Story

Little Red Riding Hood

15 minAges 7-9

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The story

Introduction

Hello there, little explorers! Have you ever had a very special favourite cloak, perhaps in a bright, cheerful colour like ruby red? Today, we're off on an enchanting journey deep into the whispering woods, alongside a brave little girl known as Little Red Riding Hood. She's carrying a basket of delicious treats for her dear Granny, but watch out! The forest can be full of surprises, and not all of them are friendly. Join us as we discover what happens on her extraordinary adventure!

The Red Cloak and the Journey Begins

Our brave little girl had a favourite red cloak with a beautiful hood that her Granny had knitted just for her. It was the colour of ripe strawberries and always made her feel extra special. Because she wore it so often, everyone in the village simply called her Little Red Riding Hood. One sunny morning, her mum called her over. "Little Red," she said, "Granny isn't feeling too well today. Could you take this basket of yummy treats to her cottage? There's a scrumptious jam tart, some fresh biscuits, and a tiny pot of butter." Little Red Riding Hood was always eager to help. She carefully took the basket. "Remember, darling," her mum added, "go straight along the path, and don't stray into the deep woods. And don't talk to any strangers!" Little Red promised, gave her mum a big hug, and off she went, skipping down the lane towards the whispering woods, her red cloak fluttering behind her. What adventures awaited her?

Meeting the Wolf

Little Red Riding Hood skipped along the path, her bright red cloak a happy splash of colour against the green trees. Deeper she ventured into the woods, where tall oaks stood like giants, and wildflowers peeked from the mossy ground. From behind a bushy hawthorn, a voice spoke. 'Good morning, Little Red Riding Hood.' Little Red stopped, startled. There stood a very big, grey wolf, with a wide smile. His eyes seemed to twinkle in a way that wasn't quite friendly. 'Good morning, Mr. Wolf,' she replied politely, remembering her mum's words about kindness, despite the warning not to talk to strangers. 'And where are you off to, little one?' asked the wolf, his voice much too sweet. 'I'm visiting my Granny, who isn't well,' Little Red explained. 'I'm taking her delicious cake and strawberry jam in my basket,' she said, holding up the wicker basket, which smelled wonderfully fresh. The wolf's eyes glinted. 'How thoughtful,' he said. 'And where does your Granny live, exactly?' Still naive, Little Red pointed down the path. 'Past the old oak tree, in the cottage with the bright blue door,' she answered. The clever wolf thought. He liked the sound of Granny and a delicious little girl. 'These woods are beautiful today,' he began. 'Have you noticed all the lovely flowers? Wouldn't your Granny be delighted with a fresh bunch of wildflowers to brighten her room?' Little Red looked around. Patches of bluebells and buttercups gleamed. 'Oh, yes!' she exclaimed. 'What a wonderful idea! Granny loves flowers.' 'Why not pick a bouquet for her?' suggested the wolf, his tail giving a tiny wag. 'While you do that, I'll carry on.' Completely taken in, Little Red thought it was the best idea. She imagined Granny's smile. 'That's brilliant!' she chirped. She carefully placed her basket on the ground and began to wander off the path, just a little way, to pick the prettiest flowers. The wolf watched her go, a sly grin spreading across his face. He knew exactly what he was going to do next.

A Detour and a Devious Plan

And he certainly did! Little Red Riding Hood, quite forgetting her mummy's important warning, was far too busy enjoying herself. She spotted a patch of bright red poppies, nodding gently in the breeze, and then, a little further on, a cluster of sunny yellow buttercups, just begging to be picked. The forest was a magical place, full of little wonders! A tiny, fluttery blue butterfly danced between the trees, its wings like stained glass. Little Red Riding Hood giggled, chasing it deeper into the dappled sunlight, past towering oak trees and rustling ferns. The air smelled of damp earth and sweet wildflowers, a truly lovely perfume. She hummed a little tune as she gathered handful after handful of blooms, adding them carefully to her basket, which was getting heavier and heavier. She picked delicate white daisies, cheerful dandelions, and even a few tiny, sky-blue forget-me-nots. She wanted her Granny to have the most beautiful, colourful bouquet ever! The thought of her lovely Granny made her smile, and she imagined her Granny's delight when she saw all these wonderful flowers. She was so engrossed, so happy, that she didn't even notice how far she was straying from the proper, well-worn path. She was on a grand adventure, and the cake and wine for Granny were almost forgotten in her excitement. Meanwhile, the cunning wolf wasn't wasting a single moment. He had watched Little Red Riding Hood disappear behind a thick, ancient oak tree, her red cloak a tiny flash of colour amongst the deep green leaves. “Aha!” he thought, a truly dreadful idea forming in his sneaky, furry brain. “Little Red Riding Hood is collecting flowers. That will take her ages and ages! She’ll be wandering about for hours! But I know a shortcut to Granny’s little cottage. If I run as fast as my big, strong paws can carry me, I can get there first!” He turned, his eyes gleaming with mischief, and bolted. He didn't follow the winding, pretty path, oh no. He crashed straight through the undergrowth, his long legs blurring as he sped directly towards Granny’s house. He was much, much faster than any little girl, especially one who was distracted by picking daisies and dandelions. The wolf ran like the wind, his ears flattened against his head, his tail streaming out behind him. He wasn't stopping for anything, not for a colourful butterfly, not for a sweet-smelling flower. His mind was set on one thing: getting to Granny's cottage before Little Red Riding Hood. He leaped over fallen logs, squeezed through thorny bushes, and splashed through a gurgling stream. He knew every twist and turn of the forest, every secret shortcut. He was a creature of the woods, and he used his knowledge for his very naughty plan. It wasn't long at all before the wolf arrived at the little cottage. It was a sweet, cosy place with a neat thatched roof and cheerful window boxes bursting with bright red geraniums. He crept up to the wooden door, his heart thumping with wicked excitement, and gave a gentle, polite tap-tap-tap, just like a visitor would. “Who’s there?” called a frail, rather squeaky voice from inside. Granny was very old, you see, and a little bit hard of hearing. She sometimes confused sounds, especially if she wasn't wearing her spectacles. The wolf, remembering Little Red Riding Hood’s sweet, clear voice, cleared his throat. He tried to make his own big, gruff voice sound small and pleasant. “It’s Little Red Riding Hood, Granny, dear! I’ve brought you a delicious cake and some lovely, fresh flowers!” “Oh, how lovely!” called Granny, her voice full of delight. “Lift the latch, dear. Just push it up. I’m feeling a bit poorly today, and I’m too weak to get out of bed.” The wolf’s cunning grin widened, showing all his sharp, pointy teeth. He pushed the little metal latch upwards, and with a soft creak, the wooden door swung open. He tiptoed inside, his big, furry paws making hardly a sound on the soft, woven rug in the hallway. He saw Granny tucked up in her bed, wearing her favourite frilly nightcap and a comfy knitted shawl. She looked so peaceful, almost asleep. In a flash, quicker than you could say “forest fairy”, the wolf sprang from behind the door! Poor Granny didn’t even have time to say “Goodness gracious me!” He didn't want any fuss, you see. He just wanted to make sure she was out of the way. So, he gently, but quickly, popped her into the large, dark cupboard at the side of the room. “You can have a little rest in there, Granny dear,” he muttered to himself, a naughty sparkle in his eye, before carefully closing the cupboard door. He didn't want Little Red Riding Hood to find her. Then, the very tricky wolf pulled on Granny’s frilly nightcap, right over his big, furry ears, making sure the frills hid his pointy bits. He quickly climbed into her bed, pulled the covers right up to his chin, and made himself look as much like Granny as he possibly could. He even tried to make his breathing sound soft and gentle, just like an old lady. He waited. He waited for Little Red Riding Hood to arrive, completely unaware of the sneaky, furball trick that was waiting for her. The wolf chuckled to himself, a low, rumbling sound that he quickly swallowed. He closed his eyes, pretending to be asleep, and listened for the sound of tiny footsteps on the path. He couldn't wait for the next part of his mischievous plan to unfold.

At Granny's House

Little Red Riding Hood, humming, skipped along the winding path. Her basket, full of treats, bounced gently. She thought of her Granny. Soon, through the trees, she spotted a cosy cottage with a bright red door and a wisp of smoke. "Oh, there it is!" she whispered, her eyes sparkling. "Granny's house!" But closer, something was different. The door, usually closed, was slightly ajar. Little Red Riding Hood paused. "Odd," she thought. "Granny always keeps it latched." Taking a deep breath, she gently pushed the door open, a bell tinkling. "Hello? Granny?" she called, her voice quiet. The cottage was quiet. No usual bustling, just the tick-tock of the grandfather clock. Little Red Riding Hood tiptoed inside. "Granny?" she called again, a little louder. She peered into the empty kitchen, then the sitting room. Finally, she walked to Granny's bedroom. The half-open door revealed a shape tucked up in bed. "Ah, there you are!" Little Red Riding Hood said, relieved. "You must be having a nap, Granny." She walked to the bedside. The room was dim, curtains drawn, and Granny wore a very big nightcap, covering most of her face. Only her eyes peeked out, looking… very big and bright. "Granny, what big ears you have!" Little Red Riding Hood exclaimed. The 'Granny' stirred. "All the better to hear you with, my dear," a raspy voice replied. It sounded croaky, not like Granny's usual warm voice. "Oh," Little Red Riding Hood said, a tiny frown appearing. "And Granny, what big eyes you have!" "All the better to see you with, my dear," the voice grumbled from under the nightcap. Little Red Riding Hood stepped closer. The 'Granny's' hands, sticking out, looked bumpy and… hairy! "But Granny, what big hands you have!" "All the better to hug you with, my dear," the voice replied, and the 'Granny' wiggled. Little Red Riding Hood was very close now. She saw more of 'Granny's' face, and something was still wrong. The nose was pointy. When 'Granny' opened her mouth to speak, Little Red Riding Hood gasped. "But Granny, what a terribly big mouth you have!" And with that, the wolf could pretend no longer! He threw off the nightcap and duvet, revealing his big, furry, wolfy self! "ALL THE BETTER TO EAT YOU WITH!" he roared, leaping out of bed! Little Red Riding Hood shrieked! She dashed out of the bedroom, her red cloak flapping. The wolf, with a gleeful howl, bounded after her, thudding on the wooden floor. Just then, a kind woodcutter named Bert passed by. He carried his axe, on his way home. Bert had very good ears. He heard a tiny, high-pitched scream from Granny's house. "Goodness me!" he mumbled. "That sounds like trouble!" Without a second thought, Bert dropped his axe and rushed towards the cottage. The door was wide open. As he peered inside, he saw Little Red Riding Hood running out, scared, with a huge, growling wolf right behind her! "Hold on there, you scoundrel!" Bert shouted, picking up his axe. The wolf, surprised, skidded to a halt. He hadn't expected anyone else! Bert stood bravely between Red Riding Hood and the big, bad wolf. "You leave this little girl alone, you big bully!" Bert declared, holding his axe up. The wolf, seeing Bert's strength, knew he was in trouble. He looked at Little Red Riding Hood, then at Bert, then at the open door. He gave a low growl, more a grumble of disappointment. With a flick of his tail, the wolf decided Granny's cottage was no longer fun. He turned and, with a whimper, darted out the door and disappeared into the thickest woods, as fast as his furry legs could carry him! He didn't even stop to look back. He was probably still grumbling about his failed trick all the way home! Little Red Riding Hood, wobbly but safe, ran into Bert's comforting arms. "Oh, thank you, Bert!" she cried. "That was an awful wolf!" "Are you alright, my dear?" Bert asked. "What happened?" "The wolf! He was pretending to be Granny! And he had such big eyes and ears and hands and a huge mouth!" "Goodness gracious!" Bert exclaimed. "But where is your real Granny?" "Oh no!" Little Red Riding Hood gasped. "The wolf must have done something to her!" Bert, clever, went straight to Granny's bedroom. Sure enough, Granny was tied up and hidden in the wardrobe! The wolf had locked her in there. "Granny!" Little Red Riding Hood cried, rushing to hug her. Granny, a little dusty but fine, gave Little Red Riding Hood a big, warm hug. "My brave little Red Riding Hood," she said, "you were so clever to notice something was wrong." Bert helped untie Granny. Soon they all sat in the cosy cottage, drinking tea Bert made. Little Red Riding Hood explained everything. "Well," Granny said, sipping her tea, "this has certainly been an adventure! And a good lesson too, my dear. Always be careful who you talk to, and trust your instincts if something doesn't feel right." Little Red Riding Hood nodded, feeling much better. Her basket of treats was shared. Granny had cake, Bert biscuits, and Little Red Riding Hood an apple. The cottage felt warm and safe once more. The scary adventure was over. The big, bad wolf wouldn't be bothering anyone again for a very long time, after his fright from brave Bert!

Outro

And that brings us to the end of our story! Thank you for joining us on this adventure. We hope you enjoyed hearing about Little Red Riding Hood's brave journey. Perhaps you could tell your own story next, about a plucky character, or what happened after the wolf ran off? Remember, you can always let Sonacasts know if you have any feedback about this tale, or any thoughts for new ones. Until next time, keep dreaming up wonderful worlds. Goodbye for now!