Story retold by Bev Evans Sleeping Beauty Story retold by Bev Evans

Once upon a time there was a king who lived in a far away castle The King’s wife had just had a new baby and everyone in the castle was celebrating. The King had invited many people to join the celebration.

Among the people celebrating were a group of fairies. The King had invited them so they could bless the new Princess with gifts. They gave the Princess the gifts of grace, beauty and friendliness.

Unfortunately, the celebrations were about to come to an end. She was so angry that she put a curse on the Princess. The King had forgotten to invite one of the older fairies and she burst into the castle in great anger. “On her sixteenth birthday she will prick her finger and die!”

Then the old evil fairy disappeared. The King and Queen were very upset. The King immediately banned the use of sharp objects from the castle and offered a reward for the capture of the old evil fairy. But he didn’t know what else to do.

At that moment, one of the kind fairies stepped forward. The Princess would not die. If anything happened the Princess, and everyone in the castle, would fall into a deep sleep. Although she could not break the curse she was able to change it. A kiss would later wake up the Princess and all in the castle.

Although they were not sure, the King and Queen agreed with this idea and the fairy made cast her spell. And, all the while, the Princess carried on sleeping in her wooden crib.

Many years went by and nothing happened. Then, on the day of her sixteenth birthday, a strange thing happened. The Princess was nearly sixteen and loved to walk around the castle grounds. The Princess was taking a walk inside the castle when she came across…

…an old woman with a spinning wheel. The old woman was the evil fairy in disguise! She had magically entered the castle and was ready for her revenge! She handed the Princess something sharp. She knew what was going to happen. …an old woman with a spinning wheel.

The Princess pricked her finger. The evil fairy thought the Princess was dead and disappeared. Soon, she was in a deep sleep on the floor.

The kind fairy knew something had happened and rushed to the castle. She carefully lifted the Princess onto a beautiful bed as everyone else in the castle drifted off into a deep sleep.

No one came to castle for many years. Then, one day, a handsome prince was riding near the castle. The castle became covered in brambles and weeds. He asked a nearby farmer what had happened there.

The farmer told him the whole story. He chopped through the weeds and brambles… When the handsome prince heard about how a kiss could wake the Princess he decided to try and break the spell. …and entered the castle grounds.

The Prince started searching for the Princess. Eventually, he went to the tallest tower. The Prince climbed the stone steps to the top, opened the door… …and found the Princess

The Prince started searching for the Princess. Eventually, he went to the tallest tower. The Prince climbed the stone steps to the top, opened the door… …and found the Princess

The Prince approached the bed, leaned over, and… The Princess, and everyone in the castle, woke up. …kissed the Princess.

Everyone lived happily ever after. The King thanked the Prince, and there was another large celebration in the castle. Everyone lived happily ever after. After a short while the Prince and the Princess got married and left the castle for a new life. And the evil fairy was never heard of again.

The End Story retold by Bev Evans www.communication4all.co.uk Images by Gavin Rowe ©Ladybird Books