Little Red Riding Hood”

Once upon a time, there was a sweet little girl. Everyone who saw her loved her. But the person who loved her most was her grandmother. The grandmother gave her many gifts, but one day she gave the little girl a special gift—a red velvet cap. It looked so pretty on her that the girl never wanted to wear anything else. Because of that, people started calling her Little Red Riding Hood.

One morning, Little Red Riding Hood’s mother said to her, “Come here, my child. Your grandmother is not feeling well. I have baked some cake and poured wine into a bottle. Take these to your grandmother. They will help her feel better.”

Then her mother said, “Please go now, before the sun gets too hot. Walk nicely and do not leave the path. If you run off or wander, you may fall and break the bottle. Then your grandmother will get nothing. Also, when you reach her house, say ‘Good morning’ politely. Don’t peek around before you greet her.”

Little Red Riding Hood nodded and said, “I will take great care, Mother.” She promised to be careful and started her journey.

Her grandmother lived in a cottage deep in the forest, about half a league (around 1.5 miles) away from the village. Little Red Riding Hood walked happily into the woods. She was enjoying the fresh air and the sound of birds.

As she walked along the forest path, a big wolf came out of the trees. Little Red Riding Hood had never seen a wolf before. She did not know that he was a dangerous animal, so she was not afraid of him.

The wolf smiled and said, “Good morning, Little Red Riding Hood.”

“Good morning to you,” she replied politely.

“Where are you going so early?” asked the wolf.

“I am going to visit my grandmother,” said Little Red Riding Hood.

“What are you carrying in your apron?” the wolf asked.

“Cake and wine,” she replied. “Yesterday was baking day at our house. My grandmother is sick and weak, so my mother told me to take her something good to eat and drink.”

“Where does your grandmother live?” asked the wolf.

“She lives in a little house in the forest, under three big oak trees. You can see it if you follow this path a little farther,” said the girl.

The wolf had an idea. He thought, That little girl would make a tasty meal—and so would her grandmother! But he didn’t say this out loud.

Instead, he walked beside her for a little while. Then he said kindly, “Look at all these pretty flowers around you. Why don’t you pick some for your grandmother? I’m sure they will make her happy.”

Little Red Riding Hood looked around. The woods were filled with beautiful flowers. “That’s a good idea,” she said. “Grandmother would love a bunch of fresh flowers.”

So she left the path and walked into the woods to pick flowers. Each time she picked one, she saw another even prettier one farther away. She kept walking deeper into the woods.

Meanwhile, the wolf ran straight to the grandmother’s house. He knocked on the door.

“Who is there?” asked the grandmother.

“It’s me, Little Red Riding Hood,” said the wolf in a soft voice. “I’ve brought you some cake and wine.”

“Come in, my dear,” said the grandmother.

The wolf went inside and, without saying a word, jumped onto the bed and swallowed the grandmother whole! Then he put on her clothes and glasses, got into the bed, and waited for Little Red Riding Hood to arrive.