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We look forward to welcoming you and your family this summer! Find out more

1001 Stories Collection

The Three Dolls

1001 The Three Dolls
Added on 08th July 2020

Oral tradition Indian folktale/Persian folktale

Middle East Fables
1001 , Audio , Storymap

A folktale that poses a riddle about stories.

Story

An anonymous gift is received. In the box are three identical looking dolls with a note. The note challenges the recipient to tell the dolls apart.

Why we chose it

The Three Dolls was one of the stories in The Story Museum’s original audio collection. It is a story about storytelling and also about riddles.

Where it came from

There are versions of this story from both Persia and India. In both traditions the king or Sultan must solve the puzzle of the three dolls.

Where it went next

A version can be found in David Holt’s Ready to Tell Tales. Chris Smith includes it in his book, 147 Traditional Stories for Primary School Children to Retell.

Associated stories

Other stories that include riddles are Who is the Husband?, The Snake and the Frog and The Three Gifts.

Added on 08th July 2020

Oral tradition Indian folktale/Persian folktale

Middle East Fables
1001 , Audio , Storymap

Story Resources

  • The Three Dolls story map PDF (313.134 KB)
    Download