Do you know the story? It is about three goats. The goats want to cross a bridge. A troll owns it. He let them pass. The goats trick the troll. Then they cross the bridge.

That was my bridge. Those were bad goats. This is my version of the story. This is what really happened.

I built that bridge. It was mine. It cost one coin to cross. It is called a toll. That is how I made money.

The Brothers Grimm traveled around Germany and collected German fairy tales like this one. They recorded the stories and published them in several different books. While Puss in Boots originated in France and Italy, this German fairy tale features many of the same types of characters and concepts. As you read, see if you can spot the differences and similarities between the two stories.

The story of Puss in Boots comes from France and Italy. It is similar to a German story called The Poor Miller’s Boy and the Cat by the Brothers Grimm. The Brothers Grimm traveled around Germany collecting German fairy tales. They recorded the stories and published them in several different books.

Here is the story of The Poor Miller’s Boy and the Cat. As you read, see if you can spot the differences and similarities between this story and Puss in Boots.

The story of Puss in Boots comes from France and Italy. It is similar to a German story called The Poor Miller’s Boy and the Cat by the Brothers Grimm. The Brothers Grimm traveled around Germany. They collected German fairy tales. They recorded the stories. Then they published them in several different books.

Here is the story of The Poor Miller’s Boy and the Cat. As you read, see if you can spot the differences and similarities between this story and Puss in Boots.

Once upon a time in a land far, far away, lived a young prince. The prince wanted to get married and searched for the right princess in every kingdom, all over the world. He met many princesses along the way, but there was something not quite right with each of them. They were either too short or too tall, too fat or too thin, too ugly or too pretty. How could he be sure that they were real princesses?

Once upon a time lived a prince. The prince wanted to get married. The prince looked in every kingdom, all over the world. He met many princesses. But the prince did not like any of them. How could he be sure that they were real princesses? There was something wrong with each of them. One was too short. One was too tall. One was too fat. One was too thin. One was too ugly. One was too pretty.

Once upon a time lived a prince. The prince wanted to get married. The prince looked everywhere. The prince met many princesses. The prince did not like any of them. The prince was not sure they were real princesses. One was too short. One was too tall. One was too fat. One was too thin. One was too ugly. One was too pretty.

One night there was a knock at the gate. It was a stormy night. It was rainy. It was windy. Outside was a lady. She said she was a princess. She did not look like one. She was wet. She was a mess.

Once upon a time lived a boy. Back then even little boys had jobs. This boy worked as a shepherd, watching sheep in the pasture all day long. The problem was that being a shepherd was a lonely job. The boy was by himself all day long with no one but sheep to talk to—and they are lousy conversationalists.

The boy became so bored and lonely that he was willing to do just about anything for a little attention. He came up with an idea for how to get some. He began to cry, “Help, help! There is a wolf! Save me!”

Long ago lived a boy. He worked as a shepherd, watching sheep all day. The problem was that there was no one to talk to.

The boy was bored and lonely. All he wanted was a little attention. He had an idea. He began to cry: “Help! Wolf. There is a wolf! Save me!”

The boy was so loud that they heard him in the town. The townsfolk came running. They ran to the field to save the boy. They saw the boy, but did not see the wolf.

“Where is the wolf,” they asked. “He ran away,” said the boy. They hugged the boy. “Poor boy,” they said. “You are so brave.”

Once there was a boy. He watched sheep all day.

He felt lonely. There was no one to talk to. He had an idea. He cried for help. “Help! Help! Wolf! Save me!”

The boy was loud. The town heard him. People ran to help him. They saw the boy. They did not see the wolf.

“Where is the wolf?” “He ran away,” said the boy.
“Poor boy,” they said. “You are so brave.” They hugged the boy. Then they went home.

In truth, there was no wolf. It was a trick.

A week went by. The boy was lonely again. “Help! Help! Wolf! Save me!”