altogether–to stand godmothers to the little princess; hoping that each might bestow on her some good gift, as was the custom of good fairies in those days.

After the ceremony, all the guests returned to the palace, where there was set before each fairy-godmother a magnificent covered dish, with an embroidered table-napkin, and a knife and fork of pure gold, studded with diamonds and rubies.

But alas! as they placed themselves at table, there entered an old fairy who had never been invited, because more than fifty years since she had left the king’s dominion on a tour of pleasure, and had not been heard of until this day. His majesty, much troubled, desired a cover to be placed for her, but it was of common delf, for he had ordered from his jeweller only seven gold dishes for the seven fairies aforesaid.

The elderly fairy thought herself neglected, and muttered angry menaces, which were overheard by one of the younger fairies, who chanced to sit beside her. This good godmother, afraid of harm to the pretty baby, hastened to hide herself behind the tapestry in the hall. She did this, because she wished all the others to speak first–so that if any ill gift were bestowed on the child, she might be able to counteract it.

The six now offered their good wishes–which, unlike most wishes, were sure to come true. The fortunate little princess was to grow up the fairest woman in the world; to have a temper sweet as an angel; to be perfectly graceful and gracious; to sing like a nightingale; to dance like a leaf on a tree; and to possess every accomplishment under the sun. Then the old fairy’s turn came. Shaking her head spitefully, she uttered the wish that when the baby grew up into a young lady, and learned to spin, she might prick her finger with the spindle and die of the wound.

At this terrible prophecy all the guests shuddered; and some of the more tender-hearted began to weep. The lately happy parents were almost out of their wits with grief. Upon which the wise young fairy appeared from behind the tapestry, saying cheerfully “Your majesties may comfort yourselves; the princess shall not die. I have no power to alter the ill-fortune just wished her by my ancient sister–her finger must be pierced; and she shall then sink, not into the sleep of death, but into a sleep that will last a hundred years. After that time is ended, the son of a king will find her, awaken her, and marry her.”

Immediately all the fairies vanished.

The king, in the hope of avoiding his daughter’s doom, issued an edict, forbidding all persons to spin, and even to have spinning-wheels in their houses, on pain of instant death. But it was in vain. One day, when she was just fifteen years of age, the king and queen left their daughter alone in one of their castles, when, wandering about at her will, she came to an ancient donjon tower, climbed to the top of it, and there found a very old woman–so old and deaf that she had never heard of the king’s edict–busy with her wheel.

“What are you doing, good old woman?” said the princess.

“I’m spinning, my pretty child.”

“Ah, how charming! Let me try if I can spin also.”

She had no sooner taken up the spindle than, being lively and obstinate, she handled it so awkwardly and carelessly that the point pierced her finger. Though it was so small a wound, she fainted away at once, and dropped silently down on the floor. The poor frightened old woman called for help; shortly came the ladies in waiting, who tried every means to restore their young mistress, but all their care was useless. She lay, beautiful as an angel, the colour still lingering in her lips and cheeks; her fair bosom softly stirred with her breath: only her eyes were fast closed. When the king her father and the queen her mother beheld her thus, they knew regret was idle–all had happened as the cruel fairy meant.
But they also knew that their daughter would not sleep for ever, though after one hundred years it was not likely they would either of them behold her awakening. Until that happy hour should arrive, they determined to leave her in repose. They sent away all the physicians and attendants, and themselves sorrowfully laid her upon a bed of embroidery, in the most elegant apartment of the palace. There she slept and looked like a sleeping angel still.

When this misfortune happened, the kindly young fairy who had saved the princess by changing her sleep of death into this sleep of a hundred years, was twelve thousand leagues away in the kingdom of Mataquin. But being informed of everything, she arrived speedily, in a chariot of fire drawn by dragons. The king was somewhat startled by the sight, but nevertheless went to the door of his palace, and, with a mournful countenance, presented her his hand to descend.

Vassilisa, the Frog Princess I

This tales known as "Frog Prince" by Grimm Brother, because of the strong maternal lines in the Russian tradition so the main character hold by woman. the real headline is " Tsarevna Lyagushka".

Long time ago, in Russian empire life a king with three sons.
when these princes had grown, the king said, "My children, now it's time you start a family. Shoot your arrows into the air and seek your brides in Land of arrows fell!"
Princes complied, they asked permission and went to the paddocks behind the palace.

Eldest prince's arrow fell in the house of a nobleman and collected by his daughter.

Middle Prince' arrow fell in the house of merchant, and taken by his daughter,

Now the youngest prince's turn...his arrow blowing up into the air and picked up by a FROG.The youngest prince, Ivan Tsarevich, he was forced to marry a frog.

one day....
The king then assigns his three prospective daughters-in-law various tasks, such as spinning cloth and baking bread. In every task, the frog, Princess Vassilisa, always please king's heart. However that, the prince ivan still be ashamed by his froggy bride.

At that night, the King held a royal party, he invite the princes and the daughters-in-law. Princess Vassilisa throw her frog skin and turn into charming princess, she make the king and the guests fascinated with the beauty and the behaviour.

While Princess Vassilisa dancing, a sparkling pond and the white geese out of hand.
Prince Ivan very proud, secretly he came home and burned the skin of frogs.
Vassilisa very sad see the frog's skin already burns, she turn into bird and fly away.

Now, Prince Ivan feel sad...
He then left to wander seeking the Princess.
On the way, Prince Ivan meet the Old man.
After hearing the story, the old man said

" Poor man, you should not burn that skin, the frog is the manifestation of the wise princess, Vassilisa. She have more wisdom than her father, the King be mad and cursed her daughter into a frog."


.................to be continued

MOTHER GOOSE rhymes

“A house without books is like a room without windows. No man has a right to bring up his children without surrounding them with books, if he has the means to buy them.” Horace Mann quotes

http://www.alephbet.com

Ride a cock-horse to Banbury Cross,
To see an old lady upon a white horse.
Rings on her fingers, and bells on her toes,
She shall have music wherever she goes.

Hey, diddle, diddle!
    The cat and the fiddle,
The cow jumped over the moon;
    The little dog laughed
                        To see such sport,
                And the dish ran away with the spoon.

Pat-a-cake, pat-a-cake,
  Baker's man!
So I do, master,
  As fast as I can.
    Pat it, and prick it,
And mark it with T,
 Put it in the oven
 For Tommy and me.

How many miles is it to Babylon?--
    Threescore miles and ten.
Can I get there by candle-light?--
    Yes, and back again.
If your heels are nimble and light,
You may get there by candle-light.

What are little boys made of, made of?
What are little boys made of?
"Snaps and snails, and puppy-dogs' tails;

               And that's what little boys are made of."

       What are little girls made of, made of?
What are little girls made of?
"Sugar and spice, and all that's nice;
And that's what little girls are made of."

Happy song are you?^^ I first read this rhythm in Manga Happy Talk by Fumika Okano, and they have made me fall in love. The song is really imaginative, this combination based on Happy Talk version.

Miss Potter's Rabbit...

 .....is Peter Rabbit.

 This is the cover of first hardcover edition of Peter Rabbit. Published after several rejection by Federick Warne & Co-1902. Best seller all Time.

Main Character: Peter Rabbit,Benjamin Bunny,Mrs. Rabbit,Jemima Puddle-Duck,Mrs. Tiggy-Winkle,Tom Kitte,The Flopsy Bunnies,Mr. Jeremy Fisher,Squirrel Nutkin,The Tailor of Gloucester ,Mr. Tod ,Pigling Bland,Hunca Munca.

Peter is a adventurous and naughty rabbit. Peter Rabbit don't take Mrs. Rabbit's advice. Although his father becoming ingredient of pies at Mr. Mcgregor's garden, Peter Rabbit kept attacking Mr.Mcgregor's garden. Peter gorges on vegetables until he gets sick, he was chased by an angry farmer.........and the adventure begin.... When Peter loses his jacket and his shoes, Mr. McGregor uses them to dress a scarecrow. After several close encounters with Mr. McGregor, Peter escapes the garden and returns to his mother exhausted and ill. She puts him to bed with a dose of camomile tea while his sisters (who have been good little bunnies) enjoy bread and milk and blackberries for supper.

Until now Peter Rabbit tale still alive with various title, character, product, and positioning as present for children of the world..do you have one?

Imagine the world without books for children

"Any book that helps a child to form a habit of reading, to make reading one of his deep and continuing needs, is good for him.”  Maya Angelou quotes (American Poet, b.1928)

All began from history.
Earlier times children are considered as adults, so not many books devoted to children.
Earliest children's book is Venerable Bede's 7th century text on natural science, the teaching books of the 11th century written by Alcuin of York, and, also from the 11th or early 12th century, the first 'encyclopaedia' for children, by Anselm. Another early writer for children was Geoffrey Chaucer. He wrote a 'Treatise on the Astrolabe' in 1391 for his son Lowis.

At 15 and 16 century, we can found 'Books of Courtesy', actually seriously book for children's manuals of good conduct.  The other popular children's stories have been written in the late of 15th century to Victorian era, like The Tales of Robin Hood and King Arthur. This tales had been made for adults.
In 1693, John Locke was the first to suggest the idea that children should read for pleasure. Writing for the entertainment of children first appears to have occurred in France, where Charles Perrault wrote 'Mother Goose' for his own children. Mother Goose include the simple version of 'Little Red Riding Hood,' 'The Sleeping Beauty' and 'Puss in Boots'. Stories that have been handed down direct ancestors.The first English translation of 'Mother Goose' appeared in the early 18th century.

A small instructional 12 page book called 'A Little Book For Children' seems to have been the first book to have actually been written from a child's point of view. Not much is known about its origin. It is undated, written by an author with the initials T.W., but it's believed that it was produced in the first decade of the 18th century.

Pioneer of English children's book publishers is Thomas Boreman at 1730. at the same time, John Newbery thought of as 'Patron Saint of Writers of Books For Children', because he who first realised there was a market for children books. John Newbery as known as an author, editor, publisher and bookseller has own 'entertaining children's book' called 'Little Pretty Pocket Book' ,1744, had pictures of children's games, fables, rhymes and more, and I believe is the first known book to have been created purely for children's enjoyment.

19 century was the birth year of many legendary tales, like the masterpiece of
Brother Grimm: Ashenputtel, Snow White, Rapunzel, Hansel and Gretel, Sleeping Beauty, Rumpelstiltskin, the Frog Prince,etc
Hans Christian Andersen: Little Mermaid, Emperor's New Clothes, the Ugly Duckling, Snow Queen, Thumbelina, Little Match Girl, the Angel,etc
Lewis Carrol: Alice's Adventure in Wonderland
Johanna Spyri: Heidi
Carlo Collodi: The Adventure of Pinocchio
Robert Louis Stevenson: Treasure Island, classic pirates story
Rudyard Kipling: The Jungle Book, etc

20 century, Children's book have new big wave by Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L.Frank Baum. It is one of the best-known stories in American culture and is translated into 40 languages. Some Children's book from this century: The Tale of Peter Rabbit,The Wind in the Willows ,Peter Pan, Winnie the Pooh, Little House on the Prairie, Chronicles of Narnia,Charlie dan Chocolate Factory,Harry Potter,...........until now, we will easily find children's books in bookstores everywhere.^^