Once upon a time, in a small village surrounded by tall, whispering trees, there lived a kind little girl who was loved by everyone who met her. But the person who loved her most of all was her grandmother, who lived in a cozy cottage deep in the woods. One day, her grandmother gave her a beautiful red velvet cap, which suited her so well that she wore it every day. Because of this, everyone called her Little Red-Cap.
One sunny morning, Little Red-Cap’s mother packed a basket with a piece of soft cake and a bottle of sweet juice. She said, “Little Red-Cap, your grandmother is feeling a bit unwell. Please take this basket to her. Go before the sun gets too hot, walk carefully, and stay on the path. Don’t run, or you might drop the basket. And when you arrive, remember to say ‘Good morning’ before you do anything else.”
Little Red-Cap nodded and promised, “I will be very careful, Mama.” She took the basket and set off through the woods, humming a gentle tune.
Her grandmother’s cottage was nestled under three large oak trees, with nut trees growing nearby. As Little Red-Cap walked along the path, she admired the sunlight dancing through the leaves and listened to the birds singing their cheerful songs.
Suddenly, a wolf stepped out from behind a tree. He looked quite ordinary, with a bushy tail and curious eyes. Little Red-Cap had never met a wolf before and didn’t know to be afraid.
“Good day, Little Red-Cap,” the wolf greeted her politely.
“Thank you kindly, Mr. Wolf,” she replied.
“Where are you going so early?” asked the wolf, tilting his head.
“I’m going to visit my grandmother,” said Little Red-Cap. “She isn’t feeling well, so I’m bringing her some cake and juice to help her feel better.”
The wolf’s eyes glimmered with a clever idea. “And where does your grandmother live?”
“She lives a little farther on, under the three big oak trees. You must know it—the cottage with the nut trees below.”
The wolf walked beside her for a while, thinking of a plan. Then he said, “Look how lovely the flowers are here! Why don’t you pick some for your grandmother? And listen to how sweetly the birds are singing. You walk so quietly, as if you’re going to school, while the whole forest is full of joy.”
Little Red-Cap looked around and saw the bright flowers blooming everywhere. She thought, “Grandmother would love a fresh bouquet.” So she stepped off the path to pick some flowers. Each time she found a pretty one, she saw another even prettier flower a little farther away, and so she wandered deeper into the woods.
Meanwhile, the wolf hurried straight to the grandmother’s cottage. He knocked on the door with his paw.
“Who is there?” called the grandmother, her voice weak.
“It’s me, Little Red-Cap,” the wolf replied, trying to sound like the girl. “I’ve brought you cake and juice.”
“Lift the latch and come in, dear,” said the grandmother. “I’m too weak to get up.”
The wolf opened the door and stepped inside. He quickly locked the grandmother in the basement. Then, he put on her nightcap and glasses, climbed into her bed, and pulled the covers up to his chin.
After a while, Little Red-Cap remembered her grandmother and hurried back to the path with her arms full of flowers. When she reached the cottage, she noticed the door was open. She felt a little uneasy, but she stepped inside and called, “Good morning, Grandmother!” There was no answer.
She tiptoed to the bedroom and saw her grandmother lying in bed, looking very strange with the cap pulled low over her face.
“Oh, Grandmother, what big ears you have!” she said.
“The better to hear you with, my child,” answered the wolf, trying to sound gentle.
“But Grandmother, what big eyes you have!”
“The better to see you with, my dear.”
“And Grandmother, what large hands you have!”
“The better to hug you with.”
“Oh, but Grandmother, what a big mouth you have!”
“The better to—” But before the wolf could finish, Little Red-Cap realized something was terribly wrong. She screamed as loudly as she could, her voice echoing through the trees.
At that very moment, a kind huntsman was walking nearby. He heard Little Red-Cap’s frightened scream and rushed to the cottage. He saw the wolf in the bed and understood what had happened. The huntsman quickly raised his rifle and fired a shot into the air. The loud noise startled the wolf so much that he leapt out of bed, dashed out the door, and ran deep into the forest, never to be seen near the village again.
The huntsman hurried inside and found Little Red-Cap trembling but safe. Together, they searched the cottage and soon heard the grandmother’s voice calling from the basement. The huntsman unlocked the door, and grandmother came out, hugging Little Red-Cap tightly.
They all sat together, and Little Red-Cap gave her grandmother the cake, juice, and the lovely bouquet of flowers she had picked. Grandmother smiled, feeling much better with her granddaughter and the kind huntsman by her side. Little Red-Cap promised herself that she would always listen to her mother and stay on the path whenever she visited the woods.
From that day on, Little Red-Cap was always careful, and the woods felt safe and peaceful once more.