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Ladybird – Well Loved Tales Series 606D #1.1
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Elves and the Shoemaker is a classic Brothers Grimm fairy tale of the early 19th century.
16 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1960
15 people are currently reading
573 people want to read
About the author
Jacob Grimm
5,547 books2,223 followersGerman philologist and folklorist Jakob Ludwig Karl Grimm in 1822 formulated Grimm's Law, the basis for much of modern comparative linguistics. With his brother Wilhelm Karl Grimm (1786-1859), he collected Germanic folk tales and published them as
Grimm's Fairy Tales
(1812-1815).
Indo-European stop consonants, represented in Germanic, underwent the regular changes that Grimm's Law describes; this law essentially states that Indo-European p shifted to Germanic f, t shifted to th, and k shifted to h. Indo-European b shifted to Germanic p, d shifted to t, and g shifted to k. Indo-European bh shifted to Germanic b, dh shifted to d, and gh shifted to g.
This jurist and mythologist also authored the monumental German Dictionary and his Deutsche Mythologie .
Adapted from Wikipedia.
Indo-European stop consonants, represented in Germanic, underwent the regular changes that Grimm's Law describes; this law essentially states that Indo-European p shifted to Germanic f, t shifted to th, and k shifted to h. Indo-European b shifted to Germanic p, d shifted to t, and g shifted to k. Indo-European bh shifted to Germanic b, dh shifted to d, and gh shifted to g.
This jurist and mythologist also authored the monumental German Dictionary and his Deutsche Mythologie .
Adapted from Wikipedia.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 106 reviews
September 25, 2020
Which child wouldn't love the colorful, detailed illustrations in this well-loved tale? The shoes the elves sneakily make are so exquisite!
December 20, 2021
I'd absolutely love it if elves came to my home at night and did the dishes, lol. Overall a fun children's tale, not quite as dark or twisted as some other Grimm classics.
December 19, 2020
I am always skeptic about recommending Grimms' tales for children - twisted and scary. This one was fine, though.
June 21, 2016
"He looked at the workmanship. There was not one false stitch in the whole job. All was so neat and true, that it was quite a masterpiece."
What an amazing choice of words to describe superior work! I've read this over and over just to ensure my own work measures up to this level of integrity... a huge spiritual lesson.
A wonderful story about humility, industry, and karma.
What an amazing choice of words to describe superior work! I've read this over and over just to ensure my own work measures up to this level of integrity... a huge spiritual lesson.
A wonderful story about humility, industry, and karma.
February 17, 2022
"Harry Potter gave Dobby clothes and now Dobby is FREEEEEEEEEEEE!" J.K. Rowling's loveable house elf, Dobby, was released by the gift of a used sock. In this beloved fairy tale, the Shoemaker and his wife make a whole set of new clothes, shoes and socks in thanksgiving to the pair of elves who rescued their flagging business when they most needed it! Absolutely adorable story! Fully five stars++
February 5, 2015
While significantly shorter than Das Kapital, as a Marxist critique of the fashion industry in the 21st century, this pamphlet cannot be bettered.
The capitalist business owner, who cannot make a profit due to his failed business model, is forced to rely on the labour of unpaid interns who are required to work in unsuitable conditions at anti-social hours, while wearing only rags. As a result of this exploitation of the workers, the capitalist business owner becomes wealthy while the workers remain poor.
Marx used two commodities, a coat and 10 yards of linen, to illustrate his theory of commodity fetishism; he could equally have used leather and the boots made by the elves to make his point.
Elves of the world, unite! You have nothing to lose but your chains.
The capitalist business owner, who cannot make a profit due to his failed business model, is forced to rely on the labour of unpaid interns who are required to work in unsuitable conditions at anti-social hours, while wearing only rags. As a result of this exploitation of the workers, the capitalist business owner becomes wealthy while the workers remain poor.
Marx used two commodities, a coat and 10 yards of linen, to illustrate his theory of commodity fetishism; he could equally have used leather and the boots made by the elves to make his point.
Elves of the world, unite! You have nothing to lose but your chains.
December 3, 2015
Um. What? What just happened?
January 4, 2017
This is a wonderful short story, especially for children. It has a simple storyline told with the help of pictures which are fun and beautiful. I think reading it to your child as he/she sleeps makes for a great bedtime story. The shoemaker and his wife are very poor and one day the shoemaker cuts his last pair of shoe materials and leaves it on the table thinking, 'this is the last I have, it will decide my future further.' He goes to sleep and leaves the cutting on the table to sew in the morning. But as they say, night time is magic time....
Have fun reading :)
Have fun reading :)
September 19, 2017
This is an absolutely delightful, cheery little story from the Brothers Grimm - and almost shockingly so. It's hard to believe this is from the same authors of such stories as Snowdrop and Little Red Riding Hood.
This is the sweet story of some elves helping a shoe maker with his business and him and his wife repaying them.
This was so cheery, I can't stop smiling as I write this review. This was absolutely wonderful to read, and I recommend this to anyone who needs a quick read and a smile.
This is the sweet story of some elves helping a shoe maker with his business and him and his wife repaying them.
This was so cheery, I can't stop smiling as I write this review. This was absolutely wonderful to read, and I recommend this to anyone who needs a quick read and a smile.
December 6, 2015
Very short...I expected a bit more, not in length, but in depth.
January 27, 2017
This is one of my favorite stories from when I was a kid the original version did not disappoint!
December 24, 2022
I've read several versions of this charming tale but not this particular one. Parents of young children should be aware that this is a "Grimm" version and while it's not too dark there is one scene that might raise eyebrows. Still, this is a sweet story and if you can get past the description of the elves, it's a nice tale on being thankful and giving in return- even if the end result might not have been what you wished.
January 4, 2022
There is a live action movie that I watched when I was little that featured grimms fairytales and how they got started writing their stories . So I wanted to read some of their stories since they are so short this one is so cute . Quick easy light but so fun and endearing
September 21, 2020
A cute story of how elves helped someone out of poverty and got rewarded with new clothes and boots. The kindness of the heart is rewarded. A good story.
January 2, 2025
Já conhecia esta história, mas gostei de a revisitar nesta adaptação audio. Sem dúvida uma história fofinha e que vale a pena ler. Ou no meu caso, ouvir.
February 18, 2020
Pehaps the elves(dwarfs) were working hard to get the basic accessories of life only.The good couple ,thank goodness, didn't think to reward the dwarfs sooner.Lolz
October 27, 2021
This was seriously so cute.
I'm always a little weary of just what I'm getting into when I pick up a Grim book but this was surprisingly pleasant.
4 Stars just for the smile it put on my face.
Too cute!
I'm always a little weary of just what I'm getting into when I pick up a Grim book but this was surprisingly pleasant.
4 Stars just for the smile it put on my face.
Too cute!
April 19, 2014
So the reason I loved this book is because I'm very fond of shoes and the elves looked very cute in green :D
January 22, 2015
What a cute story. :)
December 8, 2016
I have arranged my takeaway thoughts on this fairytale into a haiku:
"Isn't that funny?
Silly muggles had house elves.
And never knew it."
"Isn't that funny?
Silly muggles had house elves.
And never knew it."
December 9, 2019
This one was a fun read because I’d forgotten that it existed. It’s quite a cool little tale, though curiosity is punished.
December 2, 2022
This is a fairy tale about brownies that are set free from the free given gift of clothing. They have the means to make their clothes but a brownie is bound by magic to clean and work.
May 26, 2021
Title : THE ELVES AND THE SHOEMAKER
Author : Not known
Character- Shoemaker, his wife and Little Elves
Once there lived an honest but poor shoemaker. He worked very hard but still he couldn't make enough to live. One night he left the leather cut outs on his work bench and went to sleep.
The next morning he and his wife were astonished to see a beautiful pair of shoes ready on his work bench. Just then a merchant passed by and he bought those pair of shoes. Again, the next morning, they found another pair of beautiful pair of shoes, which were got sold off quickly.
Every day the shoemaker would leave the left leather cutouts on his work bench and found beautiful stitched shoes the next morning. The shoe maker and his wife decided to find out who was helping them. So the next night, they hid behind the curtains and as the clock struck midnight, they saw two elves came inside their home. They hopped onto the bench, took out their tiny scissors, hammer and thread, and began joining the leather cut outs. When they had made the shoes, the elves jumped out of their window.
The shoemaker and his wife decided to thank them and express their gratitude. The shoemaker decided to make tiny shoes while his wife would stitch new tiny clothes for the elves. The next night when the elves visited their home, they were delighted to see tiny pair of shoes and coats on the work bench. They wore the new coats and shoes and were dancing on the workbench.
The shoemaker and his wife never saw the elves again, but they continued to prosper, as the elves had passed them GOODLUCK.
MORAL of the STORY : We should always help one another in times of need and appreciate their help. We should be thankful and express our gratitude to those who help us.
Author : Not known
Character- Shoemaker, his wife and Little Elves
Once there lived an honest but poor shoemaker. He worked very hard but still he couldn't make enough to live. One night he left the leather cut outs on his work bench and went to sleep.
The next morning he and his wife were astonished to see a beautiful pair of shoes ready on his work bench. Just then a merchant passed by and he bought those pair of shoes. Again, the next morning, they found another pair of beautiful pair of shoes, which were got sold off quickly.
Every day the shoemaker would leave the left leather cutouts on his work bench and found beautiful stitched shoes the next morning. The shoe maker and his wife decided to find out who was helping them. So the next night, they hid behind the curtains and as the clock struck midnight, they saw two elves came inside their home. They hopped onto the bench, took out their tiny scissors, hammer and thread, and began joining the leather cut outs. When they had made the shoes, the elves jumped out of their window.
The shoemaker and his wife decided to thank them and express their gratitude. The shoemaker decided to make tiny shoes while his wife would stitch new tiny clothes for the elves. The next night when the elves visited their home, they were delighted to see tiny pair of shoes and coats on the work bench. They wore the new coats and shoes and were dancing on the workbench.
The shoemaker and his wife never saw the elves again, but they continued to prosper, as the elves had passed them GOODLUCK.
MORAL of the STORY : We should always help one another in times of need and appreciate their help. We should be thankful and express our gratitude to those who help us.
September 21, 2022
The Shoemaker and the Elves: Le Cordonnier et les Elfes by Jacob Grimm, Wilhelm Grimm, Translation by Google Translate – Children’s Illustrated Colour Picture Book- The Shoemaker and the Elves is a fairy story which is about an old shoemaker who gets divine help with his work when he gets tired. A shoemaker and his wife were poor, they did not have much money to purchase raw leather to prepare shoes. One day, the shoemaker cuts the last piece of leather is shoe size. He is tired by the hard work. He leaves for his residence. In the morning, when he opens his shop, he finds that shoes are already. He sells the shoes in the market. This happens every day. The shoemaker is now better off. The couple hides in behind a curtain to find out who stitches the shoes at night. They find that elves arrive at mid-night and convert the leather in shoes. In order to return their favour, the shoemaker and his wife purchase cloth and leather and stitch clothes and prepare shoes for the dwarfs. When the dwarfs view the clothes and shoes, they wear them. Message How a pair of elves restore a poor shoemaker to prosperity. Coloured illustrations help the reader to relate to the contents of the story.
February 4, 2018
This story can classify under the category of a 'fable'. Compared to others, it can be considered 'short'. It depicts a lesson that it is okay to accept help from others and that you should not take it for granted. When the elves helped the people in the town, most were grateful but the ones who were not ultimately drove the elves away and everyone had to do their own work once again. I thought it was a cute story that could be used to teach children that helping others is a positive experience. I was upset at the end when the tailor's wife drove away the elves after all the help they provided to the community and I do not blame the people for wanting the elves to come back. I like the story because I do not think that it discourages doing hard work, but it does teach children to appreciate help when they receive it. I would teach this story to kindergarten-3rd graders because it is simple but still has good morals surrounding it that children should start to learn at a young age.
September 30, 2019
This is a classic fairytale by the Grimm brothers, aimed at younger children explains the story about a shoemaker who is poor and kind and cannot sell any of his shoes. One night he leaves a part of material out and the elves see this and feel sorry for him, so they use the material to make a new set of shoes, the shoemaker then sells them the next morning and then uses that money to buy more material for his shoes. Later that night he notices it is the elves that were helping him, so he decides to make tiny clothes for the elves, the elves get the clothes and leave and the shoemaker continues to make and sell shoes. This story can be used in the classroom to help children with their numeracy skills by counting the elves or the shoes in the picture. the illustrations in the book will keep the children engaged. I really enjoyed this book as it teaches about hard work and kindness.
March 10, 2024
"The Elves and the Shoemaker" is a captivating tale by the Brothers Grimm that celebrates kindness and hard work. In this story, a poor shoemaker becomes successful with the help of mysterious elves. Each night, the elves craft exquisite shoes, which the shoemaker sells to improve his life. Realizing the elves' assistance, the shoemaker and his wife express their gratitude by making clothes for their unseen benefactors, leading to a heartwarming conclusion. This edition, part of the "Once Upon a Time" series, beautifully retells the classic, emphasizing the importance of giving back to those who help us. It's a timeless lesson wrapped in a magical narrative, perfect for young readers and adults alike.
May 12, 2021
Elves and the Shoemaker is about an old shoe maker that is very poor. His business becomes successful with the help of two elves that would finish his work in the night. To repay the elves the Shoemaker and his wife made them new clothes and shoes. This story focuses on how being kind to others can be a rewarding experience. Also that if you don't appreciate the help you receive from others you could lose their help. This was one of my favorite books growing up and the illustrations are just as I remember them. My favorites were always the illustrations with the elves.
March 18, 2024
FULL REVIEW ON MY WEBSITE
https://thebookcornerchronicles.com/2...
The original tale is much better but also darker then the version kids see.
It is different but not that different from what you might remember from first hearing this tale as a kid.
The plot here are very good but also dark which is the mix which I personally like a lot.
The writing style here was very old and you could feel the vibe of old the Europe which was amazing for me.
https://thebookcornerchronicles.com/2...
The original tale is much better but also darker then the version kids see.
It is different but not that different from what you might remember from first hearing this tale as a kid.
The plot here are very good but also dark which is the mix which I personally like a lot.
The writing style here was very old and you could feel the vibe of old the Europe which was amazing for me.
December 23, 2023
This might have been my first ever favourite book... I remember, though probably mostly from stories my parents have told me since this was about 20 years ago, how I used to bring this everywhere I went and knew it very nearly by heart. Revisiting it for the first time in ages has been such an enormous joy. 10000/5* for a cherished early memory.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 106 reviews