RumpleTaleSpin (Classic) - Grimm-Inspired Fairytale Story for Kids

“Rump, who?” asks Redge as Jonathan spins the tall tale of Daphne, the Miller’s daughter, who must spin thread into gold for a greedy king. Facing an impossible challenge, Daphne must think fast, make tough choices, and outsmart a tricky deal. It’s an epic yarn involving a mysterious little man, a clever guessing game, and a Wizard of Oz–inspired ending full of surprises. 

This reimagined story of Rumpelstiltskin is a Dorktales Classic.

Episode webpage: https://jonincharacter.com/dorktales-rumpletalespin/   

DOWNLOAD COLOR PAGE: https://bit.ly/dorktales4colorfun 

GRAB YOUR FREE PDF list of conversation questions for this episode:
https://dorktalesstorytime.aweb.page/ep4freePDF 

PARENTS, TEACHERS AND HOMESCHOOLERS: This story explores the importance of thoughtful decision-making, especially when under pressure. Daphne faces increasingly difficult challenges and must navigate fear, urgency, and high-stakes choices. The episode encourages children to think critically and recognize the consequences of their actions.

IF YOU ENJOYED THIS STORY about a retelling of a favorite fairytale, we think you’ll also enjoy episode 32, the Princess and the Pincushion: https://jonincharacter.com/the-princess-and-the-pincushion/ 

CREDITS: This episode is a Jonincharacter production. It was written by Amy Thompson, produced by Molly Murphy and performed by Jonathan Cormur. Sound recording and production by Jermaine Hamilton at Pacific Grove Soundworks.

Visit the official Dorktales shop, Once Upon A Merch at dorktales-shop.fourthwall.com to find fun merch inspired by our podcast.

Transcript

Jonathan 0:01

Hello, Dork Squad. I'm Jonathan Cormur, and you're listening to Dork Tales Storytime, the podcast for kids and their pop culture-loving grown-ups.

Theme Song 0:14

It's a beautiful day for a story, adventure, and glory, new friends and old ones too. It's an excellent day to get swept away in a tale, so let us regale you.

Jonathan 0:34

Hello there!

Redge 0:36

Salutations!

Jonathan 0:38

Yes, Redge and I are back with you to share another of our favorite stories.

Jonathan 0:43

Yes, we've returned to tell another tumultuous and turbulent tale. Right. Now, Redge, you're not going to poke holes in everything I say again, are you?

Redge 0:54

Why, Jonathan, I cannot promise that. You see, I am a hedgehog. Poking holes is what I do.

Jonathan 1:02

Okay, but

Redge 1:03

it's in my nature. I can feel it in my quills. It is my modus operandi. I must always

Jonathan 1:10

Redge Can I continue with the story?

Redge 1:14

Of course. Okay.

The Story of Rumpelstiltskin

Redge 1:16 Jonathan 1:16

This is the story of Rumpel Stilskin.

Redge 1:20

Excuse me. What?

Jonathan 1:23

What?

Redge 1:24

What is the fellow's name?

Jonathan 1:26

Rumpel Stiltskin.

Redge 1:28

That's preposterous!

Jonathan 1:30

That's his name.

Redge 1:36

What kind of ludicrous name is Rump?

Jonathan 1:39

el, Stilskin.

Redge 1:40

You do know what rump means, don't you?

Jonathan 1:45

Redge.

Redge 1:46

Rump means buttocks.

Jonathan 1:54

Are you finished?

Redge 1:55

Wait, wait, wait, wa one moment. Okay, I'm finished.

Jonathan 2:05

Great. Let's just get on with the story, shall we?

Redge 2:08

We shall.

Jonathan 2:10

There once was a miller who liked to tell tall tales.

Redge 2:14

Just one second. What's a Miller?

Miller 2:18

I'm a miller. I grind grain in my mill to make flour.

Jonathan 2:22

Well, that's what you do for a living, but this story actually involves your beautiful daughter.

Miller 2:28

Yeah, well, she is beautiful. But she's also smart and creative and very funny.

Jonathan 2:36

You're right. Not sure why the original story never mentioned those important qualities. Uh continuing. One day, the miller was out and about

Redge 2:45

about what?

Miller 2:46

I was out

Jonathan 2:48

and?

Miller 2:49

I milled about.

Jonathan 2:52

And who did you see?

Miller 2:55

Well, I came across the king and I told him a tale.

Spinning Straw Into Gold

Miller 2:59 Jonathan 2:59

That's right. A tall tale. The miller sugarcoated the truth and baked up some malarkey. He told the king that his daughter could spin straw into gold. So of course the king was impressed.

King 3:14

Spinning straw into gold? Ho ho ho ho! Now that's delightful. Bring her to my palace tomorrow. I must put her to the test.

Jonathan 3:27

So the next day, the miller and his daughter headed to the palace, and the daughter,

Miller 3:32

she has a name.

Redge 3:34

Yes, that would make sense. But you don't even have a name.

Miller 3:38

I do.

Redge 3:39

The miller?

Miller 3:41

I'm called Humbert.

Jonathan 3:43

Would you like me to call you uh Humbert from now on?

Miller 3:46

Nah, Miller's fine. But my daughter's name was Daphne.

Jonathan 3:51

All right, my apologies to Daphne. So Daphne and the Miller were at the castle, and a guard led Daphne into a huge round room. It was floor to ceiling filled with bales of hay, and in the middle of the room was a spinning wheel, and the king said,

King 4:09

Get to work, Daphne! And if by tomorrow you haven't spun this straw into gold, the punishment will be death.

Redge 4:21

Excuse me, just a moment.

Jonathan 4:23

What is it now, Redge?

Redge 4:25

It don't you think that's a little extreme?

Jonathan 4:29

Well, yes, but kings didn't have much to worry about back then. They could throw fits over the slightest disturbance. A tapestry askew, a pastry too jammy, lying about turning straw into gold, whatever it was, it was off with their heads. So, needless to say, once he shut and locked the doors to the room, and Daphne could hear the king yelling about old pecans and his scone, she burst into tears.

Daphne 5:00

Oh my goodness, how will I ever do this?

Jonathan 5:04

Daphne had never spun straw into anything. She didn't know where to start. As she buried her head in her hands, Daphne heard a creak. As the large doors to the straw-filled room opened a crack. To her surprise, a small man in a pointy hat and pointy shoes with a long pointy beard came through.

Redge 5:27

Ooh, a lawn gnome!

Jonathan 5:29

No, not a lawn gnome. Though I have to admit he is described similarly. Anyway, the tiny man entered the room, took off his pointed hat, and headed toward Daphne.

Rumpelstiltskin Comes to Help

Jonathan 5:40 Rumpelstiltskin 5:40

Good evening, Miller's daughter. Why are you crying so dear? You'll get the straw all wet

Daphne 5:52

Oh, I have to spin all the straw to gold by tomorrow. I don't know how to do it, and the king will kill me if I don't.

Jonathan 6:02

The little man took big steps around the room, looking the bales of hay up and down and stroking his beard.

Rumpelstiltskin 6:11

What will you give me if I do this for you, dearie?

Daphne 6:16

Give you?

Rumpelstiltskin 6:17

I t must be something special to you.

Daphne 6:23

Why I guess I've got my necklace. My mother gave it to me.

Jonathan 6:29

As soon as the words left her lips, the little man snatched her necklace. It was immediately out of sight. He shooed her from the spinning wheel, took her seat in front, and began to spin the straw. And the first reel was full. Daphne saw it herself. The man had spun a golden thread from pure straw.

Redge 6:54

Hmm, I can't really put a hedgehog pawn on why. But I've got to meet this man.

Jonathan 7:01

Yeah, so Daphne was delighted.

Daphne 7:05

Oh, I'm so delighted. She settled into a bale of straw in the corner and let the little man work. He spun the wheel, and each time the reel ended up full of pure gold thread. By the time Daphne awoke, the little man had vanished, and the reels were completely full of gold thread. The king was delighted.

King 7:30

My stars! The lying miller was right.

Miller 7:34

Hey, I'm no liar.

Jonathan 7:36

Sorry, Miller, it's what the king said.

Redge 7:39

You weren't told Daphne's name, but somehow you know the king called the miller a liar?

Jonathan 7:45

Well, yes.

Redge 7:48

Absurd.

Jonathan 7:50

Anyway, the king may have been delighted, but he was also hankering for some more gold. He took Daphne by the hand and led her to a new room down the hall. This room was twice the size of the first room, and was filled with twice the amount of straw.

King 8:07

Now spin this room's straw into gold by tomorrow. If you truly care about your life, you'll do it again.

Jonathan 8:16

But as soon as he stepped out and she could hear the click of the lock, Daphne burst into tears.

Daphne 8:23

Just my luck.

Jonathan 8:25

The door to the room opened a crack, and there was the little man again.

Rumpelstiltskin 8:31

Hello, dearie. What will you give me if I spin all this straw into gold for you?

Jonathan 8:41

Daphne thought for a moment.

Daphne 8:44

Um the ring on my finger?

Jonathan 8:48

So the little man took the ring from Daphne's finger and made it disappear into an unseen pocket in his vest. He began to work while Daphne closed her eyes. When she awoke, the room was filled with golden thread.

Redge 9:07

She's sleeping through everything.

Jonathan 9:10

But the king isn't. As you'd probably expect, he took one look at that room and was over the moon.

King 9:16

Again, I'm delighted

Daphne 9:20

Great Now may I go home?

King 9:24

No

Redge 9:27

Nope

Jonathan 9:29

No

Daphne 9:30

But you said if I

King 9:32

a but a but I want more gold. You haven't spun enough. Follow me

Jonathan 9:40

So Daphne followed the king out of the second room, down the hallway.

Redge 9:45

Oh I can see where this is going.

Jonathan 9:48

Oh can you?

Redge 9:49

Yes. They walked down the passageway to a larger room, didn't they?

Jonathan 9:54

Oh they went to a larger room down the hallway.

Redge 9:58

By George, I knew it! I'm telling the story now.

Jonathan 10:02

Way to go, Redge

Redge 10:04

Do you mean that?

Jonathan 10:06

Not really, because narrating is my job.

Redge 10:09

Oh right oh. I'll stick with the hedgehog stuff.

Jonathan 10:14

Thank you. So the king led Daphne down the hall to the largest room she had seen in the palace thus far. It was filled floor to ceiling with

Redge 10:24

straw again. My goodness, the king was greedy.

Jonathan 10:30

But Redge, you just said you wanted a room full of gold-filled reels too.

Redge 10:35

It's the smallest room, mind you. I am just a little hedgehog after all.

Jonathan 10:41

Okay, fine, but now the king and Daphne were in the largest room full of

The Last Test

Jonathan 10:46

straw.

King 10:47

Daphne, here comes the final phase of your test.

Daphne 10:52

The final phase?

King 10:54

Yes. Tonight you will spin all this straw into gold, and when you're through, I will be the richest king in the land, and you will be my queen.

Redge 11:10

What?

Jonathan 11:12

Yes, Redge. The king told Daphne if she spun the straw into gold for the third time, she'd be his queen. Are you really surprised? Redge? Are you okay?

Redge 11:29

I'm trying my best not to poke holes!

Jonathan 11:37

Oh, Redge, just do it.

Redge 11:39

How are they getting married? They don't even know each other, let alone love each other. They've spoken, what, three, maybe four times, all about spinning straw into gold! This is preposterous.

Jonathan 11:53

Well, don't you think Daphne would want to be queen?

Redge 11:55

And furthermore Say what now?

Jonathan 11:58

Well, I can envision a mutually beneficial partnership between the two of them. Only if Daphne could spin the third room of straw into gold. But

Redge 12:10

she didn't know how,

Jonathan 12:11

Exactly. So as soon as the king left, the lock turned in the door with a click, and his footsteps disappeared down the hall

Redge 12:20

she burst into tears!

Jonathan 12:23

Well, maybe you should tell the story now, Redge.

Redge 12:26

Ugh. No, thank you very much. You are the narrator. So please go ahead and narrate.

Jonathan 12:35

Daphne burst into tears.

Daphne 12:37

Oh, what shall I do? Where is that little man when I need him?

Rumpelstiltskin 12:43

Who me?

Daphne 12:48

O h, you're back. Can you help me once more?

Rumpelstiltskin 12:53

What will you give me, dearie?

Daphne 12:57

Well I already gave you my necklace and my ring.

Rumpelstiltskin 13:02

Yes, but for this job I need my due payment.

Daphne 13:10

Well I don't have anything else.

Redge 13:14

Ooh ooh ooh she could give a lock of her hair or her shoes. Did she have a hat?

Rumpelstiltskin 13:20

It's got to be something of great value to you, dear

Daphne 13:27

When I'm queen, I'll have many things of value.

Rumpelstiltskin 13:31

But to you are those important?

Daphne 13:37

Well not really.

Rumpelstiltskin 13:40

Hmm This is a lot of work. So I'll need something very important. Oh I've got it I will spin this room of straw for you so you can become queen. If you promise to me your firstborn child

Jonathan 14:05

I know you want to say something, Redge. I can see your quills trembling. Just say it.

Redge 14:12

So instead of money, in this story, we use trinkets, baubles, and babies?

Jonathan 14:22

Yep, that's how the story goes.

Redge 14:25

Wow. I guess I truly am unable to predict the plot of this tale.

Miller 14:31

This tall tale.

Jonathan 14:33

A nyway, Daphne stared at the little man for a second longer than usual. Then she eyed her massive piles of straw. She needed the straw spun to gold, or else she'd be killed. Also, being queen was very appealing. Who knows what the future might bring, she thought. Daphne was too caught up in her haste. She leaned forward and whispered to the little man,

Daphne 14:58

Oh, help me, little man. You're my only hope.

Jonathan 15:06

And with a delighted squeal, the little man took his seat at the spinning wheel and began to spin. And when the morning came, the room was full of gold thread. When the king saw all of the gold,

Redge 15:25

he was delighted.

Jonathan 15:28

How'd you know, Redge?

Redge 15:30

Had a hunch.

Jonathan 15:31

Well, he was delighted. Everything was as he desired, so he whisked Daphne away, and Daphne became queen.

Miller 15:40

Y eah, good times.

Jonathan 15:43

Oh, you're still here, Miller?

Miller 15:46

Need a fact check.

Redge 15:47

Just no more lying aloud. On with the story.

Can the Queen Guess His Name?

Redge 15:51 Jonathan 15:51

A year passed and Daphne, the queen, gave birth to a beautiful baby. She was so happy with her new life and as a new mother that the little man never even crossed her mind. But one day, just like before, he suddenly showed up. Daphne stood between the man and her baby's bassinet.

Daphne 16:12

No, you cannot have my child.

Rumpelstiltskin 16:16

Oh, but you promised. A deal's a deal, your Majesty

Daphne 16:23

I'll give you anything. I now have riches beyond compare. Do you want furs? Jewels? Anything you want. Just don't take my baby.

Rumpelstiltskin 16:34

Hm if it's of great importance to you, it is valuable to me. Furs and jewels don't matter. I'm taking your child.

Jonathan 16:47

Ah, but remember, Daphne was beautiful and funny,

Miller 16:51

and also intelligent.

Jonathan 16:55

Yes, Miller, she was very smart. She wiped her tears and tried a different angle with the little man.

Daphne 17:03

Um how about a bargain?

Jonathan 17:07

The little man never could turn down a deal.

Rumpelstiltskin 17:10

Hmm Fine. You have three days. If you can figure out my name before that time is up, you shall keep your child.

Jonathan 17:24

Daphne thought all night about every name she knew, and when the little man showed up to the nursery the next evening, she tried those.

Daphne 17:34

Could it be Jeremy or Abraham? Peter or Tyrone?

Rumpelstiltskin 17:40

Not those.

Redge 17:42

Ooh, what fun! Try our names.

Jonathan 17:46

You want me to change the story again?

Redge 17:48

You just try.

Jonathan 17:52

So the Queen tried.

Daphne 17:55

Could it be Jonathan or Reginald?

Miller 18:00

Or Miller

Jonathan 18:01

Oh come on.

Redge 18:03

Hoo I dare say this is funny.

Rumpelstiltskin 18:07

Nope. None of these is my name.

Jonathan 18:11

And with that the little man left.

Redge 18:15

Aww.

Jonathan 18:16

Queen Daphne had her people comb the streets of the village for all kinds of curious names.

Daphne 18:22

Could your name be banjo, short ribs, pomelo, or spare tire?

Rumpelstiltskin 18:29

No, no, no, and certainly not.

Jonathan 18:34

On the third day, Queen Daphne decided to take matters into her own hands. She walked all over town to find any clues to the little man's name. She was just about to give up when she noticed a small plume of smoke coming from the woods. When she approached, she saw the little man singing and dancing around a fire pit in front of a little cabin.

Rumpelstiltskin 18:57

Tonight, to night my plans I make. The queen will never win the game, for Rumpelstilskin is my name.

Daphne 19:12

Rumpelstiltskin? What an odd name.

Redge 19:16

You said it.

Jonathan 19:18

And that evening, when the little man came to Queen Daphne's nursery to collect her child, she tried guessing his name again.

Daphne 19:27

So you're sure your name isn't Mordor?

Rumpelstiltskin 19:32

No.

Daphne 19:33

How about Maleficent?

Rumpelstiltskin 19:36

Nope.

Daphne 19:37

Baby Yoda?

Rumpelstiltskin 19:39

Wrong again, dear Now give me your child. He lunged for the baby's bassinet.

Daphne 19:51

Wait, is it possible? Your name is Rumpel Stiltskin?

Jonathan 20:00

The little man stopped mid-lunge. He turned beat red, began stamping his feet and screaming.

Rumpelstiltskin 20:08

No, no, no! You tricked me! I just know you did!

Jonathan 20:15

Rumpel Stiltskin was so upset he continued to shout and stamp his feet in protest.

Rumpelstiltskin 20:22

Oh look what you've done! I'm melting! I'm melting! Oh the world, what a world! I'm melting just kidding. Toodles

Jonathan 20:41

And with one big poof of smoke he was gone.

Miller 20:46

I like that story.

Redge 20:49

Of course you do. It was your story.

Miller 20:53

Ah, it was more Daphne's.

Redge 20:56

And your lies.

Miller 20:58

Excuse me. My tall tales.

Jonathan 21:02

Let's wrap this up, shall we? And so Queen Daphne and her child lived happily ever after. Well, Reg, story's over. Got any more holes to poke?

Redge 21:16

Just one. Yes. Was his name really Rump?

Jonathan 21:25

els stilt skin.

Redge 21:30

Oh, that's hilarious.

Jonathan 21:36

Well, nothing left to be said, but the end.

Redge 21:40

The end You said end? That's like rump.

Credits and Theme Song

Redge 21:45 Jonathan 22:00

This has been a Jon in Character production. Today's story was written by Amy Thompson, edited by Molly Murphy, and performed by Jonathan Cormer. Sound recording and production by Jermaine Hamilton at Hamilton Studios. Reach out to us on Instagram or email us at dorktalesstorytime at gmail.com. Find links in the show notes or go to dorktalestorytime.com. Now, go be the hero of your own story, and we'll see you next once upon a time.

Theme Song 22:34

So gather your squad to see the universe that we the magic loss centerns and lessons learn. This is where the unexpected happens. Join our humble voices and hit the trails of a wonderful, wacky wild world of Dork tales. Blood-da, bloody da, da, de-da-da.