Little Red Riding Hood
Grimm's Fairy Tales
Not so long ago, in a village nestled beside a big, green forest, lived a very sweet little girl. Her grandma had made her a beautiful riding hood of the brightest red velvet. She loved it so much, she wore it everywhere, and soon everyone just called her Little Red Riding Hood.
One day, her mother said, "Little Red Riding Hood, your Grandma isn't feeling very well. Please take this basket of yummy cake and a bottle of juice to her. It will make her feel better."
"And remember," her mother added, "go straight to Grandma's house. Don't wander off the path, and don't talk to any strangers in the woods."
"I promise, Mommy!" said Little Red Riding Hood, and off she skipped.
The forest was full of sunshine and singing birds. Little Red Riding Hood was enjoying her walk when, who should she meet but a big, grey wolf with a fluffy tail and very clever eyes.
"Good morning, Little Red Riding Hood," said the wolf with a friendly (but a little bit sly) smile.
"Good morning, Mr. Wolf," she replied politely. She didn't know wolves could be tricky.
"Where are you off to so early?" asked the wolf.
"I'm going to visit my Grandma who is sick," she explained. "She lives at the edge of the forest."
"And what's in your basket?" he asked, his nose twitching.
"Cake and juice to make her feel strong!"
The wolf thought, "Mmm, a tender young girl would be tastier than an old grandma... but maybe I can have both!"
Aloud, he said, "Look at all those pretty flowers over there. Why don't you pick a lovely bunch for your Grandma? She would like that."
Little Red Riding Hood thought that was a wonderful idea. She forgot her mother's warning and skipped off the path to pick the prettiest flowers she could find.
As soon as Little Red Riding Hood was busy with the flowers, the wolf dashed straight to Grandma's cottage. He knocked on the door: KNOCK, KNOCK!
"Who's there?" called Grandma in a weak voice.
"It's Little Red Riding Hood," said the wolf, trying to make his voice sound sweet. "I've brought you cake and juice!"
"Oh, how lovely! Just lift the latch, dear, I'm too weak to get up."
The wolf lifted the latch, bounded in, and GULP! He swallowed poor Grandma all in one go. Then, he put on Grandma's nightgown and cap, hopped into her bed, and pulled the covers up to his nose.
Meanwhile, Little Red Riding Hood had picked a huge bunch of flowers. She finally arrived at Grandma's cottage and was surprised to find the door a little bit open.
She called out, "Grandma, are you there?" but no one answered. She felt a little bit strange, but she went inside.
The cottage seemed darker than usual. She went to the bedside.
"Oh Grandma," she said, "what big ears you have!"
"The better to hear you with, my dear," said the wolf, trying to sound like Grandma.
"Oh Grandma, what big eyes you have!"
"The better to see you with, my dear."
"Oh Grandma, what big hands you have!"
"The better to hug you with, my dear."
"But Grandma," said Little Red Riding Hood, her voice trembling a little, "what terribly big teeth you have!"
"THE BETTER TO EAT YOU WITH!" roared the wolf. And GULP! He swallowed Little Red Riding Hood too.
With his tummy full, the wolf felt very sleepy. He lay back down in Grandma's bed and soon began to snore very, very loudly. SNOOOORE! SNOOOORE!
A brave woodcutter was passing by the cottage. He heard the loud snoring and thought, "My, that old lady is snoring loudly! I wonder if she's alright."
He peeked inside and saw the big, grey wolf asleep in the bed! "Aha!" he thought. "So this is where you've been hiding, you sneaky fellow!"
The woodcutter knew he had to be careful. He fetched his sharpest scissors. Quietly, he snipped open the wolf's tummy. Out popped Little Red Riding Hood, and then out popped Grandma, both a bit dazed but safe!
"Quick!" said Little Red Riding Hood. "Let's fill his tummy with heavy stones before he wakes up!"
They gathered big, heavy stones and filled the wolf's tummy right up. Then the woodcutter carefully sewed it closed again.
When the wolf woke up, he felt terribly heavy and thirsty. He tried to run away, but the stones were so heavy that he stumbled, fell down, and that was the end of the naughty wolf.
Grandma ate the cake and drank the juice and felt much better. Little Red Riding Hood hugged her Grandma and the brave woodcutter.
And Little Red Riding Hood promised herself she would always listen to her mother and never, ever wander off the path or talk to strangers in the woods again.
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