The Three Heads of the Well

A fairy tale retold from English Fairy Tales, collected by Joseph Jacobs

Joseph Jacobs collected this traditional English fairy tale and published it in 1890. The story comes from an older oral tradition and reflects its era; a few period terms have been modernised. Like many fairy tales, it teaches that kindness is rewarded and cruelty brings its own punishment. The magical three heads, the contrast between two sisters, and the idea of seeking one's fortune are patterns found in fairy tales around the world. This story is worth a child's time because it shows that how we treat others—especially those who seem unimportant—shapes our own future.

Band

Yellow · Emerging readers, about 6 to 8

Length

medium · about 573 words in 6 sections · 4 pictures

Source

English Fairy Tales, Joseph Jacobs · Project Gutenberg

First published

see the About page in the reader

Regions

Canada · United States

Included formats

• · Web reader and PDF
• · EPUB for e-readers
• · Home-print sheet
• · Folded booklet
• · Binder edition (8.5 × 11)
• · Worksheet
• · Quick Check (8 questions) with answer key
• · Read-aloud script
• · Colouring page

Readers are engineered from the original public-domain text with AI under HummingRead’s published canon and Content Philosophy, checked by automated audit and sampled by a person. Pictures are made with AI to HummingRead’s brief for each story. How a reader is made.