It's Not About the Straw! Read online

  and Jake’s grandma came in.

  “I’ve been calling you.

  Lunch is ready,” she said.

  “What’s for dessert?” Jake asked.

  “Apple pie,” Grandma replied.

  “You’re in luck!”

  Jake told Lily and Ben,

  and they ran to the farmhouse.

  ABOUT THE STORIES

  Rumpelstiltskin, a fairy tale collected and set in print by the Grimm brothers in 1812, is the most popular of the stories about guessing a name. There are similar stories in different cultures, and the ones collected here are three examples.

  Elf is inspired by a tale from Germany called Kugerl, first recorded in 1854, and is one of many versions of Rumpelstiltskin found there.

  Lady in Green is based on a story called Whuppity Stoorie from Scotland.

  The Bridge is a retelling of a Japanese tale called Carpenter and Oniroku.