Once upon a time, near the edge of a great, whispering forest, there lived a kind but poor woodcutter. He shared his small, cozy cottage with his wife and his two children from before, a thoughtful boy named Hansel and his gentle sister, Grethel. Times were hard, and the family often had just enough food to fill their tummies. One year, a great famine swept through the land, and the woodcutter found it harder and harder to find enough bread for everyone.
One evening, as the moonlight peeked through the window, the woodcutter lay awake, his heart heavy with worry. He sighed and turned to his wife, “What will become of us? How can we feed our dear children when we barely have enough for ourselves?”
His wife, who was also troubled, whispered back, “Listen, my husband. Tomorrow, we will take Hansel and Grethel deep into the forest, where the trees grow thickest. We will make a warm fire for them and give them each a small piece of bread. Then, while they rest, we will go to gather wood. If they cannot find their way home, perhaps someone kind will help them, and we will not have to watch them go hungry.”
The woodcutter’s eyes filled with tears. “No, my dear wife, I cannot do that. How could I leave my children alone in the forest? What if they are frightened or lost?”
But his wife gently reminded him, “If we do nothing, we may all go hungry. We must be brave.” She spoke softly but firmly, and at last, the woodcutter agreed, though his heart ached for his children.
Hansel and Grethel, lying in their little beds, could not sleep because their tummies rumbled with hunger. They heard every word their parents said. Grethel’s eyes filled with tears, and she whispered, “What will happen to us, Hansel?”
Hansel hugged his sister and said, “Don’t worry, Grethel. I have an idea. I will take care of us.” When the house was quiet and their parents were asleep, Hansel slipped out of bed, put on his coat, and tiptoed to the back door. The moon was shining brightly, and the white pebbles on the ground sparkled like tiny stars. Hansel filled his pockets with as many pebbles as he could carry, then crept back inside.
He whispered to Grethel, “Don’t be afraid, dear sister. Go to sleep. I promise, everything will be all right.” Grethel snuggled close to her brother, and soon they both drifted off to sleep.
Before the sun had risen, their stepmother gently woke them. “Wake up, sleepyheads. We are going into the forest to help your father gather wood.” She handed each of them a small piece of bread. “This is for your lunch. Don’t eat it too soon, because there won’t be any more until we come home.” Grethel tucked her bread safely into her apron, while Hansel’s pockets were already full of pebbles.
The family set off into the cool, green forest. As they walked, Hansel kept looking back at the cottage. Every now and then, he stopped and turned around. His father noticed and asked, “Hansel, why do you keep stopping and looking back?”
Hansel replied, “I’m just looking at our white cat sitting on the roof, waving goodbye to us.” Their stepmother smiled and said, “That’s not a cat, Hansel. It’s just the morning sun shining on the chimney.” But Hansel wasn’t really looking at a cat. Each time he turned, he dropped a shiny white pebble onto the path behind them.
Soon, they reached the heart of the forest, where the trees stood tall and close together. The woodcutter said, “Let’s gather some wood for a fire, so you won’t be cold.” Hansel and Grethel worked together, collecting twigs and branches until they had a big pile. Their father lit the fire, and the flames danced and crackled, warming their hands and faces.
Their stepmother said kindly, “Now, children, rest here by the fire. We are going to gather more wood. When we are ready to go home, we will come back for you.” Hansel and Grethel sat close together by the fire, listening to the gentle sounds of the forest all around them.
Hansel and Grethel sat quietly by the warm, crackling fire, listening to the gentle rustle of leaves and the soft songs of birds in the tall trees. The sun climbed high above the forest, and when their tummies began to rumble, they each nibbled their little piece of bread, just as their stepmother had told them. The bread was small, but they ate it slowly, hoping it would last.
As they sat together, they could hear the steady “thump, thump” of an axe echoing through the woods. Hansel and Grethel smiled at each other, thinking their father must be close by, chopping wood. But as the day went on, the sound never seemed to come any nearer. What they didn’t know was that their father had tied a branch to an old tree, and the wind made it knock and bump, so it sounded just like an axe.
The children waited and waited, but no one came. The fire grew smaller, and the shadows grew longer. Hansel put his arm around Grethel, and soon, their eyes grew heavy. Before they knew it, they had both fallen fast asleep, curled up together by the fading fire.
When they woke up, the forest was dark and quiet. The moon had risen, shining softly through the leaves, and Grethel felt scared. She whispered, “Hansel, how will we ever find our way home?” Hansel squeezed her hand and said gently, “Don’t worry, Grethel. When the moon is bright, we’ll see the path. Remember the pebbles I dropped? They will show us the way.”
Sure enough, as the moonlight sparkled on the ground, the white pebbles Hansel had dropped shone like tiny silver coins. Hand in hand, Hansel and Grethel followed the trail, step by step, through the sleeping forest. The night was cool and quiet, but the children were brave, and the pebbles glimmered, leading them safely along.
They walked all night, and just as the sky began to turn pink with morning, they saw their little cottage in the distance. Their hearts leapt with joy, and they hurried to the door. When their stepmother opened it, she looked surprised and said, “Why did you sleep so long in the woods? We thought you were never coming home!” But their father was so happy to see them that he hugged them tight, his eyes shining with tears. He had missed them very much and was glad they were safe.
For a little while, things were peaceful. But soon, the food in the house grew scarce again. One night, as Hansel and Grethel lay in their beds, they heard their stepmother whispering to their father. “There is hardly any bread left,” she said. “We must take the children deeper into the forest, so they cannot find their way back. It is the only way.”
Their father’s heart was heavy, and he wished they could all share the last bit of bread together. But their stepmother would not listen, and at last, he sadly agreed.
Hansel and Grethel heard every word. When the house was quiet, Hansel tried to slip outside to gather more pebbles, but this time the door was locked tight. He could not get out. Still, he comforted Grethel, whispering, “Don’t be afraid. Go to sleep. The good God will watch over us.”
Early the next morning, their stepmother woke them and gave them each a smaller piece of bread than before. Hansel tucked his into his pocket, breaking it into tiny crumbs as they walked. Every now and then, he stopped and dropped a crumb on the path behind them. Their father asked, “Hansel, why do you keep stopping?” Hansel answered, “I’m looking at my little dove, nodding goodbye to me.” But his stepmother only said, “That’s not a dove, just the sun on the chimney.” Still, Hansel kept dropping crumbs, hoping they would help him and Grethel find their way home.
This time, their stepmother led them even deeper into the forest, farther than they had ever been before. She made a big fire and said, “Sit here and rest. When you are tired, you can sleep. We will come back for you when we are ready.” Hansel and Grethel sat close together by the fire, holding hands and listening to the sounds of the deep, dark woods, hoping that somehow, they would find their way home again.
When the sun was high in the sky, Grethel gently broke her little piece of bread in half and shared it with Hansel, since he had dropped his own along the path, hoping it would help them find their way home. The two children sat close together under the tall trees, nibbling their bread and listening to the soft sounds of the forest. After their small meal, they grew sleepy and curled up side by side, letting their eyes close as the warm sunlight danced through the leaves above.
Evening came, and the woods grew quiet and cool. Hansel and Grethel woke up, hoping to see their father or stepmother coming to find them, but no one came. The sky turned dark, and the moon peeked out from behind the clouds, shining down with a gentle, silvery light. Grethel felt a little scared, but Hansel squeezed her hand and whispered, “Don’t worry, Grethel. When the moon is bright, we’ll see the crumbs of bread I dropped, and they will show us the way home.”
Hand in hand, they stood up and looked all around. The moonlight sparkled on the leaves and the mossy ground, but when they searched for the crumbs, they could not find a single one. All the little birds that lived in the woods and fields had flown down and eaten every last crumb. Hansel tried to be brave and told Grethel, “We will soon find the way,” but inside, he felt worried too.
Still, the children did not give up. They walked through the quiet forest all night long, hoping to find a path or a sign that would lead them home. The trees seemed taller and the shadows deeper, but Hansel and Grethel stayed close together, comforting each other with gentle words. When morning came, their tummies rumbled with hunger, and they looked for berries on the bushes to eat. The berries were small and sweet, but there were not many, and soon they were hungry again.
All day they wandered, growing more and more tired as the sun moved across the sky. Their feet ached, and their legs felt heavy, but they kept walking, hoping to find their cottage or hear their father’s voice. When the sun began to set, they were so tired that they could not take another step. They found a soft patch of moss under a big tree, curled up together, and fell fast asleep, dreaming of home.
When they woke up, it was the third morning since they had left their father’s house. The forest seemed even bigger and quieter than before. Hansel and Grethel held hands and walked on, but the trees grew thicker, and they felt as if they were getting deeper and deeper into the woods. Hansel looked at Grethel and saw how tired and hungry she was. He wished with all his heart that someone would come to help them.
Just as the sun was shining high above, something wonderful happened. A beautiful snow-white bird landed on a branch nearby and began to sing the sweetest song the children had ever heard. Hansel and Grethel stopped and listened, feeling comforted by the gentle music. When the bird finished its song, it spread its wings and flew off through the trees. The children followed, hoping it would lead them somewhere safe.
The bird fluttered ahead, and Hansel and Grethel hurried after it, deeper into the forest. At last, the bird perched on the roof of a little cottage. As the children came closer, their eyes grew wide with wonder. The cottage was made of bread and cakes, and the windows sparkled like clear sugar. Hansel and Grethel could hardly believe their eyes. Their tummies rumbled, and for the first time in days, they felt a little hope in their hearts.
Hansel and Grethel stood in front of the magical cottage, their eyes shining with wonder. The sweet smell of cakes and cookies drifted through the air, making their tummies rumble even more. Hansel smiled at Grethel and whispered, “Let’s have a little taste. I’ll try the roof, and you can try the window. I bet they’re delicious!” Grethel giggled and nodded, reaching up to gently nibble on the sparkling sugar window, while Hansel broke off a small piece of the soft, golden roof.
As they tasted the treats, a gentle voice floated out from inside the cottage, singing, “Tip-tap, tip-tap, who is nibbling at my house?” Hansel and Grethel looked at each other, a little surprised, but Hansel called back, “It’s only the wind, the wind, the child of heaven.” The children smiled and took another bite, feeling safe and happy for the first time in days.
Just then, the cottage door creaked open, and out stepped a very old woman with kind eyes and a warm smile. She leaned on a wooden stick and looked at the children. Hansel and Grethel felt a little shy and dropped their pieces of cake, but the old woman just chuckled softly. “Oh, you dear children,” she said, “what has brought you here? Come inside and rest. You must be so tired and hungry.”
She gently took their hands and led them into her cozy cottage. Inside, the table was set with bowls of warm milk, fluffy pancakes sprinkled with sugar, shiny red apples, and crunchy nuts. Hansel and Grethel’s eyes grew wide with delight. They sat down and ate until their tummies were full and happy. After their meal, the old woman showed them two little beds with soft white blankets. Hansel and Grethel snuggled under the covers, feeling safe and warm at last. As they drifted off to sleep, they thought they must be dreaming, for everything seemed so wonderful.
But while the children slept, the old woman’s smile faded. She was not as kind as she seemed. In truth, she was a witch who had built her candy cottage to lure children inside. She watched Hansel and Grethel as they slept, her eyes glinting. “These two will not escape me,” she whispered to herself.
Early the next morning, before the sun had risen, the witch crept into the room. She saw Hansel and Grethel sleeping close together, their cheeks rosy and peaceful. The witch reached out with her bony hands and picked Hansel up, carrying him to a little cage with a door made of sticks. Hansel woke up and called for Grethel, but the witch locked the door tight. Then she shook Grethel gently until she woke. “Get up, lazy girl,” the witch said. “Fetch some water and cook something tasty for your brother. He must eat and get strong.”
Grethel’s eyes filled with tears, but she did as she was told. Every day, the witch brought Hansel food and made Grethel work hard. But Hansel was clever. Each morning, the witch would say, “Hansel, let me feel your finger to see if you are getting fat.” But Hansel held out a little bone instead, and because the witch’s eyes were not very good, she thought Hansel was still thin.
Days and days went by, and the witch grew impatient. “Grethel,” she snapped one morning, “bring water! Fat or thin, today I will cook your brother.” Grethel’s heart ached, and she whispered, “Oh, please help us!” But the witch just scolded her and hurried her along. Grethel wiped her tears and tried to be brave, hoping for a way to save her brother.
So, early the next morning, Grethel woke up to the sound of the witch’s grumpy voice. “Up, lazy girl!” the witch snapped. “Go outside and fill the kettle with water, and make a fire. We have work to do!” Grethel rubbed her sleepy eyes and hurried to do as she was told, her heart beating fast with worry for Hansel.
When Grethel came back inside, the witch was already busy. “First, we will bake,” she said, rubbing her hands together. “I have already heated the oven and kneaded the dough.” The oven glowed with bright orange flames, and Grethel could feel the heat from across the room.
The witch pointed to the oven and said, “Creep in and see if it’s hot enough. Then we will put in the bread.” But Grethel remembered how clever Hansel had been, and she guessed that the witch was trying to trick her. The witch wanted Grethel to climb inside so she could close the door and keep her there!
Grethel pretended not to understand. “I don’t know how to do it,” she said softly. “How can I get inside?” The witch huffed and rolled her eyes. “You silly goose! The opening is big enough. Look, even I could fit inside!” And to show Grethel, the witch leaned forward and stuck her head right into the oven.
Quick as a flash, Grethel gave the witch a gentle push. The witch tumbled right into the oven! Grethel shut the heavy iron door and slid the bolt across. The witch howled and banged on the door, but Grethel ran away as fast as she could, her heart pounding with relief.
She hurried to Hansel’s little cage and opened the door. “Hansel, we’re safe! The witch is gone!” she cried. Hansel jumped out, just like a happy bird flying free from its cage. The brother and sister hugged each other tightly, laughing and crying at the same time. They were so happy to be together again.
Now that the witch was gone, Hansel and Grethel looked around the cottage. In every corner, they found little boxes filled with shiny pearls and sparkling jewels. “These are much better than pebbles,” Hansel said with a grin, filling his pockets with as many as he could carry. Grethel gathered some too, filling her apron until it was heavy with treasure.
“We must go home now,” said Hansel, taking Grethel’s hand. They left the cottage and walked through the forest, hoping to find their way back. After a long walk, they came to a wide, sparkling river. There was no bridge and no boat to cross.
Just then, a gentle white duck came swimming by. Grethel called out softly:
“Little Duck, kind Little Duck, Hansel and Grethel here we stand. There is neither bridge nor boat, Please help us cross to land.”
The duck paddled over and let Hansel climb onto her back. But Grethel shook her head. “No, that’s too much for the duck. She can take us one at a time.” So the duck carried Hansel across first, then came back for Grethel. Soon, both children were safe on the other side.
They walked on, and the trees began to look more and more familiar. At last, they saw their father’s house in the distance. They ran as fast as they could and burst through the door. Their father was overjoyed to see them, for he had missed them every single day. Grethel shook out her apron, and pearls and jewels tumbled onto the floor. Hansel emptied his pockets, and the room sparkled with treasure.
From that day on, Hansel, Grethel, and their father lived together in happiness and never went hungry again. And whenever they remembered their adventure, they hugged each other close, grateful to be safe and loved.
And so, dear one, the story is done. Now close your eyes and dream sweet dreams, for you are safe and loved, just like Hansel and Grethel.