In Love with a Statue facts for kids

In Love with a Statue is a fascinating fairy tale from Italy. It was collected by a storyteller named Thomas Frederick Crane and published in his book Italian Popular Tales. This story takes you on a journey about love, sacrifice, and the strong bonds of family.

The Story Begins

Once upon a time, in a faraway land, there lived a king who had two sons. The younger prince was very special because he fell deeply in love with a beautiful statue. He spent all his time admiring it, wishing it could come to life.

A Brother's Quest

Seeing his younger brother's sadness, the older prince decided to embark on a grand adventure. He wanted to find a real person who looked exactly like the statue. He hoped this would make his brother happy.

Unexpected Friends and Discoveries

On his journey, the older prince came across some magical creatures. He bought a clever dancing mouse and a sweet singing bird. These new friends joined him on his quest. One day, he saw a truly amazing sight: a beautiful girl appeared at a window, looking exactly like the statue! This happened just as a beggar knocked on the door of her home.

A Clever Plan

The older prince knew he had to meet this girl. He pretended to be a merchant selling shiny looking glasses. He used this trick to invite her onto his ship. Once she was on board, he quickly sailed away with her, hoping to bring her back to his brother.

A Mysterious Warning

As they sailed across the sea, a large black bird flew overhead. It spoke to the older prince, giving him a strange warning. The bird said that the mouse, the bird, and the beautiful lady would all cause trouble for his younger brother. It also warned him that if he spoke about this, he would turn to stone!

Challenges and Sacrifices

When the older prince returned home, he showed his younger brother the dancing mouse and the singing bird. But, remembering the warning, he sadly killed them. He did this to try and protect his brother from the strange curse.

A Difficult Choice

The younger prince was very upset when his brother killed the mouse and the bird. To stop him from harming the beautiful lady, the younger prince had his older brother put in prison. Even though he was in great trouble, the older prince would not speak, remembering the black bird's warning. He was even sentenced to a serious punishment.

The Truth Revealed

When it was time for the older prince to face his punishment, he finally decided to tell the whole story. As he spoke, just as the black bird had warned, he turned into a stone statue! It was a sad moment for everyone.

A New Family and a Magical Cure

After some time, the beautiful lady and the younger prince got married. They were very happy and soon had two lovely children.

A Father's Lesson

One day, a wise physician came to visit. He told the younger prince that there was a magical way to bring the older prince back to life. He said a special cure involving their children could turn the stone prince back into flesh. The mother was very worried and refused to let this happen to her children.

However, the king, wanting his older son back, decided to go ahead with the cure while the mother was away at a royal ball.

A Happy Ending

The older prince was restored to life! He then went to the ball where the mother was. When the mother heard what had happened, she quickly ran back to see her children. The physician showed her that her children were perfectly alive and well. He then revealed a big secret: he was her father! He explained that he wanted to show her how strong a parent's love for their children can be, and the sacrifices they might make. Everyone was reunited, and the family lived happily ever after.