The Elves and the Shoemaker
MY VERY FIRST FAIRY TALES Series
What’s inside...
Stan and Jan are shoemakers by day, and at night, they love to dance in the shoes they make. But when they run out of money, it seems their dancing days are over. Then one morning, they find the most magnificent pair of shoes. Who has made them...and why?
Series reading
Non-Sequential
Age
3-7
Length
32 pages
Text complexity
Character compass
The Shoemaker
The Elves
The Shoemaker'S Wife
Discussion points
What do you think are the reasons why the elves helped the shoemaker?
How did the shoemaker and his wife show their gratitude to the elves?
What would you do if you were in the shoemaker's place and you found out elves were helping you?
How do you feel about the way the story ended?
Can you think of other ways to show kindness to someone who helps you?
Tip: Role play these questions
Encourage your child to relate the theme of kindness in the story to their own life by asking them to share a time they helped someone or were helped.
Discuss the emotions of the characters when talking about the story, asking how your child thinks the shoemaker or the elves felt at different points in the book.
Highlight the impact of teamwork as shown by the elves working together, and discuss with your child the importance of collaborating with others.
After reading, ask your child to draw a picture of their favorite part of the story, and use this as a prompt to further discuss the themes of the book.
Create a simple role-play scenario where your child can pretend to be the shoemaker, the wife, or the elves, and act out different ways to show gratitude or kindness.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: The value of kindness and generosity
Explanation: In the story, the shoemaker and his wife show kindness to the elves by providing them with clothing and food, despite their own poverty.
Real-World Application: Children learn the importance of helping others in need, which can encourage them to share and be generous with their friends and family.
Example Lesson: The rewards of hard work and determination
Explanation: The shoemaker's dedication to his craft, even when times are tough, ultimately leads to prosperity with the help of the elves.
Real-World Application: This teaches children that perseverance and effort can lead to success and that they should strive to do their best in all tasks.
Example Lesson: Gratitude and appreciation
Explanation: After receiving help from the elves, the shoemaker and his wife express their gratitude by giving back to the elves, showing appreciation for the help they received.
Real-World Application: Children learn to be thankful for the help and support they receive from others and to show appreciation in tangible ways.
Example Lesson: Mutual benefit and cooperation
Explanation: The relationship between the shoemaker and the elves benefits both parties, demonstrating cooperative mutual assistance.
Real-World Application: This can teach children the importance of teamwork and working with others to achieve common goals.
Example Lesson: Empathy and understanding
Explanation: The shoemaker and his wife take the time to understand the elves' needs and respond with kindness, indicating an empathetic approach.
Real-World Application: Children learn to consider the feelings and needs of others and respond thoughtfully and kindly in their interactions.