The Frog Prince

Long ago, there lived a beautiful princess.

She had many toys.

But her favorite was a golden ball.

It shone like the sun!

She played with it every day.

Near the castle was a deep well.

The princess liked to sit by it.

She would toss her golden ball up and catch it.

She played there every afternoon.

It was her favorite spot.

One day, the princess threw the ball very high!

It went up, up, up into the air!

But when it came down, she missed it!

The ball bounced away!

It rolled right into the deep well!

SPLASH!

The golden ball sank down into the water!

The well was so deep!

The princess couldn't see the bottom!

Her precious ball was gone!

The princess started to cry!

She cried louder and louder!

She was very spoiled.

She always got what she wanted.

She couldn't stand losing her favorite toy!

"Why are you crying, princess?" said a voice.

The princess looked around.

There was a frog!

He sat on a lily pad in the well!

His big eyes looked at her.

"My golden ball fell in the well!" she sobbed.

"I would give anything to have it back!

My clothes, my jewels, anything!"

The frog thought for a moment.

Then he had an idea.

"I don't want your clothes or jewels," said the frog.

"But if you promise to be my friend,

let me eat from your plate,

drink from your cup,

and sleep in your bed...

Then I will get your ball!"

The princess didn't like this idea!

A frog for a friend? Yuck!

But she wanted her ball so badly!

"Yes, yes, I promise!" she said quickly.

She thought the frog could never leave the well anyway!

The frog dove deep into the well!

Down, down, down he swam!

Soon he came back up!

He had the golden ball in his mouth!

He dropped it on the grass!

The princess was so happy!

She grabbed her ball!

She started running back to the castle!

"Wait!" called the frog.

"Take me with you!

You promised!"

But the princess didn't stop!

She ran all the way home!

She forgot all about the frog!

She forgot all about her promise!

She was selfish and didn't care!

The poor frog hopped after her!

But he was too slow!

He couldn't catch up!

"A promise is a promise!" he called.

But she was already gone!

The next evening, the royal family sat down to dinner.

The king, the princess, and all the court!

They were eating from golden plates!

Suddenly, they heard a strange sound!

Plop, plip, plop, plip!

Something was coming up the marble stairs!

It reached the door!

Knock, knock, knock!

"Princess! Open the door!" called a voice.

The princess ran to see who it was!

She opened the door!

There was the frog!

The princess screamed!

She slammed the door shut!

She ran back to the table, very pale!

"What's wrong?" asked the king.

"Is there a giant out there?"

"No," said the princess.

"It's just a disgusting frog!"

She told him the whole story!

The king listened to her story!

Then he looked at her sternly!

"You made a promise!" he said.

"A princess must keep her word!

Go let the frog in!"

The princess didn't want to!

But she had to obey her father!

She opened the door!

The frog hopped in!

He followed her to the table!

"Lift me up beside you!" said the frog.

The princess didn't want to touch him!

"Do as he says!" commanded the king.

The princess picked up the frog!

She put him on the chair next to her!

"Now push me closer to your plate!" said the frog.

The princess pushed his chair closer!

The frog ate from her golden plate!

He seemed to enjoy every bite!

But the princess couldn't eat at all!

When the frog finished eating, he said,

"I am tired now!

Carry me to your room!

I want to sleep in your silk bed!"

The princess started to cry!

She hated the cold, wet frog!

Now he wanted to sleep in her beautiful bed!

"Do as you promised!" said the king firmly.

"A good friend keeps their word!"

The princess had no choice!

She picked up the frog with two fingers!

She carried him upstairs!

She put him in the corner of her room!

She got into bed!

But the frog hopped over!

"I helped you!" said the frog.

"I want to sleep on the soft pillow like you!

Or I will tell your father!"

The princess was so angry!

She picked up the frog!

She was going to throw him in the corner!

But something strange happened!

When she threw him against the wall...

POOF!

The frog disappeared!

In place of the frog stood a handsome prince!

He had kind eyes!

He wore beautiful clothes!

The princess gasped in surprise!

"Who are you?" she asked!

"I am a prince!" he said.

"A wicked witch turned me into a frog!

Only a princess could break the spell!

She had to let me eat from her plate,

drink from her cup,

and sleep in her bed for three nights!

You broke the spell!"

"But I only did it because my father made me!" said the princess.

"I know," said the prince kindly.

"But you did it anyway!

And you taught me something!

True friendship isn't always easy!

Sometimes we have to keep our promises

even when we don't want to!"

The princess felt ashamed!

She had been selfish and mean!

But the prince had been patient and kind!

"I'm sorry I was so horrible!" she said.

"Can you forgive me?"

"Of course!" said the prince.

"Let's start over!

Let me tell you my story!"

They talked all night!

The prince told her about being a frog!

The princess listened!

She realized how hard it must have been!

Living in a well!

Being treated badly!

Never giving up hope!

The next morning, the king was surprised!

"Who is this?" he asked.

The prince told his story!

The king was amazed!

"You are welcome here!" said the king!

The princess learned an important lesson!

She learned to keep her promises!

She learned not to judge people by how they look!

She learned that kindness matters!

She became a better person!

The prince and princess became real friends!

They spent time together!

They learned from each other!

The prince taught her about keeping promises!

The princess taught him about forgiveness!

As they grew older, they fell in love!

They got married in a grand celebration!

The prince took her to his kingdom!

They ruled together wisely and kindly!

They never forgot the lesson of the frog!

And they always taught their children:

Keep your promises!

Treat everyone with kindness!

Don't judge by appearances!

True friendship can come from unexpected places!

And they all lived happily ever after!