Stories
The Tinderbox (Classic Version)
Once upon a time, a penniless soldier was returning home after a long war. On his way, he met an old witch who promised him riches in exchange for retrieving a tinderbox from a hollow tree.
The Red Shoes (Condensed Version)
Once upon a time, there was a little girl called Karen who was adopted by a rich old lady after her mother’s death. When preparing for her confirmation, Karen chose red shoes, ignoring the old lady’s advice that they were inappropriate for church.
The White Snake (Condensed Version)
Once upon a time, a wise king had a strange daily habit. Every evening, he was served a mysterious dish covered under a cloche, and he insisted on eating it alone. His faithful servant, unable to control his curiosity, peeked under the cloche one day and found a white snake. The servant decided to taste it, and the moment he did, he acquired the power to understand and communicate with animals.
The Magic Porridge Pot (Classic Version)
Once upon a time, there was a poor girl who lived with her mother. The little girl was kind-hearted and always eager to help others. One day as she was gathering firewood, she met an old woman. The woman gave her a magic pot and told her the special words to cook sweet porridge, “Cook, pot, cook,” and to stop it, “Stop, pot, stop.”
The Wolf and the Seven Little Goats (Classic Version)
Once upon a time, there lived a mother goat who loved her seven little kids dearly. One day, she had to go out to gather food and warned her kids about the cunning wolf who could come to harm them. She described the wolf’s gruff voice and black feet to help them identify him.
The Twelve Huntsmen (Classic Version)
Once upon a time, a prince was engaged to a beautiful princess. But when his father, the king, fell ill, he told his son to marry another princess to create a strategic alliance. Bound by duty, the prince obeyed, leaving his bride-to-be heartbroken.
The Golden Goose (Classic Version)
Once upon a time, in a small village, lived a woodcutter with his three sons. The youngest son, known as Simpleton, was often underestimated and ridiculed.
The Star Money (Classic Version)
Once upon a time, there was a poor little orphan girl who was kind and generous. Even though she had very little, she was always willing to share what she had. She possessed only a little piece of bread, which she was ready to divide with others, and a dress and an apron.
The Nightingale (Classic Version)
In ancient China, the Emperor learned of a nightingale in his empire whose song was considered the most beautiful sound in the world. However, he had never heard it. So, he ordered his courtiers to bring the nightingale to him.
The Wild Swans (Classic Version)
Once upon a time, there was a king who had eleven sons and one daughter named Elisa. After the queen’s death, the king remarried a wicked queen who was a witch. She turned Elisa into a ragged girl and the eleven princes into wild swans.
Bluebeard (Classic Version)
Once upon a time, in the heart of France, lived a man named Bluebeard, so named for his striking blue beard. He was wealthy but frighteningly ugly and had been married several times, but no one knew what had become of his previous wives.
Snow Queen (Condensed Version)
Once upon a time, there was a wicked hobgoblin who made a mirror that reflected only the bad and ugly aspects of people and things. While carrying it up to heaven to mock the angels, the hobgoblin dropped the mirror, and it shattered into billions of pieces that fell down to earth. Some shards got into people’s eyes, making them see the world as ugly and bad, and some got into their hearts, turning them into ice.
