"diamonds and toads" () is a fairy tale by charles perrault. it first appeared in a handwritten and illustrated manuscript in 1695 called "contes de ma mêre l'oye" (). the volume was intended for the king's niece, and included four other tales by perrault. it was first published in paris in 1697 by claude barbin in "histoires ou contes du temps passé" (), a collection of eight prose fairy tales by perrault. "le doie pizzelle" () is a similar tale in giambattista basile's "pentamerone" (1550-53). other versions of perrault's tale exist, including one collected in hesse by the brothers grimm. iona and peter opie write, "the theme of this tale is one of the most popular in the world, that of the proud and the privileged being brought low, and the meek and down-trodden being raised above them." christopher betts believes the tale was intended for a young audience, "old enough to appreciate that the unkind sister is 'rude' ... but not enough to object to the scarcely disguised nannyish advice."