The Selfish Giant

Quick Answer

Why This Story Works for Bedtime

The seasonal imagery is soothing and the transformation is deeply comforting: from cold to warm, from alone to together. It ends with hope and gentleness, leaving children with a soft feeling of love and welcome.

Story Synopsis

The Selfish Giant owns a beautiful garden filled with trees and blossoms. When he returns from being away, he finds children playing there and angrily chases them out, building a high wall to keep them away. Soon something strange happens: spring never comes to the giant’s garden. While the world outside blooms, inside his walls it stays winter—snow, frost, and bitter wind. The giant begins to feel the emptiness of his choice. One morning, he hears music and discovers the children have found a way back in. With them comes spring: birds sing, flowers open, and the garden feels alive again. The giant’s heart softens. He tears down the wall and welcomes the children. Over time, he becomes a friend rather than a guard. The story gently shows that warmth grows where kindness lives—and that it’s never too late to change.

Story Excerpt

Every afternoon when school was done the children would hurry to a certain garden and play there together It was a wide lovely garden with soft green grass Bright flowers dotted the ground like little stars and twelve peach trees stood in a row In spring the peach trees wore blossoms in pink and pearly white In autumn they carried sweet heavy fruit Birds perched in the branches and sang so beautifully that the children sometimes stopped running just to listen How happy we are here the children said to one another One day the Giant came back to his castle He had been away visiting a friend the Cornish ogre and he had stayed there for seven whole years When he finally returned he walked into his own garden and saw the children playing beneath the trees What are you doing here he called out in a rough grumpy voice The children startled and ran away The Giant watched them go and his frown grew deeper My own garden is my own garden he said Anyone can understand that I will allow nobody to play in it but myself So he built a high wall all around the garden And on a signboard he put big strict words TRESPASSERS WILL BE PROSECUTED After that the children had nowhere to play They tried the road but it was dusty and hard with stones that hurt their feet They didn’t like it So after lessons they wandered near the tall wall peeking through cracks when they could and talking about what…

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