Cultivating a Love for Reading
I want to share one story for children that I hope you will enjoy. One of my latest obsessions as a parent is to get my children to read. We live in a world of tablets, Netflix, TikTok, and endless possibilities of digital entertainment, against which it is difficult to compete. But how do I get my child to enjoy reading and develop a habit that will provide him with hours of leisure and personal growth for the rest of his life?
Importance of Reading
Is it really so important for children to read? Do children really like old-fashioned stories for children? I am fully convinced that reading as a hobby will greatly facilitate his passage through school, and as an adult, it will nourish his mind and soul, while also keeping him away from other more destructive habits and addictions related to screens (I am not anti-social media, but the addictive risk of screens is very high).
Surprising Discoveries: A story for children
In my search for books and topics that interest my child, I have come across several surprises, and I would like to share one of them. After trying comics, books of all themes, magazines, etc., the book that has hooked my son the most so far is an old traditional Mallorcan tale, which I never expected to captivate the imagination and interest of a child of the digital age: “La flor Romanial”. a children’s story that was part of a collection of traditional tales written in 1880.
The Tale of “La flor Romanial”
Without further ado, here is a translated version of this old and misteriuos story for children:
The King’s Quest
There was a king who had three sons. He had tied a large eagle in the garden for them to play with. The two older brothers played with the eagle by poking it with sticks and canes. The youngest brother played with it by petting it gently, and he suffered seeing how his brothers mistreated the eagle. One night, the youngest brother went and untied the eagle. The eagle, very grateful, asked him to pluck a feather from its wing and make a whistle out of it, and if he ever needed help, he should blow the whistle.
The Search for the Romanial Flower
The king was wounded in war. He was healed of all wounds except one, and the doctors said he wouldn’t heal unless he had the Romanial flower. It’s a flower that heals everything, but no one knows where to find it. The king calls his three sons and tells them they must go in search of the flower. Whoever brings it will be king when he dies.
Bernadet’s Journey
At noon, near a crossroad, each one takes their own path; when bidding farewell, all three have agreed that, after a year, they will return here. Bernadet whistles, and an eagle appears ready to do whatever he desires. He had taken it from the depths of a cage, for he preferred to see it fly.
The Discovery of the Flower
“Ride on my back and grab my wings,” the eagle said. They ascended through the mists, leaped over the sea. Amidst the waves, wild and blue, a rocky cliff rose, lost and savage. In a crevice, open in the rock, the fortunate flower hid from the sun. The hand could not reach it, almost touching it. If his fingers were longer, he would pluck it in flight.
Sacrifice and Redemption
“Cut off one of my legs, lengthen your hand,” the eagle instructed. “You will pick three flowers in one bouquet.” With one of the flowers, the eagle reattached its leg and told him to keep the other two flowers. One to heal his father and the other for any possible unforeseen event.
Betrayal and Justice
The youngest brother arrived at the meeting place with the others. Seeing that the youngest had found the flower, the oldest brother grabbed it and then killed him, burying him on the spot. When the other brother arrived, he told him that he found the flower and that they could go home, even though the youngest hadn’t arrived. The king, pleased, promised the crown to the eldest and asked about the youngest without getting a clear answer.
Uncovering the Truth
Where the youngest brother was buried, a cane with very long stems and shiny leaves grew. A shepherd passed by, took a cane, and made a flute out of it. Every time the shepherd played the flute, a song came out that spoke of where the boy was buried. The flute always said the same thing. One day the shepherd, passing near the king’s palace, played the flute. The king heard it and asked the shepherd to play it for him, then the queen, and finally the brothers. The flute always said the same thing, but when the eldest brother played it, it clearly revealed the truth. The king ordered the buried son to be unearthed. They found him safe and sound as he had kept one of the flowers. He explained everything that happened and asked his father not to have his brother killed. The father consented and gave the crown to the youngest son, who became a good king.
Keep reading!
I hope you and your family enjoyed this old story for children!