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by Jessica Gundersonillustrated by Aleksandar Zolotic

Stories of India and Africa

Shape-Snake Prince

The the

Changerand

Advance

The Snake Prince and the Shape-Changer

GRL O Fiction

Word count: 1,971

Curriculum link: fairy tales and folklore

Text types: Indian fairy tale, African fairy tale

Extending vocabulary: agree, antelope, brass, fear, fool, guard, hiss, market, medicine man, secret, warn

Program link: The Snake Prince and the Shape-Changer E-Book

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Table of Contents

The Snake Prince

Chapter 1 An Unusual Jewel 4

Chapter 2 Secrets Shared 8

Chapter 3 Midnight Visitor 12

Chapter 4 Queen of the Snakes 16

The Shape-Changer

Chapter 1 The Medicine Man and a Plan 19

Chapter 2 Playing Tricks 22

Chapter 3 The Chase 26

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Chapter 1

An Unusual JewelOne day long ago in the country of India,

an old woman visited the king’s palace. She carried a large brass pot.

“I went to the river to bathe and collect water,” she told the king. “After I bathed, I found a brown snake inside my pot. When I got home, the snake was gone. Instead, I found this! Look!”

The old woman lifted the lid. Inside the brass pot was a necklace of bright, sparkling jewels.

The king paid the old woman for the necklace and gave it to his wife, the queen. She locked it in her jewel chest.

One day, the king asked the queen to get her necklace. He wanted her to wear it.

Snake Prince

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When the queen unlocked the chest, she jumped. The necklace was gone! Instead, she found a tiny, perfect baby boy.

The queen picked up the baby. Tears ran down her cheeks. She had always longed for a baby. She held him close and whispered, “You are worth more than any necklace.”

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The king and queen raised the child as their own. The boy grew up, and soon it was time for him to marry. The king arranged a marriage between his son and the neighboring king’s daughter.

The wedding day was bright and fair. But the bride’s mother was worried. Just before the wedding, she pulled her daughter aside.

“I’ve heard strange stories about the prince’s birth,” she whispered. “After the wedding, here’s what you must do: Tell your husband you will not speak until he tells you the truth of his birth.”

The princess listened and agreed to follow her mother’s orders.

After the wedding, the prince spoke to the princess. He asked her about her home and her family. But she would not answer.

“My wife, why won’t you speak to me?” the prince asked.

“Tell me the secret of your birth,” the princess said. “Then I will speak.”

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“You do not want to hear it,” the prince told her sadly.

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Chapter 2

Secrets SharedDays passed, then months. Still the

princess would not speak. She asked only about the prince’s birth. Silence hung like a fog around them.

Finally, one day, the prince said, “I will tell you the story of my birth. Meet me by the river at midnight.”

The princess looked at the prince joyfully. At last she would learn his secret! And finally she’d be able to speak.

But the prince did not share her joy. “I’m warning you, you will be sorry you heard the story,” he said sadly. “You will be sorry for the rest of your life.”

The princess did not care about his warning. She arrived at the river at midnight. The prince was waiting.

“Do you still want to hear the story?” he asked her. “Even after my warning?”

The princess smiled and nodded.

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The Snake Prince Chapter 1 An Unusual JewelChapter 2 Secrets SharedChapter 3 Midnight VisitorChapter 4 Queen of the Snakes

The Shape-ChangerChapter 1 The Medicine Man and a PlanChapter 2 Playing TricksChapter 3 The Chase