The Giant Who Had No Heart in His Body – A Fairy Tale

“The Giant Who Had No Heart in His Body” is a magical fairy tale about a young prince who embarks on a brave journey to rescue his six older brothers, who have been turned into stone by a wicked giant.

With the help of three loyal animal friends — a raven, a salmon, and a wolf — the prince must find and destroy the giant’s hidden heart to break the curse.

Through courage, kindness, and cleverness, the prince proves that true strength comes from the heart, not just the body, and saves his family from the giant’s evil spell.

Parental Caution

“The Giant Who Had No Heart in His Body” is a captivating fairy tale filled with adventure and magic, but it also contains elements parents may want to be aware of.

The story features a terrifying giant who casts a powerful spell, turning people into stone, and includes moments of danger and suspense.

Parents should feel comfortable guiding younger children through the story, explaining the moral lessons of bravery, kindness, and selflessness while reassuring them that good always prevails.

The story’s focus on overcoming challenges and using intelligence and compassion to defeat evil can provide valuable lessons for children.

Short History of “The Giant Who Had No Heart in His Body”

“The Giant Who Had No Heart in His Body” is a traditional fairy tale rooted in European folklore, specifically from Scandinavia.

It is part of a collection of stories that explore themes of bravery, cleverness, and the battle between good and evil.

The tale was first popularized through collections of fairy tales, particularly by famous storytellers like the Brothers Grimm and other folklorists who collected oral traditions.

The young hero’s courage and kindness are central to the story, teaching readers that strength isn’t always about fighting but about wisdom and helping others.

While the exact origins are unclear, versions of the story have been passed down through generations, often with variations in the details.

Its themes of selflessness, friendship, and the triumph of good over evil continue to captivate audiences.

The Giant Who Had No Heart in His Body – Let’s Read

Once upon a time, a wise old king lived in a faraway kingdom with seven sons. He loved them all dearly and wanted them to have happy lives.

As the sons grew up, the king thought it was time for them to find brides and start their own families.

One day, the six older brothers gathered together and said, “Father, we want to travel across the land and find princesses to marry!” The king smiled and gave them his blessing.

He packed food and gifts for their journey and wished them good luck.

The six brothers were excited. They wore their finest clothes, mounted their horses, and rode off with laughter and dreams in their hearts.

But the youngest brother stayed behind. He was different from the others — not in a bad way, but in a quiet, thoughtful way.

He wasn’t in a rush to leave home. He loved spending time in the garden, helping people, and learning about the world.

Deep down, he knew that his adventure would come one day — an adventure even greater than finding a bride.

The Trouble Begins

The six brothers traveled far and wide across mountains, forests, and rivers. After many days, each of them found a beautiful princess to marry.

They were so happy and excited! They couldn’t wait to return home and introduce their brides to the king.

But on their way back, they made a big mistake. They took a shortcut through a dark, strange valley — a place that many people avoided.

Right in the middle of the valley stood a huge, creepy castle. It belonged to a terrible giant who was known for being mean and magical.

The giant came storming out as soon as the brothers and their princesses passed by. His footsteps shook the ground, and his voice boomed like thunder.

The giant cast a wicked spell without giving them a chance to explain.

All six brothers and their princesses were turned into cold, gray stone statues in a blink!

Now they were trapped — frozen forever — unless someone brave and clever enough could find a way to break the giant’s curse.

And that someone, as you might have guessed, would be the youngest brother…

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The Youngest Brother’s Quest

Back at the castle, the youngest brother waited and waited. Days turned into weeks, but there was no news from his brothers.

He started to worry. Something had gone wrong — he could feel it in his heart.

One morning, he went to the king and said, “Father, I can’t just sit here anymore. I have to go and find my brothers. I know they need me!”

The king was sad to let his youngest son go, but knew he couldn’t stop him. He packed him some food, warmly hugged him, and wished him good luck.

The youngest brother set off on his journey, full of hope and determination. Along the way, he met three animals who needed help.

First, he found a raven tangled in some thorny bushes. Carefully, he set the bird free. Then, he saw a salmon stuck in a shallow stream.

Gently, he helped it back into deeper water. Finally, he met a hungry wolf, and even though he had very little food, he shared his meal with it.

Each animal looked at him with grateful eyes and said, “If you ever need help, just call for me!”

The youngest brother smiled. He didn’t know it yet, but helping those animals was the smartest thing he could have done.

Soon, he would need their help for an enormous and perilous task…

The Secret of the Giant’s Heart

After many days of traveling, the youngest brother finally reached the dark valley where his brothers had disappeared. He saw the giant’s big, scary castle standing tall and cold.

He found a princess inside the castle — the very same one the giant had captured!

At first, the princess was scared of him. But when she saw his kind eyes and brave heart, she decided to help him.

The youngest brother asked her, “How can I defeat the giant and save my brothers?”

The princess whispered, “It’s not easy. The giant can’t be hurt like normal people. His heart isn’t in his body!”

The brother’s eyes grew wide with surprise. “Then where is it?” he asked.

The princess leaned closer and said, “His heart is hidden far away.

It’s inside an egg, which is inside a duck, inside a well, and inside a church on a far-off island.”

The youngest brother listened carefully. He knew this would be arduous, but he didn’t feel scared.

After all, he had kindness, courage, and a few special animal friends ready to help him!

The Journey to Find the Heart

The youngest brother knew he had no time to waste. He set off right away to find the giant’s heart. But how could he reach a church on a faraway island?

He thought for a moment, then remembered the animals he had helped!

First, he called out for the raven.
With a flutter of wings, the raven swooped down from the sky. “Hop on my back!” the raven said. “I’ll fly you to the island!”

The youngest brother held on tightly as the raven soared over mountains and oceans.

Before long, they reached the lonely island where the church stood, hidden among tall trees.

The next problem came: the well was deep and dark, and the duck was swimming somewhere inside it. How could he catch it?

He called for the salmon.
With a splash, the salmon appeared in the water. “Don’t worry,” said the salmon, smiling. “I’ll catch that duck for you!”

The salmon swam fast and clever, and soon he brought the duck up to the surface.

But just as the youngest brother reached for it, the duck flew into the air — and the egg inside it fell out!

The egg was about to crash and be lost forever… but the wolf came racing out of the trees just then!
The wolf leaped into the air and caught the egg safely in his mouth.

The youngest brother laughed with joy. He finally had the giant’s heart in his hands thanks to his animal friends. It was time to face the giant and end the spell once and for all!

The Final Battle

The youngest brother carefully held the giant’s heart as he returned to the giant’s castle. He was feeling nervous but determined.

This was the moment he had been waiting for.

When he reached the giant’s dark, spooky castle, the giant was waiting for him, as big and terrifying as ever. The giant roared, “What do you want, little one? You cannot defeat me!“

But the youngest brother stood tall and said, “I will defeat you! I’ve already found your heart, and now it’s time to end your wickedness!”

The giant’s eyes grew wide with fear as the brother raised the egg above his head. “No!” the giant shouted, his voice shaking. “Don’t crush it! My heart is inside that egg! If you destroy it, I will die!”

But the brother was brave and strong. He squeezed the egg with all his might. Crack!

The giant let out a terrible scream.

In that very moment, the heart was broken, and the giant’s magic was destroyed forever. The giant, who had been so powerful and cruel, was no more.

The castle began to shake and crumble.

The six brothers’ and brides’ stone statues slowly came to life, and the youngest brother’s brave adventure was finally over!

The Happy Ending

With the giant gone and his heart destroyed, everything changed. The youngest brother smiled, knowing his mission was complete.

The stone statues of his brothers and brides began to crack and melt away, turning back into their living selves.

The six older brothers blinked in surprise, looking around in confusion.

They cheered with joy when they saw their youngest brother standing before them, holding the broken egg. “You saved us!” they shouted, lifting him up. “You’re our hero!”

The princesses, trapped in stone for so long, also came to life. They smiled at the youngest brother, grateful for his bravery.

The brothers and their brides returned home to the king, where a great celebration was held in honor of the youngest son’s courage.

The king hugged his son tightly, so proud of him. “You’ve proven that true strength isn’t just about fighting,” the king said. “It’s about kindness, cleverness, and the courage to do what’s right, no matter how hard it seems.”

The youngest brother, quiet and humble from the start, smiled.

He knew that no matter what, his heart would always be filled with love for his family and friends — the animals who had helped him and the people he had saved.

And so, they all lived happily ever after, in peace and joy, knowing that even the smallest of hearts can have the greatest strength.

What Kids Learn from This Story

• Bravery Comes in Many Forms: The youngest brother teaches us true bravery isn’t always about physical strength. Sometimes, it’s about courage to face challenges with kindness, cleverness, and determination.
• Helping Others is Important: By supporting the animals he meets on his journey, the youngest brother receives their help in return when he needs it most. This shows kids that being kind and helpful to others creates bonds that can help us in tough times.
• Cleverness Overcomes Strength: The giant is mighty, but the youngest brother uses his intelligence to solve problems and break the curse. This shows children that thinking through problems carefully can be just as powerful as brute strength.
• Family and Friendship Matter: The love and loyalty the youngest brother has for his family and the way he works together with his animal friends teach kids that teamwork and caring for others are important.
• Good Always Wins in the End: Despite the giant’s evil powers, the youngest brother’s goodness and bravery triumph. This shows kids that good things happen when you do the right thing, even when difficult.

Follow-Up Questions For This Story