Katie Woodencloak facts for kids

An illustration by Theodor Kittelsen of Katie dressed in her wooden clothing.

Katie Woodencloak (also known as Kari Woodengown or Kari Trestakk) is a famous Norwegian fairy tale. It was collected by Peter Christen Asbjørnsen and Jørgen Moe. You can find it in their book Norske Folkeeventyr. This story is similar to "Cinderella" because it features a heroine who is treated badly but finds happiness. Andrew Lang also included this tale in The Red Fairy Book.

The Story of Katie Woodencloak

This fairy tale is known as Aarne-Thompson-Uther type 510A. This type of story often features a main character who is treated unfairly. Other well-known tales of this type include "Cinderella" and "The Wonderful Birch".

A Cruel Stepmother and a Magical Friend

Once, a king had a kind daughter. He married a queen who also had a daughter. Sadly, the king had to go to war. While he was away, the stepmother treated her stepdaughter very badly. She often starved the princess.

A special dun bull helped the princess. He told her to look in his left ear. There, she found a magical cloth. When she spread it out, all the food she needed appeared!

When the king returned, the queen found out about the bull. She pretended to be sick. She even paid a doctor to say she needed the bull's meat to get better.

Escaping to a New Life

The princess was scared for her friend, the bull. She told him about her stepmother's plan. The bull decided they must run away together.

They traveled through a forest with copper trees. The bull warned her not to break any branches. But the princess accidentally broke off a small copper leaf. The bull told her to keep it safe.

Next, they met a troll who was angry they were in his wood. The bull fought the troll and won, but he was hurt. The princess used a special ointment from the troll to heal him.

This happened two more times. They passed through a silver wood and a golden one. Each time, the princess got a silver leaf and a golden apple. She now had a copper leaf, a silver leaf, and a golden apple.

The princess and the bull kept traveling. They finally reached a castle. The bull gave the princess a wooden cloak. He told her to ask for work at the castle as "Katie Woodencloak."

Before she went, the bull asked her to do something difficult. She had to cut off his head and hide his skin in a rock. She also had to put the leaves and apple inside. The bull said if she needed anything, she should knock on the stone. The princess was sad but finally agreed.

Life at the Castle

Katie went to the castle and got a job in the kitchen. One day, she had to carry water for the prince's bath. The prince thought she looked dirty. He threw the water on her.

Later, Katie went to the rock. She knocked and asked for a beautiful copper dress. She went to church, and the prince saw her. He fell in love right away. Katie told him she was from "Bath." She used a charm to stop him from following her. But he managed to catch one of her gloves.

A second time, she brought the prince a towel. He treated her the same way. Katie then went to church in a shining silver dress. She told the prince she was from "Towelland." This time, she dropped her riding whip.

The third time, she brought him a comb. He again threw water on her. Katie then went to church in a magnificent golden dress. She told the prince she was from "Combland." This time, he caught her golden shoe.

The Prince's Search

The prince wanted to find the mysterious woman. The king made all the women in the kingdom try on the golden shoe. Katie's stepsister tried it on. She even cut her foot to make it fit!

A clever bird warned the prince. It sang that the stepsister had cut her foot. The bird also sang that the shoe belonged to Katie Woodencloak.

After finding out about the false bride, the prince asked for Katie Woodencloak. People warned him against her because of her dirty appearance. But he insisted. So, they married and lived happily ever after.