Heroes in Disguise

Write a fairy tale where the hero of the story is an unlikely or overlooked character.

Heroes in fairy tales are usually strong and handsome princes or brave and beautiful princesses. Break the mold with this prompt by introducing a hero who is ordinary, overlooked, or even ridiculed by others—a young farm girl, a friendly but slow-witted troll, a mouse turned magician. Explore how this character’s distinctive traits, however unconventional, make them uniquely qualified to solve the tale’s primary conflict. This approach can help children understand that strength comes in many forms, and heroes don’t always wear capes.