The Elves and the Shoemaker

Author: A Brothers Grimm Tale · Retold as a Fable by DozyStories

  • Age3–6
  • Reading time7 min
  • LevelBeginner

Introduction

This fable of kindness and gratitude comes from one of the best-loved tales collected by the Brothers Grimm. In this retelling, the tiny elves are not just mysterious helpers — they stand for an old and simple idea: kindness always finds its way home. The shoemaker treats his work honestly, so the elves reward him in the night; the couple repay the elves with warm little clothes, so the elves leave content, dancing and singing. It is the same wisdom that lives in the Chinese saying “a drop of water in need shall be returned with a spring.” A kindness does not have to be grand, but it should be remembered and repaid with action. As you read, ask your child why the elves, who had done so much, were happy with a few little clothes. The answer is gentle: they never wanted payment. They only wanted to feel seen and valued. The story teaches two quiet lessons as well. For the giver: do good without seeking notice, like the elves sewing in the dark. For the receiver: turn your thanks into a gift, like the couple making tiny shirts and shoes. One gives, the other repays, and the circle of kindness keeps turning. Read slowly, let your child discover the elves' secret together with the shoemaker, and then talk about one small kindness your family could do for someone this week.

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The Elves and the Shoemaker - A poor shoemaker cuts out his very last piece of leather, and in the morning he finds the finished shoes on his table. - Scene Illustration 1
A poor shoemaker cuts out his very last piece of leather, and in the morning he finds the finished shoes on his table.
Long ago, in a small town, there lived a shoemaker with a kind heart. He worked hard, yet his money slowly ran out. In the end, he had no more than enough leather for one pair of shoes. One evening he cut out the leather and put it on the table, planning to work the next day. He had done nothing wrong, so he lay down and slept without worry.
The next morning he sat down to work — and stopped in surprise. There on the table stood a pair of shoes, already finished. The stitches were neat and even, and he could find no fault in them. He had never seen finer work in his life.
The Elves and the Shoemaker - Prosperity returns, and one night the couple stay awake to discover who has been helping them. - Scene Illustration 2
Prosperity returns, and one night the couple stay awake to discover who has been helping them.
A few days later, a customer came to the shop. He loved the shoes so much that he paid a high price for them. With this money, the shoemaker bought leather for two pairs. That night he cut out the leather and went to bed. But when he woke, both pairs stood finished on the table. More and more buyers came, and soon he had money for four more pairs.
And so it went on. Whatever he cut out in the evening was done by morning. Before long, the shoemaker grew rich again. One night, not long before Christmas, he said to his wife, “Let us stay awake tonight and hide in the room. Then we can see who is helping us.” His wife thought it was a good idea. She lit a candle, and the two of them hid behind the clothes that hung on the wall.
The Elves and the Shoemaker - At midnight, two tiny elves appear and stitch the shoes with amazing speed. - Scene Illustration 3
At midnight, two tiny elves appear and stitch the shoes with amazing speed.
At midnight, two tiny men came in, wearing no clothes at all. They sat down at the table, picked up the cut leather, and began to stitch and hammer. Their little fingers moved so fast that the shoemaker could hardly believe his eyes. They did not rest until every shoe was finished. Then, as quickly as they had come, they ran out of the door.
The Elves and the Shoemaker - To repay the elves' kindness, the couple make tiny clothes and shoes and lay them out on the table. - Scene Illustration 4
To repay the elves' kindness, the couple make tiny clothes and shoes and lay them out on the table.
The next morning, his wife said, “Those little men have made us rich. We must show them how thankful we are. They run about with no clothes and must feel very cold. I will sew them little shirts, coats, waistcoats, and trousers, and knit each of them a pair of socks. You can make them two little pairs of shoes.”
“Gladly,” said the shoemaker. When the gifts were ready, they laid them on the table in place of the cut leather. Then they hid themselves once more and waited to see what would happen.
The Elves and the Shoemaker - The elves put on their new clothes, dance away singing, and never return — while the shoemaker prospers for the rest of his life. - Scene Illustration 5
The elves put on their new clothes, dance away singing, and never return — while the shoemaker prospers for the rest of his life.
At midnight, the two little men came bounding in, ready to work. But they found no leather on the table — only the pretty little clothes. At first they stood still, amazed. Then their faces lit up with joy. They dressed themselves quickly, singing all the while:
“Now we are dressed so neat and bright, No more cobbling shoes at night!”
Then they danced and skipped over the chairs and benches, and at last they danced right out of the door. They never came back. But from that day on, the shoemaker prospered all his life. And the people of the town still say: do good, and good will come back to you.

Vocabulary from "The Elves and the Shoemaker"

12 key words from this story with definitions and original context sentences for language learners.

leatherB1
/ˈleðə/n.

Animal skin prepared for making shoes and bags.

皮革；皮子。

In the end, he had no more than enough leather for one pair of shoes.

到后来，家里只剩下够做一双鞋的皮子。

amazed(amaze)B2
/əˈmeɪzd/adj.

Very surprised, almost unable to believe what you see.

惊奇的；大为惊讶的。

At first they stood still, amazed.

起先他们愣住了。

buyers(buyer)B1
/ˈbaɪəz/n.

People who pay money to get something.

买主；买家。

More and more buyers came, and soon he had money for four more pairs.

买鞋的人一个接一个，钱越赚越多，他很快又买回够做四双鞋的皮子。

hideB1
/haɪd/v.

To stay in a place where no one can see you.

躲藏；藏起来。

Let us stay awake tonight and hide in the room.

今夜咱们先别睡，躲在屋里看看。

midnightB1
/ˈmɪdnaɪt/n.

Twelve o'clock at night; the middle of the night.

午夜；半夜十二点。

At midnight, two tiny men came in, wearing no clothes at all.

半夜时分，两个赤条条的小人儿轻手轻脚走进来。

stitchB2
/stɪtʃ/v.

To sew cloth or leather with a needle and thread.

缝；缝制。

They sat down at the table, picked up the cut leather, and began to stitch and hammer.

他们坐到桌边，拿起裁好的皮子，穿针引线，缝的缝，敲的敲。

hammerB2
/ˈhæmə/v.

To hit something with a tool or with your hand, again and again.

敲打；锤打。

They sat down at the table, picked up the cut leather, and began to stitch and hammer.

他们坐到桌边，拿起裁好的皮子，穿针引线，缝的缝，敲的敲。

hardlyB1
/ˈhɑːdli/adv.

Almost not; only just.

几乎不；简直无法。

Their little fingers moved so fast that the shoemaker could hardly believe his eyes.

一双小手快得像翻飞，鞋匠看得眼睛都舍不得眨。

thankfulB1
/ˈθæŋkfl/adj.

Feeling happy because someone was kind to you.

感激的；感谢的。

We must show them how thankful we are.

咱们可得好好谢他们。

knitB2
/nɪt/v.

To make clothes from wool by joining loops of thread with needles.

编织（毛衣、袜子等）。

I will sew them little shirts, coats, waistcoats, and trousers, and knit each of them a pair of socks.

我给他们做小衬衫、小褂子、小背心、小裤子，再给他们各织一双袜子。

lit up(light up)B2
/ˈlɪt ʌp/phr.

Became bright and happy, full of joy.

（脸）亮起来；变得容光焕发。

Then their faces lit up with joy.

随后两张小脸放出光来。

prospered(prosper)C1
/ˈprɒspəd/v.

Became rich and successful; everything went well.

兴旺发达；日子红火。

But from that day on, the shoemaker prospered all his life.

可从那以后，鞋匠的日子一天比一天好，做什么成什么，一直富到老。

Reading Together & Learning More

The Moral

Good deeds bring good fortune. Be kind to others, and kindness will come back to you; remember a kindness you have received and repay it, and good luck will follow.

Educational Value

Helps children learn to be grateful and to repay kindness in their own way, and shows that helping others quietly, without seeking praise, is a precious virtue.

Tips for Parents

After reading, make a small thank-you gift together for someone who has helped your family; then ask your child how else we can turn our thanks into action, beyond just saying the words.

Talk About It

  1. The elves worked every night and never asked for pay. When they got the little clothes, they left happily. What do you think they really wanted?
  2. If the elves had never come back, would the couple's gifts still have been worth making? Why or why not?
  3. The couple turned their thanks into a gift. If someone helps you, what could you do to show your thanks besides saying the words?
  4. The elves always did good deeds in the dark, where no one could see. Why is quiet kindness more precious than kindness that everyone talks about?
  5. The story says good deeds bring good fortune. Do you believe that helping others brings a reward? Have you ever seen or heard of such a thing?

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