The Children by Day and by Night story type (ATU 1856)

The Children by Day and by Night story type (ATU 1856) is a concise, witty anecdote that delivers a surprising punchline about creativity, reality, and the different kinds of 'making' in life. This tale often features an artist whose professional work—beautiful portraits of children—stands in stark contrast to the appearance of their own offspring. When questioned about this discrepancy, the artist offers a clever, humorous explanation that reveals a deeper, often playful, truth about their priorities or circumstances.

The pattern

At its heart, this story type follows a simple yet effective comedic structure. A central character, typically a painter or sculptor, is celebrated for creating stunning depictions of children. However, observers notice that the artist's own children do not share the same idealized beauty. This apparent contradiction sparks curiosity, leading someone to inquire why the artist's creations are so lovely while their biological children are, by comparison, rather plain. The artist's reply forms the core of the tale: they explain that the beautiful children are 'made by day' (referring to their artistic work), while their own children are 'made by night' (a humorous, veiled reference to procreation). This witty distinction highlights the difference between artistic endeavor and the realities of family life, often with a wink and a smile.

How cultures tell it

While a short anecdote rather than a sprawling epic, the Children by Day and by Night story type has resonated across several cultures, appearing in at least four distinct traditions. Its brevity allows it to be easily shared and adapted, often fitting into broader collections of humorous tales or anecdotes about clever retorts. The core dynamic—a question about a perceived inconsistency and a sharp, unexpected answer—is universally understood. This type of humor, often relying on a double meaning or a clever play on words, transcends specific cultural settings, much like the wisdom found in fables such as The Goose Teaches the Fox to Swim story type (ATU 226), which also relies on a character's wit to navigate a situation. Its presence in various traditions speaks to a shared human appreciation for cleverness and the humor found in everyday observations, much like the ironic situations explored in The Doubts his own Guilt story type (ATU 1860C).

Motifs that define it

The defining element of this story type is captured by the motif J1273: 'Children by day and by night. Artist paints beautiful children but his own are ugly. One kind, he says, are made by day, the other by night.' This motif is the entire engine of the tale, embodying the clever, ironic explanation that resolves the initial paradox. It's a testament to human ingenuity in finding humor in the mundane and the unexpected. Unlike complex fables where animals might learn a lesson, like in The Crane Teaches the Fox to Fly story type (ATU 225), this anecdote's power lies in its direct, human-centric wit.

Reading it with kids

This story type is wonderfully age-appropriate for children, offering a gentle, humorous look at different kinds of 'making' and the joy of a clever comeback. It's lighthearted and lacks the darker elements sometimes found in older folktales, making it a safe and fun choice for any age. When sharing, you might ask children to guess why the artist's children look different, encouraging their own imaginative solutions before revealing the punchline. It's a great way to introduce the idea of wordplay and how a simple phrase can have multiple meanings, sparking a little wonder about language itself. The humor is subtle but clear, often eliciting giggles from young listeners who appreciate the artist's playful secret.