Once upon a time, there was a young prince named Max. He lived in a grand castle with his parents, the King and Queen. Max was a kind and adventurous boy, but he had one problem: he didn't like to wear shoes! He much preferred to go barefoot or wear his trusty old sandals.

One day, the King and Queen announced that there would be a royal ball to celebrate Max's birthday. Max was excited, but he didn't want to wear shoes to the ball. His parents suggested he wear some new, fancy sandals they had picked out for him. Max reluctantly agreed, but only if he could wear his favorite necklace and crown as well.

As Max got ready for the ball, he realized he had a problem. The sandals were too small and they hurt his feet. He didn't want to disappoint his parents, so he came up with a plan. He put on his warm mittens and put on his shorts, then he carefully put on the sandals.

To everyone's surprise, Max arrived at the ball wearing his shorts and mittens, but with his crown and necklace on. His parents were a little confused, but Max explained that he had found a way to wear his sandals comfortably. The guests at the ball thought it was hilarious and unique, and Max was able to dance the night away without any discomfort.

From that day on, Max was known as the "Prince of the Sandals" and he always wore them with his shorts and mittens. He even started a new fashion trend among the young princes and princesses in the kingdom.

The end.

Reflections

1. Why did Max not like to wear shoes?
2. What was the problem Max faced when he tried to wear the new fancy sandals?
3. How did Max solve the problem with the sandals?
4. How did the guests at the ball react to Max's appearance?
5. What did Max become known as after the ball and what happened as a result of his choice of footwear?