Way out in the countryside, in a house with a bright red door, lived a happy family. There was a kind dad and his three daughters. The youngest daughter was sweet and loved animals more than anything.

One day, the dad had to go on a long trip. "What special gifts would you like me to bring back?" he asked. The oldest daughter wanted a shiny pearl necklace. The middle daughter asked for a sparkling diamond ring. But the youngest daughter said, "Oh, Papa, please bring me a little bird that sings and hops about – a singing, leaping lark!"

The dad found the necklace and the ring easily. But a singing, leaping lark? He looked everywhere! Finally, deep in a forest, he saw a grand castle. And in a tree nearby, a little lark was singing and hopping! "Perfect!" he thought, and reached for it.

Suddenly, ROAR! A huge lion with a magnificent mane leaped out. "How dare you try to steal my special lark?" the lion growled. The dad was so scared! "Oh, please, Mr. Lion," he stammered, "my youngest daughter asked for it."

The lion thought for a moment. "Alright," he said, his voice a little softer. "You can have the lark. But in return, you must promise to give me your youngest daughter."

The dad was heartbroken. But a promise is a promise. He took the lark and went home. When he arrived, his youngest daughter ran out to greet him, her eyes shining. When she heard about the promise, she wasn't scared. "Don't worry, Papa," she said bravely. "I will go to the lion."

So, the brave girl went to the lion's castle. It was a bit spooky at first, but the lion was surprisingly gentle. During the day, he was a big, furry lion. But when night came, poof! He turned into a handsome young prince! They talked and laughed, and the girl grew to like him very much.

Soon, news came that the girl's oldest sister was getting married. "You can go," said the prince-lion, "but be very careful. If even a tiny bit of candlelight shines on me while I'm a prince, something terrible will happen." The girl promised to be careful. She had a wonderful time at the wedding. Not long after, her second sister got married. Again, the prince-lion let her go, with the same warning.

Back at the castle, the girl missed seeing the prince during the day. One night, she thought, "I just want to see his kind face for a moment." She lit a tiny candle and tiptoed into his room. He looked so peaceful sleeping there. But oh no! A tiny drop of hot wax from the candle fell onto his shoulder!

Instantly, the prince woke up with a cry. "What have you done?" he said sadly. He began to change, not into a lion, but into a white dove. "Now I must fly as a dove for seven long years," he cooed. "Follow the white feathers I drop, and perhaps you can find me." And with a flutter, he flew out the window.

The poor girl was so sorry! She ran out of the castle and followed the trail of white feathers. She walked for days and days, over hills and through forests. Sometimes she lost the trail, but she never gave up.

One day, when she was very tired, the Sun peeked through the clouds. "Take this little golden casket," said the Sun in a warm voice. "It might help you." Later, the Moon shone down. "Here is a tiny golden egg," whispered the Moon. "Keep it safe." And then the Wind whistled by. "I will help you find him," puffed the Wind, and blew her gently towards a faraway kingdom.

The Wind led her to a castle where her prince, still a dove by day but a prince at night, was about to marry a grumpy princess who was actually a bit of a mean sorceress. The sorceress had caught him and wanted to keep him for herself.

The girl knew she had to act fast. That evening, she opened the Sun's golden casket. Inside was the most beautiful, shimmery dress! The grumpy princess saw it and said, "I want that dress! I'll let you sleep in the room next to the prince's if you give it to me." The girl agreed. She called out to her prince all night, but the sorceress had given him a sleepy drink, and he didn't hear.

The next day, the girl opened the Moon's golden egg. Out popped a little golden hen with tiny golden chicks! The grumpy princess wanted them too. "Another night next to his room for those!" she declared. Again, the girl called, and this time, the prince almost heard her through his sleepy haze.

On the third day, the girl had no more gifts. But a kind servant had told the prince about the strange girl and warned him not to drink the sleepy drink. That night, when the girl called out his name, "My prince, my love, have you forgotten me and the lion in the forest?" he heard her! He jumped out of bed and ran to her.

"I remember everything!" he cried, hugging her tight. The spell was finally broken! He was a prince all the time now. They quickly found a magical griffin (a creature like a giant eagle with a lion's body) that the Wind had sent. They hopped on its back and flew far away from the grumpy sorceress and her castle.

They went back to the girl's home, had a huge party, and, of course, they got married and lived happily, with lots of singing and leaping, for all their days.

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