1) The story is about a little girl named Gretel who doesn't appreciate her grandmother's visit and thinks she is too old and slow. 2) That night, Gretel wakes up transformed into an old grandmother. She struggles with daily tasks now that she is elderly. 3) Gretel's classmates make fun of her new slow grandmother self. She realizes how it feels to be elderly and loses enjoyment in activities. 4) Gretel transforms back to her young self, having learned to appreciate and care for her grandmother rather than thinking she is too old. She now takes good care of her grandmother.

1. This book belongs to
_____________________________

2. First published 2010
Authors
Cherylene Dewi D/O Surederam
Espanol Melody Aguinalde
Low Hui Shan Charmaine
Tan De’En Melvin
Tay Ai Shyuan Jesmine
For NM2208, NUS FASS

3. GRETEL
g i r l
granny
t h e

4. 1

5. Once upon a time,
in the town of Tortle,
lived a little girl by the name of Gretel.
2

6. Gretel’s Grandma came for a visit. “Gretel! Grandma’s
here!” Gretel’s mother called.
3

7. As Grandma walked in, Mother tells Gretel,
“Gretel, look after Grandma.”
But Gretel said, “But Grandma is so... old!”
Mother frowned and said, “Treat her as you
would want to be treated when you grow old.”
4

8. But Gretel was not listening.
“Grandma, let’s play!” said Gretel.5

9. “Wait for me, Gretel!” said Grandma.
“You’re too slow, Grandma, and you’re
no fun,” said a pouting Gretel. 6

10. Gretel and Grandma passed by a watermelon stand.
“Grandma, I want some watermelons!”7

11. “Quick Grandma!”
“Just a second child,” Grandma said.
“You’retooslowGrandma,”apouting
Gretel said.
B
ut G
randma had trouble climbing the
hill.
8

12. By nightfall, Grandma was just too
tired and quickly fell asleep.
9

13. And so, Gretel decided
to sleep too.
But as Gretel sleeps
and dreams, something
is happening to her...
10

14. The sun finally rose.
Gretel woke up to get
ready for school.
11

15. How odd. Why
was Grandma in
the bathroom too?
“Grandma?” Gretel yawned.
12

16. But wait.
If Gretel was standing in front of the
mirror, then that means...
13

17. 14

18. “MUMMY! MUMMY!” cried Gretel.
“I turned into a Grandma!”
15

19. But Mother was in the kitchen and did not see Gretel.
“Don’t be silly dear. Now move along quickly or you’ll
be late for school. You’re being too slow.”
16

20. “Oh no! The school bus!”
Gretel ran but the bus left without her.
17

21. “When did my bag
get so heavy?”
mumbled Gretel.
Gretel dragged
her heavy bag
to school but
she was already
late.
18

22. Is that you
Gretel?
You look
like a
grandma!
Grandma
Gretel!
Maybe
that’s why
she’s late.
She’s too
slow!
Her classmates
began laughing
at her.
19

23. During lunch, Grandma
Gretel bit into her apple
but her teeth got stuck.
On the apple!
Everybody laughed at
Grandma Gretel.
20

24. During playtime, Grandma Gretel
joined her friends to play tag.
You’re it
Grandma
Gretel!
21

25. Faster
Grandma
Gretel!
Quick
Grandma
Gretel!
22

26. She wanted to climb the monkey
bars with her friends.
But Grandma Gretel could not play.
“You’re too slow Grandma Gretel,”
Gretel’s friends said.23

27. Grandma Gretel could not bear
it anymore. Crying, she suddenly
remembered what Mother said:
“Look after Grandma alright?
Treat her as you would want to
be treated when you grow old.”
24

28. “I’m sorry
Grandma. I did
not know...”
Grandma Gretel cried. She then
felt so tired, she fell asleep.
25

29. GrandmaGretelwoke
up quickly, thinking
she slept in school.
“Oh no! How could
I fall asleep in...
school?”
The sun finally rose.
Grandma Gretel got confused. She
was not in school anymore. She was
back in her room!
26

30. She then ran to the bathroom and
looked into the mirror.
Grandma Gretel was not a Grandma
anymore!
Gretel now knew what she did
wrong. From that day on, she took
very good care of Grandma.
27

31. 28

32. 29

33. “Here Grandma, have a seat,” said Gretel.
“Thank you child,” Grandma replied.
As Gretel skipped off to get Grandma an ice-
cream, an old friend of Grandma’s passed by.
Grandma thought she saw the tortoise smile.
She must really be getting old to be seeing
such things!
30

34. The End