The kids are playing all day long, singing songs, and trying to make the best of their tender youth. Life is what you make of it.
One day, their stepmother transforms them into animals. The little girl becomes a lambkin and her brother becomes a fish. From then on, the lambkin spends time on the pasture instead of in the playground, and the little fish swims in the pond. They are still together. They have lost their human form, but they are still alive and they still have each other.
The stepmother is not satisfied. She still hates the kids. When she gets visitors, she sees that as an opportunity to get rid of them once and for all. The wicked stepmother orders the cook to take the lambkin and slaughter it. It shall be cooked and served for dinner.
The cook takes the lamb and puts it on the desk. The little fish swims along the pond and cries. The lambkin starts crying, too. The cook understands their words and believes it would be wrong to kill the lambkin. It can't be an ordinary animal, so he definitely can't slaughter and cook it.
He gets another sheep and prepares it for the dinner. He takes the lambkin to a friendly peasant woman who also believes that this lambkin and the little fish are not ordinary animals. The woman goes to a wise woman and asks for help.
The wise woman manages to transform the lambkin and the fish back into human beings. The lambkin becomes a little girl and the little fish transforms into her brother.
The children are humans again. Yet, the danger is still present. Their stepmother is still around. They can't simply return home. So the wise woman takes them into the woods, where they start living in a small hut. They are poor but safe. And they still have each other.
***
The theme of cannibalism is one of the most disturbing themes in classic fairy tales. Many modern parents don't want to tell such stories to their offspring. The theme of losing one's parents is dark, as well. Yet, such themes address the most primal human fears that are very much present in a child's mind. Yes, even in today's child's mind. This is why classic fairy tales still possess values, worth addressing and exploring. In safe, domestic environments, of course, and always to the kids, who are capable of dealing with such stories, what depends on each kid individually. We definitely don't want to give our children nightmares!
Pauline Ebner made a great job of illustrating The Lambkin and the Little Fish in dark, pessimistic tones, and striking contrasts.
When you are ready, check out some other, more popular fairy tales with related themes: Little Red Cap, Wolf and Seven Little Goats, Snow White, and Hansel and Gretel make a great start.
Please, share this precious little piece of history to everybody interested. Thank you!