Donkey Skin

Title: Donkey Skin

Sources:
Charles Perrault, Old-Time Stories told by Master Charles Perrault, translated by A. E. Johnson (New York: Dodd Mead and Company, 1921).

Summary: There once was a king who had everything he could wish for: a magnificent castle, a beautiful wife, a daughter, and a donkey who, instead of dung, produced gold coins. Sadly, the queen becomes ill and on her death bed she makes the king promise that when he finds someone more wise and more beautiful than her, he must marry this person. She didn't think he could ever find someone like that, so she did not worry. The king grieved, but when it became time for him to marry again he decided that no one would fit the description that he promised his wife would fulfill other than his daughter. The daughter does not want this, and so she consults her fairy godmother who tells her to put her father off by requesting things she believes will be impossible for him to find; a dress the color of the sky, a dress the color of the moon, a dress as bright as the sun, and finally she asked for the skin of his beloved donkey. Even after receiving all the dresses, she thought for sure he would not accomplish this final task. However, he did so immediately. The fairy godmother counseled the daughter to pack her things in a magical chest and to use the donkey's skin as a disguise and to make her escape. 
Hidden in the ugly donkey skin, she eventually finds work in a kitchen. However, she tries on her beautiful dresses in secret. A princes spies her through the keyhole and falls in love with her at once. He requests that she make him a cake, calling her Donkey Skin. When she makes the cake her ring falls in, either on purpose or by accident. When it is discovered by the prince, he proclaims that he will only marry the woman whose finger fits the ring. Everyone comes to try it on, but only when Donkey Skin is asked by the prince to put it on does the ring find its owner. They marry. Later, the daughter finds out that her father has married a widow, and the family reconciles. 

Cultural Origins: French, 1695. Published by Perrault. This tale is very similar to Cinderella. 

Audience: While young children may find the idea of a donkey that poops gold to be humorous, I might tell this tale to older children up to adults. The idea that a father wants to marry his daughter would be difficult for a young child to process. It would certainly take some explaining by the storyteller for a younger audience. I could see telling this story along with other Cinderella stories to make comparisons in a classroom. 

Adaptation Ideas: There is a lot of detail in this story that adds complexity and depth to the tale. I think you could alter the amount that you kept in to your audience so that you can keep them entertained. I would also try to disguise my voice when I was narrating the princess in disguise. It might also be entertaining to have a donkey braying when talking about the donkey or discussing his pelt.