Hansel and Gretel

Lost in the Woods

Once upon a time, near the edge of a great forest, there lived a poor woodcutter with his two children, Hansel and Gretel. Times were hard, and there was never quite enough food on the table.

One night, Hansel heard the grown-ups worrying. "We can barely feed ourselves," they fretted. Hansel felt afraid, but he was a clever boy. He crept outside and filled his pockets with smooth white pebbles.

The next day, the family walked deep into the forest. Hansel quietly dropped a pebble here and a pebble there, all along the path. When evening came and the children found themselves alone, Hansel was not worried.

"Wait for the moon, Gretel," he said gently. And when the moon rose, the pebbles shone like little silver coins, lighting the way. The two children followed them all the way home.

The House of Sweets

But the second time the children went into the forest, Hansel had no pebbles. He had only a crust of bread, so he dropped little crumbs instead. Alas — the hungry birds ate every crumb! When night fell, Hansel and Gretel were truly lost.

They wandered for a long while, cold and hungry, until they came upon the strangest sight. There, in a clearing, stood a little house made entirely of treats! The walls were gingerbread, the roof was cake, and the windows were clear spun sugar.

"Oh, Hansel, look!" cried Gretel. The hungry children began to nibble a piece of the wall.

Suddenly the door creaked open, and out stepped an old woman leaning on a stick. "Come in, dear children," she said in a sweet, syrupy voice. "I have warm beds and good food for you."

The tired children went inside. But this was no kind old woman. She was a wicked witch who had built her candy house to trap hungry children.

A Cunning Trap

That night, the witch locked Hansel in a cage. "I shall fatten you up for my supper," she cackled. To Gretel she said, "And you shall do the cooking and cleaning."

Poor Gretel cried, but she was a brave and clever girl, and she made a plan. Each day the witch came to feel whether Hansel was plump enough to eat. But the witch could not see well, so Hansel held out a thin chicken bone instead of his finger. The witch grumbled, "Still so skinny!" and waited longer.

But at last the impatient witch lost her temper. "Skinny or not, I shall cook the boy today!" she snapped. "Gretel, climb into the oven and check that it is hot enough."

Now Gretel guessed the witch meant to push her inside. So she pretended to be puzzled.

"I do not know how," said Gretel innocently. "Could you show me?"

"Foolish girl!" said the witch, and she leaned right into the oven to show her.

Quick as a flash, Gretel gave the witch a great push — and shut the door tight! The wicked witch could trouble no one ever again.

Treasure and Home

Gretel ran to the cage and freed her brother. "Hansel, we are saved!" she cried, and they hugged with joy.

In the witch's house, the children found chests full of pearls and jewels. They filled their pockets and set off to find their way home.

After a long walk, they came to a wide lake. There was no bridge, but a friendly white duck swam up and carried them across, one at a time, on her soft back.

On the other side, the path began to look familiar. Through the trees they spotted their own little house! Their father ran out to meet them, weeping with joy, for he had searched and searched and feared he had lost them forever.

The children poured out the pearls and jewels they had carried home. Never again were they poor or hungry. And from that day on, the woodcutter and his two clever children lived together, happily and safely, for the rest of their days.

---

The moral: Stay calm, think clearly, and look after one another — even the scariest problems can be solved with cleverness and courage.

Want more read-along tales? Try Little Red Riding Hood or Jack and the Beanstalk next.