Classic Children's Stories

Little Red Riding Hood

Once upon a time, there was a sweet little girl who was loved very much by all who knew her—but especially by her mother and her grandmother.

Her mother made her a red hooded cape to keep her warm, and she loved it so much that she wore it every day. Soon, she became known as Little Red Riding Hood. Here comes Little Red Riding Hood! the villagers would say.

One morning, her mother baked a cake and asked Little Red Riding Hood to take it to her grandmother, who lived in the woods.

She isn’t feeling well, said her mother, and it will cheer her up to see you. Be as quick as you can, and please don’t stray from the path.

Little Red Riding Hood kissed her mother goodbye and set out for the woods. As she walked along the woodland path, she spotted a clearing filled with pretty yellow flowers. How lovely these will be for Grandmother! thought Little Red Riding Hood, and she strayed from the path to take a closer look.

She had just started to pick a posy, when a great furry wolf stepped out from behind a tree. He had bright beady eyes and sharp white teeth.

Hello, little girl, said the wolf. Where are you heading on this fine morning?

Little Red Riding Hood didn’t know that wolves could be wicked, so she answered politely, I am going to see my grandmother, who isn’t very well.

Does she live nearby? asked the wolf.

Just on the other side of the woods, said Little Red Riding Hood, near the woodcutter’s cottage, by the tall oak tree.

I see, said the wolf, who was thinking up a plan. Well, I’m sure that seeing you will make her feel much better. Good day, Little Red Riding Hood!

What a friendly wolf! thought Little Red Riding Hood, and she continued picking flowers for her grandmother.

Meanwhile, the wolf bounded away through the trees as fast as he could, and he soon reached Grandmother’s cottage. He knocked on the door, and she called out, Who is it?

It’s Little Red Riding Hood, the wolf said, trying hard to sound like a little girl. I’ve brought you some flowers.

Come in, my dear, said Grandmother. The door is open.

The wicked wolf opened the door, bounded into the room, and ate up poor Grandmother in one big gulp!

Then, with a full belly, he slipped on Grandmother’s nightgown, nightcap, and glasses, climbed into her bed, and pulled up the covers around him.

When Little Red Riding Hood arrived at the cottage, she knocked on the door and was surprised to hear a rough, gruff voice call out, Who is it?

It’s Little Red Riding Hood, she called, thinking that her grandmother must have a sore throat. I have some cake and flowers to cheer you up!

Oh, come in, my dear, answered the wolf. Just turn the handle—I am too tired to get up.

Little Red Riding Hood was surprised to see how very strange her grandmother looked. What a terrible illness she must have! she thought to herself.

How lovely to see you, dear, said the wolf. Now why don’t you put down that heavy basket and come a little closer?

Little Red Riding Hood stepped a little closer and said, Grandmother, what big arms you have!

Why, all the better to hug you with, my dear!

Little Red Riding Hood stepped closer yet and said, Grandmother, what big ears you have!

All the better to hear you with, my dear!

Little Red Riding Hood stepped even closer and said, Grandmother, what big eyes you have!

All the better to see you with, my dear!

Finally, Little Red Riding Hood stepped forward and said,Grandmother, what big teeth you have!

All the better to eat you with, my dear!

And with that, the wolf leaped out of Grandmother’s bed and swallowed up Little Red Riding Hood in one great, greedy gulp! Poor Little Red Riding Hood!

By now, the wolf’s stomach was about to burst, so he decided to lie down on the bed and take a nap. He began to snore so loudly that it shook the walls.

The woodcutter, who was on his way home, heard the snores and decided to check on Grandmother to see if she was feeling all right.

When he opened the door and saw the wolf asleep on the bed and Little Red Riding Hood’s cape lying on the floor, he guessed that something terrible had happened.

You scoundrel! cried the woodcutter, and he took his hatchet and carefully cut open the wolf’s big, fat belly.

As he did so, out jumped Little Red Riding Hood and out stepped her grandmother—they were both alive and very happy to be free again, and the wolf was dead!

Little Red Riding Hood and her grandmother thanked the woodcutter for saving their lives, then the three of them celebrated with a cup of tea and a slice of freshly baked cake—and Little Red Riding Hood vowed that she would never stray from the path again.

Goldilocks and the Three Bears

Once upon a time, there were three bears who lived in a sweet little cabin in the woods. The bears were great big Daddy Bear, medium-sized Mama Bear, and teeny little Baby Bear.

One morning, Daddy Bear made a delicious pot of porridge for their breakfast. He spooned it into their bowls—there was a teeny little bowl for Baby Bear, a medium-sized bowl for Mama Bear, and a great big bowl for Daddy Bear.

The porridge was too hot to eat, so the three bears decided to go for a quick walk in the woods while their breakfast cooled down.

While they were out walking, a little girl with a freckled nose and golden ringlets found their cabin. Her name was Goldilocks, and she lived on the other side of the woods. She was out picking blackberries for her mother.

She wondered who might live in the cabin, and when she peeped through the window, she saw three bowls of yummy porridge sitting on the table.

If Goldilocks had remembered her manners, she would have waited to be invited in. But curiosity got the better of her—and before she knew it, she had opened the front door and was standing by the breakfast table.

The porridge smelled so delicious, and Goldilocks was so hungry that her tummy began to rumble loudly. Nobody will mind if I eat one little spoonful, she thought to herself.

So she ate a spoonful from the great big bowl, but it was too hot. She almost burned her lip!

Next, Goldilocks ate a spoonful of porridge from the medium-sized bowl, but it was too cold. Yuck!she cried, wishing she could spit it out again.

Still hungry, she ate a spoonful of porridge from the teeny little bowl, and it was neither too hot nor too cold—it was just right. Goldilocks liked it so much, she ate it all up!

Now Goldilocks was feeling quite full, so she decided to sit down.

She sat in a great big orange chair, but it was too hard and uncomfortable. She sat in a medium-sized yellow chair, but it was too soft and deep.

Finally, Goldilocks sat in a teeny little blue chair, and it was neither too hard nor too soft—it was just right. But then the seat snapped in half, and she fell to the floor with a bump. Oh dear!

By now, Goldilocks was feeling very tired, and she wanted to lie down. In the bedroom, she found three beds.

First, she tried to lie on the great big bed, but it was too high up for her. Next, she lay on the medium-sized bed, but it was too low and saggy.

Then, she lay on the teeny little bed, and it was neither too high nor too low—it was just right. So she crept under the comfy blankets and soon drifted off to sleep.

The three bears thought that their porridge must have cooled down, so they wandered home for breakfast. But when they got there, Daddy Bear noticed that his spoon was standing in his great big bowl of porridge.

Who’s been eating my porridge? boomed Daddy Bear in his great big voice!

Mama Bear saw that the table around her bowl was very messy.

Who’s been eating my porridge? she asked in her medium-sized voice.

Then Baby Bear found that his teeny little bowl was completely empty!

Who’s been eating my porridge—and they’ve eaten it all up! he cried in his teeny little voice.

The three bears started to look around the cabin for clues. Daddy Bear noticed that the great big cushion on his great big chair had moved.

Who’s been sitting in my chair? he boomed in his great big voice.

Mama Bear saw that the medium-sized cushion on her medium-sized chair had a small dent in it.Who’s been sitting in my chair? she asked in her medium-sized voice.

Meanwhile, Baby Bear was standing by his very own teeny little chair and looking very sad.

Who’s been sitting in my chair—and they’ve broken it in half! he cried in his teeny little voice.

The three bears decided to check their bedroom. When they opened the door, Daddy Bear noticed that the covers had been pulled off his great big bed.

Who’s been sleeping in my bed? he boomed in his great big voice.

Mama Bear saw that the pillows on her medium-sized bed had moved.

Who’s been sleeping in my bed? she asked in her medium-sized voice.

Then, Baby Bear looked at his teeny little bed and saw that there was a little girl with a freckled nose and golden ringlets lying in it—and she was fast asleep!

Who’s been sleeping in my bed—and she’s still in it! he cried in his teeny little voice.

Naughty Goldilocks woke up, jumped at the sight of the three bears, tumbled out of the bed, and dashed out of the cabin. Then she ran and ran as fast as her legs could carry her, completely forgetting the blackberries she had picked!

The three bears never saw Goldilocks again, but it’s a shame that she ran away, because teeny little Baby Bear had been hoping to make a new friend that day.

The Language of Birds

Long ago in Russia, there was a boy named Ivan, who was the son of a rich merchant. For all Ivan’s good fortune, he longed with all his heart to understand the language of birds.

Ivan owned a caged nightingale, and every evening after dinner, he would listen to the bird’s sweet song and long to know what it meant.

One day, he went hunting in the forest, and the wind suddenly started to whip around him. The rain lashed down, and the thunder rumbled. Ivan ran to shelter under a large tree and noticed a nest with four baby birds in its branches.

Worried about the chicks, he decided to climb the tree and drape his cloak over their nest to protect them.

Eventually, the thunderstorm passed, and the chick’s mother—a beautiful owl—returned to the nest. When she saw what Ivan had done, she spoke to him in a clear voice: Thank you for protecting my children, kind sir. What can I give you in return?

I have a good life, said Ivan, but there is one thing I wish for. Can you teach me the language of birds?

The mother owl agreed. Stay here with me for three days, and I will teach you all I can, she said.

Ivan stayed in the forest. At the end of three days, he understood the language of birds. He set out for home, excited by his new gift.

That evening, after dinner with his parents, Ivan’s nightingale began to sing, and he listened attentively. Soon, he started to weep.

What is wrong, son? asked his father.

It’s so terribly sad! said Ivan, and tears rolled down his cheeks.

What has happened? demanded his father, who was starting