1) A poor woodcutter's cruel stepmother abandons Hansel and Gretel in the forest. 2) The children come upon a cottage made of sweets and are captured by a wicked witch who plans to eat them. 3) Gretel pushes the witch into her own boiling pot, killing her. Hansel and Gretel return home with the witch's treasure and their father welcomes them, as their stepmother has died.

1. SHORT STORY
The Frog Prince
Once upon a time, there lived a beautiful princess who had a golden ball. One day, while
playing in the garden, the ball fell into a pond. She was very upset and did not know what
to do. While she sat there crying helplessly, a frog hopped out of the pond and asked, “Why
are you crying, little princess?” She told him about her golden ball. The ugly frog said, “I
can help you get your ball but what will you give me in return?” “I will give you anything
you want!” promised the princess. The frog immediately dived into the water and fetched
the ball for her. The princess was very happy. The frog reminded her, “Remember that you
promised me anything. Well, I want to be your friend, eat from your plate, and sleep in
your palace!” The princess hated the idea but she agreed and ran back to the palace.
The next morning, the princess found the frog waiting for her. He said, “I have come to live
in your palace.” Hearing this, the princess ran to her father, crying. When the kind king
heard about the promise, he told her, “A promise is a promise and you must keep your
word. You must let the frog stay here.” The princess was very angry but she had no choice
and let the frog stay. He ate from her plate during dinner and asked the princess to take
him to her bed at night. The princess picked him up angrily and threw him to the floor.
In a flash, the frog turned into a handsome prince! He told the princess that he had
actually been under the spell of a wicked witch. The princess fell in love with the prince.
They were married and lived happily ever after.

2. SHORT STORY
Pinocchio
Gepetto was a poor carpenter who made his living by making puppets. Once, he was
carving a puppet out of wood in his workshop. Suddenly the wood squealed, “Ouch! That
hurt!” The puppet was alive! Gepetto named the puppet, Pinocchio. Pinocchio wanted to be
like other boys and go to school. Gepetto sold his coat to send him to school. One day, on
his way to school Pinocchio saw a puppet show in progress. He longed to see it but the
ticket cost four pence. Pinocchio sold his books to get the money. He joined the puppets on
stage and decided to stay with them. Later that day, Giovanni the puppet master, a
fearsome looking man, needed wood for the fire. He chose Pinocchio as firewood. Pinocchio
begged and pleaded to be spared, telling him about his poor father. Giovanni gave
Pinocchio five gold coins to give to his father to buy a coat. Gratefully taking the coins,
Pinocchio said goodbye to Giovanni and his puppet friends and set off for home.

3. SHORT STORY
The Ugly Duckling
A little duckling was very sad because he thought he was the ugliest amongst all his brothers and
sisters. They would not play with him and teased the poor ugly duckling. One day, he saw his
reflection in the water and cried, “Nobody likes me. I am so ugly.” He decided to leave home and went
far away into the woods.
Deep in the forest, he saw a cottage in which there lived an old woman, her hen, and her
cat. The duckling stayed with them for some time but he was unhappy there and soon left.
When winter set in the poor duckling almost froze to death. A peasant took him home to
his wife and children. The poor duckling was terrified of the children and escaped. The
ugly duckling spent the winter in a marshy pond.
Finally, spring arrived. One day, the duckling saw a beautiful swan swimming in the pond
and fell in love with her. But then he remembered how everyone made fun of him and he
bent his head down in shame. When he saw his own reflection in the water he was
astonished. He was not an ugly duckling anymore, but a handsome young swan! Now, he
knew why he had looked so different from his brothers and sisters. “They were ducklings
but I was a baby swan!” he said to himself.
He married the beautiful swan and lived happily ever after.

4. SHORT STORY
Little Red Riding Hood
SHORT STORY
One day, Little Red Riding Hood’s mother said to her, “Take this basket of goodies to your
grandma’s cottage, but don’t talk to strangers on the way!” Promising not to, Little Red
Riding Hood skipped off. On her way she met the Big Bad Wolf who asked, “Where are
you going, little girl?” “To my grandma’s, Mr. Wolf!” she answered.
The Big Bad Wolf then ran to her grandmother’s cottage much before Little Red Riding
Hood, and knocked on the door. When Grandma opened the door, he locked her up in the
cupboard. The wicked wolf then wore Grandma’s clothes and lay on her bed, waiting for
Little Red Riding Hood.
When Little Red Riding Hood reached the cottage, she entered and went to Grandma’s
bedside. “My! What big eyes you have, Grandma!” she said in surprise. “All the better to
see you with, my dear!” replied the wolf. “My! What big ears you have, Grandma!” said
Little Red Riding Hood. “All the better to hear you with, my dear!” said the wolf. “What
big teeth you have, Grandma!” said Little Red Riding Hood. “All the better to eat you
with!” growled the wolf pouncing on her. Little Red Riding Hood screamed and the
woodcutters in the forest came running to the cottage. They beat the Big Bad Wolf and
rescued Grandma from the cupboard. Grandma hugged Little Red Riding Hood with joy.
The Big Bad Wolf ran away never to be seen again. Little Red Riding Hood had learnt her
lesson and never spoke to strangers ever again.

5. SHORT STORY
Hansel and Gretel
A poor woodcutter and his wife had two children named Hansel and Gretel. Their mother
died when they were young. Hansel and Gretel were very sad. Soon their father remarried
but their stepmother was very cruel. One day, she took the children deep into the forest
and left them there. Clever Hansel had some breadcrumbs in his pocket and had dropped
them on the way so that they could find their way back home. Alas! The birds ate all the
crumbs and they couldn’t find the path that led back home.
Hansel and Gretel went deeper and deeper into the forest. They were hungry and tired.
Finally, after walking for a long time, they saw a cottage made of chocolate, candies, and
cake. “Look, Hansel! A chocolate brick!” shouted
Gretel in delight and both ate it hungrily.
Now, a wicked witch lived there. When she saw Hansel and Gretel, she wanted to eat them.
She grabbed the children and locked them in a cage. The witch decided to make a soup out
of Hansel and eat him first. She began boiling a huge pot of water for the soup. Just then,
Gretel crept out of her cage. She gave the wicked witch a mighty push from behind and the
witch fell into the boiling water. She howled in pain and died instantly. Hansel and Gretel
found treasure lying around the cottage. They carried it home with them. Their stepmother
had died and their father welcomed them back with tears of joy. They never went hungry
again!