Babiole facts for kids

Babiole is a classic French fairy tale. It was written by a famous author named Madame d'Aulnoy. In some English books, the story is called Babiola.

The Princess and the Monkey

Once upon a time, a queen worried she couldn't have children. She thought a powerful fairy named Fanferluche had cursed her. But one day, Fanferluche appeared to the queen. The fairy told her that she would indeed have a daughter. However, this daughter would bring the queen much sadness.

To prevent this sadness, Fanferluche gave the queen a special branch. It was a hawthorn branch. The fairy said to attach it to the baby's head right after she was born.

When the princess was born, the queen followed the fairy's instructions. As soon as the branch touched the baby, the beautiful princess instantly turned into an ugly monkey! The queen was horrified. She quickly grabbed the monkey and removed the branch. But it was too late. The princess did not change back.

A lady-in-waiting, who was a royal helper, convinced the queen to hide the truth. She told the queen to tell the king that their baby had died. She also suggested throwing the monkey into the sea. The queen sadly agreed. The princess, now a monkey, was placed inside a box.

On the way to the sea, the servant carrying the box had an idea. He took the monkey out, planning to keep the box for himself. Just then, the queen's sister arrived with her four-year-old son. She had heard about the birth and then the sad news of the baby's death. The young prince saw the monkey and immediately wanted to keep it. So, the monkey princess was raised in his royal rooms.

When the monkey was four years old, a surprising thing happened. She started to speak! The prince's mother, who was a queen herself, took the talking monkey from her son. She showed her off to important visitors and made sure she received a good education. The monkey princess, named Babiole, secretly fell in love with her cousin, the prince. He had no idea about her feelings.

A Magical Escape

Later, the King of the Monkeys, named Magot, decided he wanted to marry Babiole. His ambassadors came to propose. The queen, Babiole's aunt, thought this was a good idea. She believed it would prevent a war. Babiole did not want to marry King Magot. She bravely told her cousin, the prince, that she loved him. But he just laughed at her.

Heartbroken, Babiole ran away. She tried to swim across a river but sank to the bottom. There, she found a beautiful grotto, a kind of underwater cave. An old man, the King of the Fish, welcomed her. He told her that the prince would only marry the most beautiful princess in the world. He also gave her an important warning: she must not lose a special glass chest that King Magot had sent her. This chest would help her. Finally, he gave her a giant tortoise to ride.

Babiole set out on the tortoise. But King Magot's ambassador spotted her. She was captured and taken away.

Back Home, But Different

Babiole was made to travel in a fancy carriage. The group soon reached a city. It was the city of Babiole's own parents! Her mother, the queen, had made a rule that no monkeys were allowed in the city. Seeing so many monkeys with Babiole filled her with dread. The monkeys were quickly captured.

However, Babiole was dressed beautifully. People had heard about her. She quickly charmed her captors and lived comfortably. One day, her mother, the queen, saw her. The queen was very impressed by Babiole. They talked, and the queen soon realized that this amazing monkey was her own transformed daughter.

Her ladies-in-waiting told the queen that she had to protect her reputation. They advised her to lock Babiole away in a castle. Babiole overheard this plan and quickly fled again.

A New Life and a Rescue

Babiole was hungry and couldn't find any food. She remembered the glass chest and opened it. Inside, she found an olive. As she went to eat it, oil flowed out. This magical oil instantly turned her into a beautiful princess!

Still hungry, she then tried to eat a hazelnut from the box. Out of the hazelnut came many tiny people! They quickly built her a magnificent castle and served her as if she were a queen. Babiole lived there happily. She even held several tournaments in her honor, where knights competed.

One day, some knights fought and were badly wounded. Babiole went down to help them. To her shock, she found her cousin, the prince, among the wounded. He was nearly dying. She made sure he was cared for. But she soon realized that her strong love for him caused him pain. So, she sadly fled from him.

The fairy Fanferluche, who had started all this, carried Babiole away. She imprisoned her inside a glass bottle.

The prince, now recovered, set out to find Babiole. He met the King of the Fish, who told him where she was. The King of the Fish gave the prince a winged dolphin and armed him for the rescue. The prince bravely saved Babiole from the glass bottle.

Babiole told him her whole story. The prince regretted how he had mocked her before. They fell in love and were married. Their kingdoms were united, and they lived happily ever after.