It is about a blacksmith. The king wants to invade the kingdom next door, so he goes to the blacksmith and tells him to make swords.
When the king comes back, the blacksmith has made a bunch of small knives. The king is mad and asks why. The blacksmith says they are knives for the people to eat their food with.
The king tells the blacksmith to make spears. The blacksmith makes pitchforks to reap wheat to make bread.
The king tells him to make shields. He makes dinner plates.
The king tells him to make helmets. He make flower pots.
The king is furious. He tells the blacksmith to make some leg irons… chains that he himself will be wearing in the dungeon… and to bring them to the town square the next day.
The blacksmith shows up with a tiny silver chain with a small silver circle at each end. The king points out that they are too small. The blacksmith replies that they are the perfect size and then calls his lady love over, and asks her to marry him, slipping one ring on her finger and one on his own.
The towns people are so happy the king realizes that he can’t punish the blacksmith, but instead makes him the metal smith to the Royal family, because the craftsmanship of the rings and chain are so fine.
*****
The thing is… hello, ‘thing’, how the heck are you?… that I don’t know if I should do this as an illustrated book for little kids or a short story or what. It would be an interesting challenge to do some watercolors of a blacksmith and his shop.
Pouring My Art Out 
It has a wonderful, and timely message for kids. I hope you will make it into a picture book and if you can illustrate it yourself, all the better.
I am thinking of giving it a shot, thank you very much!
A charming story! I love it. Illustrations would be super.
I am mulling it over, thanks.
Reblogged this on perfectlyfadeddelusions.
Was there another part of the story where another guy who ordered kitchen knives gets a shipment of swords? 🙂
not yet
A picture book maybe one of those hard board books?
I wish my publishing guys made those hard books.
peering out of my NaNo cave, Temporarily snow bound, the thought comes to me:
Adult coloring book. To be shared with kids but the message needs to be read by everyone
oooh… I haven’t done a coloring book yet…
Adult coloring books are becoming very popular. It’s a good idea.
it is
Illustrated books are better for kids, I think. It’ll give parents a chance to read it with their younger kids.
good point