The frog prince

“The frog prince” is the tale of a prince who has been turned into a frog and must rely on the kindness of a young princess to transform back into his human self. It’s a story of friendship, loyalty, and love.

Before you think of recent movie versions, “The frog prince” is a classic tale from The Brothers Grimm, who first published it in 1812. It’s full of magic, royal charm, and the message that true beauty lies within. Ready to hop into the story and see how a frog becomes a prince?

This article features two versions of the story: the full tale and a simplified graded reader, great for younger English learners. With questions at the end to reinforce vocabulary and comprehension, your child will enjoy learning alongside this timeless fairy tale.

Want more magical English learning? Explore the Studycat Learn English app for more stories, games, and lessons that make learning fun.

Let’s pounce into the pond and follow The Frog Prince on his journey to becoming human again!

The story of “The frog prince”

Once upon a time, there was a beautiful but spoiled princess who loved to play with a golden ball by a well near the palace. One day, while tossing the ball in the air, it fell into the deep well with a loud splash. The princess was heartbroken and began to cry, for the golden ball was her favorite toy.

As she wept, she heard a croaky voice nearby. “Why are you crying, princess?” asked a frog sitting at the edge of the well.

The princess, startled that a frog could talk, explained that her golden ball had fallen into the well. “I can help you get your ball back,” said the frog. “But what will you give me in return?”

“I’ll give you my jewels, my crown, anything you want!” the princess promised.

But the frog shook his head. “I don’t want your jewels or crown,” he said. “If you promise to be my friend, let me eat from your plate, and let me sleep on your pillow, I will fetch your ball.”

The princess didn’t think much of the frog’s request. “Sure, sure,” she said quickly, not intending to keep her promise. She just wanted her ball back. The frog dove into the well, and moments later, he returned with the golden ball in his mouth.

Delighted, the princess grabbed the ball and ran back to the palace, forgetting all about the frog and her promise.

A promise kept (reluctantly)

The next day, while the princess was dining with her father, the king, there was a knock at the door. “Princess, open the door for me!” croaked a voice from outside.

The princess’s face turned pale. She knew it was the frog, and she didn’t want to keep her promise. The king, noticing her discomfort, asked what was wrong. Reluctantly, the princess explained the whole story—how the frog had helped her retrieve the golden ball in exchange for her promise to be his friend.

The king frowned. “A promise is a promise, my dear. You must keep your word, no matter how small or strange it seems.”

Unhappily, the princess opened the door, and the frog hopped into the dining hall. He jumped onto the table and said, “Lift me up to sit beside you and let me eat from your plate.” The princess did as she was told, but she wrinkled her nose in disgust the whole time.

Later, the frog asked to sleep on her soft pillow. The princess didn’t want to, but her father reminded her of her promise. With great reluctance, she carried the frog to her room and placed him on her pillow.

The frog’s transformation

The next morning, something magical happened. When the princess woke up, she didn’t find a slimy frog on her pillow—she found a handsome prince! The princess was shocked.

The prince explained that he had been cursed by a wicked witch, and only the kindness of a princess could break the spell. By keeping her promise and treating him with kindness, even though it was difficult, the princess had freed him from the curse.

The princess, realizing her mistake, was now glad that she had kept her word. The two became close friends, and soon after, they fell in love. The prince asked the princess to return to his kingdom with him, where they married and lived happily ever after.

The moral of “The frog prince”

True friendship and love are based on kindness, and we should always keep our promises.
The princess didn’t want to keep her promise at first, but by doing so, she discovered the true nature of the frog—and found a prince. The story teaches us to value honesty, kindness, and looking beyond appearances.

Questions about “The frog prince”

1. What happened when the princess dropped her golden ball into the well?
2. What did the frog ask for in return for fetching the ball?
3. Why didn’t the princess want to keep her promise to the frog?
4. How was the frog transformed back into a prince?
5. What lesson does the story of The Frog Prince teach us?

Answers

1. The princess was upset and crying when she dropped her golden ball into the well.
2. The frog asked the princess to be his friend, let him eat from her plate, and sleep on her pillow.
3. The princess didn’t want to keep her promise because she found the frog disgusting and didn’t believe she had to keep such a promise.
4. The frog was transformed back into a prince after the princess kept her promise and showed him kindness.
5. The story teaches us that kindness and keeping promises are important, and we should look beyond appearances to find true friendship and love.

Words to learn

• Princess: A royal daughter. In this story, the princess is spoiled at first but learns a valuable lesson.
• Frog: A small, green animal that lives in water and on land. The frog in this story is actually a cursed prince.
• Well: A deep hole in the ground where people draw water. The princess’s golden ball fell into the well.
• Promise: A commitment to do something. The princess made a promise to be the frog’s friend in exchange for his help.
• Prince: The son of a king and queen. The frog was really a prince under a magical curse.

What type of story is “The frog prince”?

The Frog Prince is a fairy tale, a magical story that teaches important life lessons.

Who wrote “The frog prince”?

The Frog Prince was written by The Brothers Grimm, two German authors who collected and published fairy tales. You can learn more about them here.

When was “The frog prince” written?

The Frog Prince was first published in 1812 by the Brothers Grimm.

Who are the main characters in “The frog prince”?

The main characters are the princess, the frog (who is actually a cursed prince), and the king.

What lesson can we learn from “The frog prince”?

We learn that keeping promises and being kind to others, no matter their appearance, can lead to unexpected rewards. The princess’s kindness transformed the frog into a prince, showing that true beauty comes from within.

”The frog prince” story for young English learners (ages 2-5, Pre-A1 graded reader)

Once upon a time, there was a princess who loved to play with her golden ball. One day, she was playing by a pond, and her ball fell into the water. The princess was very sad and started to cry.

A frog popped up from the water and said, “Why are you crying, princess?”

“My golden ball fell into the pond, and I can’t reach it,” she said.

The frog said, “I can get your ball, but what will you give me in return?”

The princess thought for a moment. “I will give you anything you want!” she said.

The frog said, “I want to be your friend. Let me eat with you, and let me sleep in your palace.”

The princess didn’t want a frog in her palace, but she wanted her ball back. “Okay,” she said. “I promise.”

The frog jumped into the pond and brought back her golden ball. The princess was happy. She took the ball and ran back to the palace, forgetting about her promise.

The next day, the frog came to the palace. “Princess, you promised to be my friend. Let me in,” the frog said.

The princess didn’t want to, but her father, the king, said, “You must keep your promise.”

So, the frog ate with the princess, and later, he slept on a pillow in her room. The princess was unhappy, but she kept her promise.

The next morning, the frog said, “Princess, will you give me a kiss?”

The princess didn’t want to kiss the frog, but she felt sorry for him.

So, she gave him a quick kiss on the head.

Suddenly, the frog turned into a handsome prince! He had been under a magic spell, and the princess’s kiss broke the spell.

The prince thanked the princess.

They became good friends and, later, got married.

They lived happily ever after.

Fun fact!

Did you know? In earlier versions of “The frog prince”, the curse was broken when the princess threw the frog against the wall in anger! Thankfully, the more common version today focuses on kindness and keeping promises.