Printable coloring story · Ages 2–5
The Princess and the Pea
The classic rainy-night test with one tiny pea beneath many mattresses.
On a rainy night, a young woman says she is a princess. The queen secretly places one pea beneath a tall stack of mattresses, and the visitor sleeps restlessly because she can feel it. The family recognizes her as a true princess.
A 10-page story to read, color, and keep
Read, color, learn
Ten little scenes to read and color.
Read one short sentence, color the scene, then pause for the little fact and question. The pages follow the story in order.
- 01Page 1
Page 1
A Visitor in the Rain
On a rainy night, a young woman arrives at the castle door and asks for shelter.
Little factRain falls from clouds when water droplets become heavy enough.
Talk together: What kind of night is it?
- 02Page 2
Page 2
The Queen Asks
The queen asks the visitor who she is, and the young woman says that she is a princess.
Little factA queen is a female ruler or member of a royal family.
Talk together: What does the visitor say she is?
- 03Page 3
Page 3
The Secret Test
The queen plans a quiet test and looks toward the guest bedroom.
Little factA test is a careful way to learn something that is not yet known.
Talk together: What is the queen planning?
- 04Page 4
Page 4
One Tiny Pea
The queen secretly places one tiny pea on the bed frame beneath the mattresses.
Little factPeas are seeds that grow inside pea pods.
Talk together: Where is the tiny pea?
- 05Page 5
Page 5
Many Mattresses
The queen stacks many soft mattresses and blankets above the hidden pea.
Little factA mattress is a soft pad made for resting or sleeping.
Talk together: How many mattresses can you see?
- 06Page 6
Page 6
The Princess Goes to Bed
The visitor climbs onto the tall bed and tries to sleep beneath the blankets.
Little factSleep gives the body time to rest and recover.
Talk together: Who is lying on the bed?
- 07Page 7
Page 7
A Restless Morning
In the morning, the visitor looks tired after a restless night and the queen asks how she slept.
Little factRestless sleep can leave a person feeling tired in the morning.
Talk together: How does the visitor look?
- 08Page 8
Page 8
The Pea Disturbed Her
The visitor says that something hard disturbed her all night, even beneath all the mattresses.
Little factA pea is small, round, and firm compared with a soft mattress.
Talk together: What did the visitor feel?
- 09Page 9
Page 9
A True Princess
The queen reveals the pea, and the family recognizes that the sensitive visitor is a true princess.
Little factA pea can be hidden under many soft layers even though it is very small.
Talk together: What does the family discover?
- 10Page 10
Page 10
Welcome to the Family
The true princess joins the family, and everyone welcomes her to a happy new life at the castle.
Little factFamilies can welcome people with kindness and care.
Talk together: Who joins the family?
Free story book
Print the whole story for a coloring afternoon.
Download all 10 uncolored pages, then read each tiny fact as your child colors from beginning to end.
10 pages · free PDF
A little more room to create
Bring the coloring moment into Magical Colors.
Pick a picture, color with forgiving tools, hear the object name, and keep progress on the device.