Boots and His Brothers facts for kids

Boots and His Brothers is a classic fairy tale from Norway. It was collected by two famous Norwegian writers, Peter Christen Asbjørnsen and Jørgen Moe. They included it in their well-known book, Norske Folkeeventyr, which is a collection of traditional stories from Norway. This tale teaches us about cleverness and how sometimes the quietest person can be the smartest.

The King's Challenge

Once upon a time, a king faced a big problem. A giant oak tree cast a shadow over his castle, making it dark. Also, his well didn't have water all year round. The king made a special announcement. He promised that whoever could cut down the huge oak tree and dig a well that always had water would win a great prize. They would get to marry his beautiful princess and receive half of his kingdom!

The Three Brothers

Three brothers, who were quite poor, heard about the king's challenge. They decided to try their luck and set off for the king's palace. As they traveled, the youngest son, often called "Boots," heard a strange sound. It sounded like someone was chopping wood. He went to investigate.

Boots Finds Magic Tools

Boots found an axe that was chopping wood all by itself! The axe seemed to be waiting for him. He picked it up and took it back to his brothers. When he told them what he found, they just laughed at him. They thought he was silly.

A little later, Boots heard another sound, this time like digging. He followed the sound and found a shovel digging by itself! He took this magical shovel too. His brothers probably laughed again. Then, Boots wondered where a small brook was coming from. He didn't find a spring, but a walnut that seemed to be blocking the water. He carefully stopped it up with some moss.

The Test and the Reward

When the brothers finally reached the king, he had added a new rule. Anyone who tried the challenge and failed would face a harsh penalty. They would be sent away to a lonely island. The two older brothers, confident in their strength, tried first. But they failed to cut the tree or dig the well. As a result, they suffered the punishment and were sent away.

Now it was Boots' turn. He used the magical axe to cut down the giant oak tree. Then, he used the magical spade to dig the well. Finally, he used the special walnut to make sure the well filled with water. Thanks to his cleverness and the magic tools he found, Boots succeeded where his brothers failed. He won the princess and half the kingdom, proving that he was not a fool after all.