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THE FROG WHO CODED

A funny modern fairy tale about a prince, a smartphone, and a very clever frog

Based on the classic tale of "The Frog Princess"

An English reader for young learners

Level: A1–A2 · Elementary school

A Note for Teachers and Parents

This story is written in simple, funny English for young learners at level A1–A2. It uses short sentences, everyday words, and plenty of dialogue and jokes, so children can read it aloud and enjoy it in the classroom or at home.

The story is a modern, humorous retelling of the classic tale "The Frog Princess" — with a smartphone instead of an arrow, a mayor instead of a tsar, and a clever frog who turns out to be a talented computer programmer.

Each of the 13 chapters ends with a short "New Words" box: key vocabulary from the chapter, with simple English definitions, to help build reading confidence and vocabulary step by step.

The story also carries a gentle message about not judging others by appearances, and about respecting other people's choices about their own privacy and identity — a good conversation starter for the classroom or family reading time.

Contents

Chapter 1. The Smartphone Toss Tradition

Chapter 2. Three Princes, Three Phones

Chapter 3. Into the Swamp

Chapter 4. Vasilisa the Frog

Chapter 5. A Very Reluctant Engagement

Chapter 6. Visiting the Swamp

Chapter 7. The Mayor's Three Challenges

Chapter 8. The Website Nobody Believed

Chapter 9. The Secret Behind the Screen

Chapter 10. Maks Makes a Terrible Mistake

Chapter 11. The Empty Swamp

Chapter 12. Following the Signal

Chapter 13. The Gala and the Truth

Meet the Characters

Maks — the mayor's youngest son, a little spoiled, a little curious, and slowly learning to think before he acts.

Vasilisa — a small green frog who is secretly a brilliant computer programmer, and very protective of her own privacy.

Mayor Romanov — Maks's father, who loves old traditions and good publicity, usually at the same time.

Mr. Silkov — the mayor's nervous PR advisor, who worries about everything.

Oleg and Timofey — Maks's older brothers, engaged the easy, ordinary way.

Dasha and Alina — Oleg's and Timofey's fiancées, kind but not especially interested in coding.

The Old Woman in the Hut — a mysterious, wise woman who lives at the edge of the swamp and always seems to know more than she says.

Chapter 1

The Smartphone Toss Tradition

In the city of Goldbrook, there was a very old, very strange family tradition. Nobody remembered exactly why it started, but everybody followed it anyway, because that's how traditions work.

When a son of the Mayor turned twenty-one, he had to throw his smartphone as far as he could. Wherever the phone landed, he had to go and find it — and marry whoever picked it up first.

"It's a wonderful tradition!" said Mayor Romanov, who loved traditions almost as much as he loved being photographed at ribbon-cutting ceremonies. "My father did it. His father did it. And now, my three sons will do it too!"

"Dad," said Maks, the youngest son, "this is a two-hundred-dollar phone. Can't we just... use an old one? Like a calculator?"

"Tradition is tradition, Maksim," said Mayor Romanov firmly. "Besides, think of the publicity! 'Mayor's Sons Find Brides With Smartphones' — the newspapers will love it."

Standing beside the mayor was his personal PR advisor, Mr. Silkov, a thin, nervous man who worried about the mayor's image the way other people worry about the weather.

"As long as nobody's phone lands somewhere... embarrassing," Mr. Silkov said quietly, already looking a little pale.

"Embarrassing? Nonsense!" said the mayor. "Where's the worst place a phone could possibly land? The neighbor's garden? A parking lot? Ha! Nothing to worry about."

Maks looked out of the window at the city, and beyond it, at the big, murky swamp on the edge of town — full of frogs, mosquitoes, and, according to local legend, absolutely nothing interesting at all.

He had a strange, uncomfortable feeling. He just didn't know why yet.

New Words

tradition — something a family or group does the same way for a long time

publicity — public attention, often in newspapers or online

nervous — worried or anxious

murky — dark and unclear, especially water

Chapter 2