Read Little Red Riding Hood Online
Once upon a time, there was a very sweet little girl whom everyone called Little Red Riding Hood. She was called that because she always wore a red hooded cape that her grandmother had given her. Little Red Riding Hood loved wearing it, and that is why she never wanted to go anywhere without it.
She lived with her mother in a little house near the forest. Not far from there, on the other side of the path, her grandmother lived in a small cottage surrounded by trees and flowers. One day, Grandmother felt a little sick, and Little Red Riding Hood’s mother prepared a basket with bread, fruit, and other tasty things to take to her.
—Little Red Riding Hood —said her mother—, take this basket to your grandmother’s house.
—Yes, Mother —she answered happily.
Then her mother gave her a very important warning.
—Go straight along the path, do not stop, and do not talk to strangers.
—I will remember —said Little Red Riding Hood.
Very happily, the little girl took her basket and began to walk through the forest. The day was beautiful, the air was fresh, and rays of sunlight came through the trees. As she walked, Little Red Riding Hood looked at the flowers, listened to the birds, and took calm little steps along the path.
But in that forest there also lived a wolf. He was clever, quiet, and very curious. When he saw Little Red Riding Hood walking alone, he came closer carefully.
—Good morning, little girl —said the wolf in a friendly voice.
Little Red Riding Hood, who had forgotten her mother’s advice for a moment, answered:
—Good morning.
The wolf smiled at her and asked:
—Where are you going with that lovely basket?
—I am going to visit my grandmother —answered Little Red Riding Hood—. She lives on the other side of the forest, in a little house with small windows and a very pretty garden.
The wolf listened carefully and had a bad idea. But he did not want to show what he was thinking, so he continued speaking calmly.
—What a lovely day for a walk —he said—. Look at all the flowers around you. Perhaps you could pick some for your grandmother.
Little Red Riding Hood looked at the field full of flowers and thought that it would be nice to bring her grandmother a little bouquet.
—You are right —she said—. She will like them very much.
So she stepped off the path to pick flowers. Meanwhile, the wolf ran quickly along the shorter path to Grandmother’s house.
When he arrived, he knocked on the door.
—Who is it? —Grandmother asked from inside.
The wolf changed his voice and answered:
—It is me, Little Red Riding Hood. I am bringing a basket for you.
Grandmother, thinking it was her granddaughter, opened the door. Then the wolf quickly entered. In some versions of the story, the wolf hides the grandmother in a cupboard or locks her away so he can trick Little Red Riding Hood, and here we will tell it that way so the story remains suitable for children. After that, the wolf put on Grandmother’s cap, lay down in the bed, and pulled the blanket up to his nose.
A little later, Little Red Riding Hood arrived at the cottage. She had flowers in one hand and the basket on her arm.
—Grandmother, I am here —she said as she entered.
The room was a little dark and quiet. Little Red Riding Hood walked closer to the bed and looked at the person lying there.
—Grandmother, what big eyes you have —she said in surprise.
—They are to see you better —answered the wolf in a strange voice.
—Grandmother, what big ears you have.
—They are to hear you better.
—Grandmother, what big hands you have.
—They are to hug you better.
Little Red Riding Hood took one more small step and looked again in wonder.
—Grandmother, what a big mouth you have.
—It is to speak to you better! —answered the wolf, trying to continue the trick.
At that moment, Little Red Riding Hood understood that something was not right. Just then, a woodcutter who was passing near the house heard strange noises and decided to go inside to see what was happening.
When he entered, he saw the wolf in disguise and understood at once that he was trying to trick the little girl. Bravely, he managed to chase the wolf away and save Little Red Riding Hood. Then he helped bring Grandmother out from the place where she had been hidden.
—Grandmother! —said Little Red Riding Hood, running to hug her.
—I am so glad you are safe —Grandmother replied lovingly.
Little Red Riding Hood’s mother also arrived soon after hearing what had happened, and everyone felt relieved that the story had ended well. Little Red Riding Hood looked at her mother and lowered her head a little.
—I am sorry —she said—. I should have obeyed you and not talked to strangers.
Her mother hugged her gently.
—What matters is that now you have learned —she told her.
From that day on, Little Red Riding Hood never forgot that advice again. She learned that she should not trust people she did not know, and that listening to her mother was very important.
And so, among flowers, forest paths, and a very important lesson, Little Red Riding Hood, her grandmother, and her family lived peacefully, always remembering that caution and obedience can help keep us safe from danger.
The end
