Charles Perrault

Hello, my name is Charles Perrault. I was born a very long time ago, on January 12th, 1628, in the beautiful city of Paris, France. I grew up in a busy house with my many brothers. Even when I was little, I loved to read books and learn new things. But my very favorite thing to do was listen to wonderful stories. They were filled with magic, adventure, and brave heroes, and I could listen to them all day long.

Before I became known for my stories, I had a very important job. I worked for the King of France, Louis XIV. He lived in grand palaces, and it was my job to help him with many special projects to make them even more beautiful. It was very exciting work. Then, in the year 1671, I was given a great honor. I was invited to join a special group called the Académie Française. In this group, we gathered to talk about important ideas and the wonderful French language.

As I got older, I wanted to do something special that would be remembered for a long, long time. I thought about all the magical folk tales that people had been telling their children for hundreds of years. I was worried that if no one wrote these stories down, they might disappear and be forgotten forever. I decided I had to save them. So, in 1697, I published my very own book of stories. You might know it by the name 'Tales of Mother Goose.' I am sure you have heard of some of the tales that I wrote down. Have you ever read the story of 'Cinderella,' 'Sleeping Beauty,' or the clever 'Puss in Boots'? Those were my stories.

I lived to be 75 years old and had a very full life. Even though I passed away many years ago, my stories have traveled all over the world. They have been made into movies and are read at bedtime every night. I am so happy that my fairy tales continue to bring magic and wonder to children just like you.