Midas Touches a Rose Story for Kids

Midas Touches a Rose: the full story

King Midas loved his treasure. Every evening he counted his golden coins. "I want more," he said.

One day, Midas was kind to a lost old man. The old man belonged to a god. The god said, "Make a wish!"

"Let everything I touch turn to gold," said Midas. "Are you sure?" asked the god. "Yes!" said Midas.

On his way home, Midas touched a little twig. It turned to gold! He touched a stone, and it turned to gold too.

"I am the richest king in the world!" he said. He hurried into his garden. He touched a beautiful red rose.

The beautiful rose turned to shining gold. It was heavy and cold. It did not smell sweet anymore.

Midas sat down to dinner. He picked up some bread. It turned into heavy gold in his hand.

He lifted a cup of water. The water turned to gold as well. Midas could not eat or drink anything.

He looked at his golden rose. "I would trade this gold for a real rose."

Midas hurried back to the god. "Please take your gift back," he begged. "I was foolish."

"Go and bathe in the river," said the god. "Go to the place where it begins."

Midas jumped into the river. The gold washed off his hands. It sank into the sandy bottom.

That night, he ate plain bread and drank cool water. Then he smelled a real rose. It smelled absolutely wonderful.

About Midas Touches a Rose

A free Grade 2 story from the Peabody library, Level 7. It has 13 short pages and about 242 words, so it reads in a few minutes.

Words this story teaches

wish: a thing you hope for

twig: a small stick

richest: with the most money

foolish: not wise

plain: simple

At reading level 7, Peabody's practice works on phonics (sounding words out), sight words, spelling; the level page says what is in each.

Where this story comes from

Ovid, a poet in Rome, wrote down this old Greek myth about 2,000 years ago. Many people have told it since.

To print it or save it as a PDF, tap the ⓘ button above the story, then “Print this story”.