Best Loved Tales for Africa One day, a poor fisherman catches a magic talking fish, which he immediately sets free. He tells his brother what has happened and his brother demands that he go and ask the magic fish for a bigger house. The magic fish grants the fisherman’s wish. Will his brother be satisfied or will he be greedy and ask for more?
The Magic Fish Retold by Margie Orford Illustrations by Lizza Littlewort
9 781770 098220
ISBN 978-1-77009-822-0 www.jacana.co.za
Read aloud, read together, read alone, read forever!
Growing a love of reading magic fish Cover.indd 1
Best Loved Tales for Africa 2011/06/29 10:04 AM
The Magic Fish
Retold by Margie Orford Illustrations by Lizza Littlewort
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O
nce upon a time, there was a poor fisherman. He lived with his brother in a grass hut, next
to the sea. When the sun rose the fisherman took his small boat out into the bay and there he would sit, catching fish, until the sun set again.
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One day his line was pulled deep, deep down to where there was no light. The fisherman held on tight and pulled out a great silver fish. ‘Oh please, kind fisherman,’ pleaded the fish, ‘let me live. I’m not a real fish. I’m a princess who was bewitched. Please let me go.’ ‘A beautiful fish that can talk?’ said the fisherman. ‘Of course I’ll let you go.’ And he eased the hook out of the fish’s mouth and put her back in the water.
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The fisherman went home and told his younger brother how he had caught a huge fish who was really a bewitched princess.
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‘Did you ask it for something?’ said the brother. ‘We are so poor, living in our grass hut. Go back and tell the fish that we want a brick house with windows and a zinc roof.’
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The fisherman was not happy, but he went to the seashore. When he got there the water looked muddy and brown. He stood at the water’s edge, and said: ‘O princess of the sea! Listen to me! My younger brother has sent me to beg a favour of you!’
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For Ella Margie Orford
An African retelling by Margie Orford of The Fisherman’s Wife, by the Brothers Grimm
First published by Jacana Media (Pty) Ltd in 2011 10 Orange Street Sunnyside Auckland Park 2092 South Africa (+27 11) 628-3200 www.jacana.co.za © Margie Orford © Images: Hannah Morris Series editor: Carole Bloch All rights reserved. ISBN 978-1-77009-822-0 Set in ITC Stone Informal Std 14/22pt Printed and bound by Craft Print Singapore Job no. 001424 See a complete list of Jacana titles at www.jacana.co.za
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Best Loved Tales for Africa One day, a poor fisherman catches a magic talking fish, which he immediately sets free. He tells his brother what has happened and his brother demands that he go and ask the magic fish for a bigger house. The magic fish grants the fisherman’s wish. Will his brother be satisfied or will he be greedy and ask for more?
The Magic Fish Retold by Margie Orford Illustrations by Lizza Littlewort
9 781770 098220
ISBN 978-1-77009-822-0 www.jacana.co.za
Read aloud, read together, read alone, read forever!
Growing a love of reading magic fish Cover.indd 1
Best Loved Tales for Africa 2011/06/29 10:04 AM