Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs

The Fairest of Them All

Once upon a time, in a kingdom far away, there lived a princess named Snow White. She had skin as white as snow, lips as red as a rose, and hair as black as night. But the most beautiful thing about her was her gentle, kind heart.

Snow White's stepmother was the queen. The queen was proud and vain. Every day she gazed into her magic mirror and asked the same question:

"Mirror, mirror, on the wall, who is the fairest of them all?"

And every day the mirror answered, "You are, my queen." This always pleased her.

But Snow White was growing up. One morning, the mirror gave a different answer.

"You are fair, my queen, it's true — but Snow White is now fairer than you."

The queen's face went pale, then red with anger. She could not bear to share her crown of beauty with anyone. From that moment, jealousy filled her heart, and she made a wicked plan to be rid of Snow White forever.

Into the Dark Forest

The queen ordered a huntsman to take Snow White deep into the forest. But the huntsman could not be so cruel. He had a kind heart too.

"Run, child," he whispered. "Run far away and do not come back to the castle."

Snow White ran through the trees as branches snagged her dress and owls hooted above. She ran until she could run no more. Then, in a little clearing, she found a tiny cottage.

She knocked softly. No one answered, so she peeked inside. There were seven small chairs at a tiny table, seven little plates, and seven small beds in a row. The cottage was dusty, so kind Snow White swept the floors and tidied up. Then, very tired, she lay across the little beds and fell fast asleep.

Seven New Friends

That evening, seven dwarfs came home from working in the mountains, where they dug for shiny jewels all day. They were amazed to find their cottage clean — and a sleeping girl inside!

When Snow White woke, she was frightened at first, but the dwarfs only smiled.

"Do not be afraid," said the eldest dwarf. "Tell us how you came here."

Snow White told them all about the jealous queen. The dwarfs felt very sorry for her.

"You may stay with us," they said. "But take care. Let no stranger into the cottage while we are away."

So Snow White lived happily with her seven small friends. She cooked and cleaned, and they shared songs and stories each night. She was safe and loved.

The Poisoned Apple

But back at the castle, the queen asked her mirror again — and learned that Snow White was alive and well in the forest. Furious, the queen disguised herself as a poor old woman. She carried a basket of bright red apples, and she made one of them poisonous.

The queen found the cottage and knocked on the door.

"Apples for sale!" she called sweetly. "Lovely, juicy apples!"

Snow White remembered the dwarfs' warning, but the old woman seemed so kind and harmless. "Just one little bite to show you how sweet it is," coaxed the queen.

Snow White took a bite — and at once she fell into a deep, deep sleep. The wicked queen laughed and slipped away.

When the dwarfs came home, they wept to find Snow White so still. They could not bear to bury her, for she looked as lovely as ever. So they laid her in a bed of glass in the forest and watched over her, day and night.

A Happy Ending

Time passed. One day a kind prince rode through the forest. He saw Snow White and was struck by her gentle face. He had heard the story of the good princess and the jealous queen, and his heart ached for her.

The prince and the dwarfs lifted the glass bed to carry her to a place of honour. As they did, the bed jolted — and the piece of poisoned apple fell from Snow White's lips!

Her eyes fluttered open. "Where am I?" she asked.

"You are safe," said the prince warmly. "And among friends."

The dwarfs cheered and danced. The prince asked Snow White to come live in his peaceful kingdom, and she gladly agreed. As for the vain queen, her jealousy had brought her nothing but misery, and she was never able to harm anyone again.

Snow White visited her seven dwarf friends often, and she remained as kind as ever. And so they all lived happily ever after.

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The moral: Jealousy and vanity only bring sadness, while a kind heart and true friends are the greatest treasures of all.

Want more read-along tales? Try Cinderella or The Ugly Duckling next.