1. A miller lies to the king by telling him that his daughter can spin straw into gold. The king locks the millers’ daughter in a room full of straw to spin into gold, she cries because she can’t spin the straw into gold. A little man leaps from a door in the floor and spins the straw into gold for the necklace the young lady in wearing. The next morning the king is delighted with the gold and give the young lady another room full of straw to spin into gold. The little man spins the straw into gold for a ring she is wearing, and all is well until the king fills the room with straw to be spun into gold again. The little man appeared again and spins the straw into gold when the young lady promised she would give him her first child. The next day the king was pleased with the gold and married the young lady. Time passed and she had a son and the little man to collect on his promise. The little man tested her at sunset for three day to see if she could guest his name. She was unsuccessful on the first and second days. On the third day a messenger over heard a man in the mountains celebrating and told the queen what he heard. When the little man came before the queen on the last night she told him his name and he burst like a balloon.

2. I liked illustrations, colors, and the twist at the end (burst like a balloon).

3. I would use this book as a lead into 2nd grade social studies PASS Objective
Standard 5: The student will understand basic economic elements found in communities.
1. Distinguish between basic needs (food, clothing, and shelter) and wants (luxuries), and explain how needs and wants can be met (e.g., earning money, saving, and gifts).
2. Describe the occupations and roles of people in the neighborhood and community who provide goods and services.
3. Describe ways people are paid (e.g., by check, in cash, and with goods), the places to keep their money safe (e.g., the bank), and ways they pay for goods and services (e.g., check, cash, credit card, and barter [trading goods and services]). ( )