A dragon who bakes bread is manageable. A dragon who bakes bread in a lighthouse where the stairs have vanished? Now somebody has to tell the next sentence. That’s the fun of this February 26 storytelling game.
What is Tell a Fairy Tale Day?
Tell a Fairy Tale Day is February 26. It celebrates magical stories, impossible problems, and the pleasure of finding out what happens next. You can read a familiar tale or invent a completely new one together.
Stories made for telling and retelling
Fairy tales belong to oral and written storytelling traditions, and familiar plots often appear in many versions. The Brothers Grimm’s collected tales are one well-known example of stories gathered and reshaped for readers. That tradition of retelling gives a family storyteller permission to change the setting, the helper, or the ending. A public-domain collection of the Grimms’ fairy tales.
A simple way to enjoy the day
Start with a character, a place, and a problem. Pass the next sentence to someone else just when the situation becomes difficult. A helpful dragon or a very stubborn teapot can take the story somewhere unexpected.
Holiday dates for planning
| Observance | 2026 | 2027 | 2028 | 2029 | 2030 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tell a Fairy Tale Day | Thursday, February 26, 2026 | Friday, February 26, 2027 | Saturday, February 26, 2028 | Monday, February 26, 2029 | Tuesday, February 26, 2030 |
Tell a Fairy Tale Day date reference
Roll three ingredients
You need one six-sided die, the roll chart, and about fifteen minutes. Roll once for the main character, once for the place, and once for the problem. No die handy? Ask three people to call out numbers from one to six, or draw numbered scraps from a cup.
Pass the story at the worst moment
The first storyteller introduces the hero. The next gives the hero a plan. Hand the story over just when the plan goes wrong. If a player gets stuck, draw a twist card and let them answer its question. Younger children can supply a sound effect or point to a picture while an adult narrates.
Draw the version you want to keep
Use the six comic panels for a beginning, a wish, a problem, an attempt, a surprise and an ending. Stick figures are welcome. For a classroom, have each table tell its story from the same three rolls, then share just the last panel. Six identical beginnings rarely produce two identical endings.
Get the free printable set
Roll a Fairy Tale Story and Comic Set includes three US Letter pages. Keep the chart on the table and print a comic page for each illustrator.