Story

Snow White

15 minAges 7-9

Listen to the beginning

This is the start of the story. The whole story plays in the Sonacast app.

The story

Introduction

Hello there, little explorers! Have you ever wondered about a princess with skin as white as snow, lips as red as a rose, and hair as black as night? Well, today, we're going on a magical journey deep into an enchanted forest, where a wicked queen, a talking mirror, and seven very special friends await. Get ready to discover the wonderful story of Snow White, a tale full of kindness, courage, and a little bit of magic. So, snuggle up tight, and let the adventure begin!

A New Princess and a Vain Queen

Long, long ago, in a grand castle, a lovely Queen sat by her window, sewing. She pricked her finger, and three drops of blood fell onto the snow outside. 'Oh,' she wished, 'how I long for a child with skin as white as snow, lips as red as blood, and hair as black as ebony!' And, as if by magic, her wish came true! Soon after, she had a beautiful baby girl, who they named Snow White. But sadly, the good Queen became poorly and passed away. After a little while, the King remarried. His new Queen was very beautiful, but oh, so terribly vain! She thought herself the prettiest person in the whole wide world. She owned a magical mirror, which she would gaze into every single day. Standing tall before it, she would ask, 'Mirror, mirror, on the wall, who is the fairest of them all?' And the mirror, with a shimmery glow, would always reply, 'You, my Queen, are the fairest of them all!'

Snow White's Beauty and the Huntsman

But as the years twinkled by, like little stars in the night sky, Snow White grew older and lovelier. Her skin was as white as fresh snow, her lips as red as ripe strawberries, and her hair as dark as midnight. One day, the Queen stood before her magical mirror again, her heart full of pride. 'Mirror, mirror, on the wall, who is the fairest of them all?' she demanded. This time, the mirror shimmered with a different kind of light. Its voice was gentle but firm as it replied, 'Queen, you are lovely, it's true. But Snow White, with her beauty so new, is the fairest of them all!' Oh, dear me! The Queen’s face, which had been so happy, turned a horrible shade of green, like a grumpy goblin! She stomped her foot and clenched her fists. How could anyone be fairer than her? She couldn't bear it! She paced up and down her grand hall, thinking of a very, very naughty plan. She called for her loyal huntsman. 'Take Snow White deep into the forest,' she commanded, her voice like a sharp, cold wind. 'Find a quiet spot, and make sure she never returns. Bring me her heart as proof!' The huntsman was a kind man with a big, warm heart. He loved the gentle animals of the forest and certainly didn't want to hurt anyone, especially lovely Snow White. He led her far, far away, past tall oak trees and winding streams. Snow White skipped along, picking wildflowers, completely unaware of the Queen’s wicked plan. When they reached a clearing, the huntsman stopped. He pulled out his shining knife, but when he looked into Snow White’s innocent eyes, his hand trembled. He just couldn’t do it! 'Run, Snow White! Run as fast as you can!' he cried. 'Go far into the forest and never come back! The Queen wants to harm you!' Snow White gasped, her eyes wide as saucers. She didn't understand why, but she trusted the kind huntsman. She turned and ran, her little red shoes twinkling through the trees. The huntsman, with a heavy sigh, saw a little wild boar scampering nearby. He quickly caught it and took its heart back to the Queen, hoping she wouldn't notice the difference. Meanwhile, poor Snow White was all alone in the enormous, shadowy forest. The trees looked so tall, the sounds so strange. What would happen to her now?

The Cottage of the Seven Dwarfs

Poor Snow White stumbled through the thick, mysterious forest, her heart beating like a tiny drum. Every rustle of leaves, every hoot of an owl, made her jump. She was so very, very lost. The trees seemed to whisper secrets she couldn't understand, and the shadows danced like mischievous imps all around her. She walked and walked, her little feet growing tired, her tummy rumbling with hunger. She wished for a friendly face, a warm fire, or just a nice, soft place to rest her weary head. As the sun began to dip behind the tallest oak trees, painting the sky in shades of orange and purple, Snow White spotted something through the dense foliage. It was a tiny, cute little cottage! Smoke curled gently from its chimney, and a small, inviting glow shone from its windows. With a tiny glimmer of hope, Snow White carefully made her way towards it, pushing aside prickly bushes and stepping over gnarled roots. When she reached the cottage door, she noticed it was ajar. She gently pushed it open and peered inside. No one seemed to be home. What a curious little place it was! Everything inside was miniature. There was a teeny-tiny table set for seven, with seven little plates, seven little spoons, seven little forks, and seven little mugs. Each plate had a small helping of vegetables and a slice of bread. Beside the table stood seven little chairs, all neatly lined up. Snow White was so hungry and tired, she couldn't help herself. She took a tiny bite from each piece of bread and a spoonful of vegetables from each plate, making sure not to take too much from any one. Then, she took a sip of water from each of the seven little mugs. It tasted like the most delicious meal she'd ever had! After her little supper, she felt incredibly sleepy. She looked around for a bed. Against the far wall, she saw seven tiny beds all in a row. She tried the first one, but it was too long. The second was too short. The third was too hard, and the fourth was too soft. The fifth was too bouncy, and the sixth was too wobbly. But the seventh bed, ah, the seventh bed was just right! Snow White snuggled down under the quilt, closed her eyes, and drifted off into a deep, peaceful sleep, dreaming of friendly squirrels and sweet berries. While Snow White was fast asleep, the rightful owners of the cottage were making their way home. They were the seven dwarfs who worked deep inside the mountains, digging for precious gold and sparkling gems. They were called Doc, Grumpy, Happy, Sleepy, Bashful, Sneezy, and Dopey. After a long day of hammering and picking, their little lanterns bobbed and weaved as they walked along the forest path, singing a cheerful tune. When they reached their cosy cottage, they immediately noticed that something was different. The door was slightly open! Doc, the leader, with his spectacles perched on his nose, peered inside. Doc, his brow furrowed with curiosity, took a cautious step inside. The other six dwarfs huddled behind him, their eyes wide and their small noses twitching. “Hmmph! Someone’s been in here!” Grumpy grumbled, stomping his little boot. Happy, however, peered around with a bright, round face. “Oh, look! The door was open!” he chirped. They shuffled into their cozy living room, and their jaws dropped! Their perfectly set supper table was… disturbed! “My bread! Someone’s nibbled my bread!” cried Bashful, hiding a little behind Doc. “And my vegetables are half gone!” exclaimed Sneezy, trying to hold back a tickle in his nose. He nearly sneezed, but managed to stifle it. Sleepy just yawned a big, wide yawn. “Maybe it was a hungry squirrel?” he mumbled, rubbing his eyes. Dopey, with his usual clumsy grace, tripped over his own feet, sending a tiny spoon clattering to the floor. Doc, ever the sensible one, carefully examined the tiny bites. “These aren’t squirrel nibbles,” he declared, pushing his spectacles higher. “Too neat, too precise. Someone… a person… has been here.” The dwarfs looked at each other, their confusion growing. Who could it be? What did they want? They followed the trail of tiny disturbances, which led them straight to their bedroom. And there, nestled in the seventh bed, the one that was *just right*, they saw her. A beautiful young girl, with skin as white as snow and lips as red as a rose, lay fast asleep. “A… a girl?” Bashful squeaked, blushing furiously and hiding his face in his hands. Grumpy, surprisingly, didn’t grumble. He just stared, his mouth slightly open. Happy’s smile grew even wider. “Oh my goodness! She’s like a princess!” he whispered, his eyes sparkling. Sleepy blinked, then yawned again, but even he seemed a little more awake now. Sneezy just stared, too amazed to even think about sneezing. Dopey, very carefully, tiptoed closer, his large eyes fixed on Snow White’s peaceful face. Doc, after a moment of stunned silence, cleared his throat. “Well, I never! We have a visitor!” He leaned in, trying to get a better look. He noticed her long, dark eyelashes and the gentle rise and fall of her chest as she breathed. She looked so innocent, so peaceful. The dwarfs had never seen anyone so lovely before, let alone in their own little cottage. They gathered around the bed, a tiny semicircle of wonder, watching her sleep. They whispered amongst themselves, trying to guess who she was and how she came to be in their home. One thing was for sure: their quiet little lives had just become a lot more interesting.

The Queen's Treachery and the Poisoned Apple

As the morning sun entered the cottage, Snow White awoke to seven little men staring. She sat up, confused, but the kind dwarfs introduced themselves: Grumpy, Bashful, Sleepy, Happy, Sneezy, Dopey, and Doc. Doc, the cleverest, asked, "Who are you, and how did you find our home?" Snow White, feeling safe, told them her sad story of the wicked Queen and the huntsman who spared her. The dwarfs listened. "If you can cook and clean," said Doc, "you are welcome." "Oh, yes!" she exclaimed. Snow White found a new home. Every morning, the dwarfs left for the mines. "Be careful, Snow White! Don't let anyone in! Your wicked stepmother will find you!" Snow White promised to obey, waving goodbye. She kept the cottage sparkling, cooked delicious meals, and sang. The dwarfs adored her, and she felt safe. But back at the Queen's castle, things were not peaceful. Before her magical mirror, she demanded, "Mirror, mirror, on the wall, who is the fairest one of all?" The mirror replied, "My Queen, you are lovely to see, but over the mountains, with the dwarfs you see, lives Snow White, still fairer than thee!" The Queen gasped! Her face turned ghastly green with rage. Snow White was still alive?! Her heart pounded; she vowed to get rid of Snow White herself. She went to a secret room, brewed a dark potion, and dipped silken laces into it. Then, she disguised herself as a kind, old peddler woman. She walked to the cottage. Knock, knock, knock. Snow White heard the knocking. "Who's there?" she called. "Just a poor old peddler woman," came a shaky voice. "Selling beautiful laces!" Snow White, seeing the peddler's kind face, thought, "Surely, this harmless old lady can't be the Queen." She unlatched the door. "Oh, what lovely laces!" exclaimed the peddler. "Let me show you how they'll look." Snow White allowed the old woman to help. But as the peddler tightened the laces of Snow White's bodice, she pulled them tighter and tighter! So tight that Snow White couldn't breathe! She gasped, eyes fluttered, and fell motionless. The wicked Queen cackled, "There! That's the end of you!" She hurried away. Later, the dwarfs returned home. They found Snow White pale and still. "Snow White!" cried Doc. They quickly saw the too-tight laces. Doc carefully snipped them. Snow White took a deep breath, coughed, and slowly opened her eyes. The dwarfs cheered! "We warned you! Never let anyone in!" Snow White promised to be careful. But the Queen, back in her castle, again asked, "Mirror, mirror, on the wall, who is the fairest one of all?" The mirror, to her fury, replied, "My Queen, you are lovely to see, but over the mountains, with the dwarfs you see, lives Snow White, still fairer than thee!" "What?!" shrieked the Queen. "She's still alive! Not for long!" This time, she brewed a more potent poison and dipped a beautiful, sparkling comb into it. She disguised herself as a sweet, old lady selling combs. Knock, knock, knock. "No! I won't open the door!" called Snow White, remembering her promise. "Just a poor old lady with beautiful combs!" replied the Queen, trying to sound harmless. "A comb for your lovely hair, perhaps?" Snow White hesitated. "A comb can't hurt me, can it?" She opened the door a crack. The old lady stepped inside. "What beautiful hair! Let me comb it for you." Snow White, delighted, allowed her. But as the poisoned comb touched her scalp, Snow White felt dizzy, her eyes rolled back, and she fell. The Queen smiled. "There! That's surely the end of you this time!" She vanished. Again, the dwarfs returned to find Snow White lifeless. Doc found the comb in her hair. "The comb!" he cried. He pulled it out, and Snow White gasped for air, slowly coming back to life. "This is the second time! We told you not to let anyone in!" Snow White felt silly and promised never to open the door again. Back in her castle, the Queen was absolutely beside herself. "This is an outrage! I will not rest until she is gone! This time, it will be something she cannot recover from!" She created the most cunning plan: a beautiful, rosy-red apple, half poisoned. Just one bite of the red side would be the end. She disguised herself one last time, as a friendly farmer's wife, carrying a basket of apples. Knock, knock, knock. "No! I won't open the door!" called Snow White, firmly. "Oh, but I'm just a poor farmer's wife," said the Queen, in her sweetest voice. "And I have the most delicious apples! See?" She held up the red and white apple. "Look, I'll even eat some myself to show you it's safe!" The Queen took a bite from the white, unpoisoned side. Snow White, watching, saw the old woman eat and look fine. "If she can eat it, it must be safe." Her tummy rumbled. She opened the window a tiny crack. "Here, my dear," said the Queen. "Have a bite. It's the sweetest you'll ever taste." Snow White took the apple and bit into the rosy-red, poisoned side. Immediately, she fell to the floor. Not a sound, just still and silent. The poison had worked. The wicked Queen let out a loud, triumphant laugh. "Finally! She's gone! Now I truly am the fairest in the land!" She ran back to her castle. Later, the dwarfs found Snow White, paler than snow and completely still. They tried everything, but nothing worked. This time, she truly looked gone for good. The dwarfs cried for three whole days and nights. They couldn't bury her; she looked too beautiful, as if sleeping. So, they built her a special coffin of clear glass, decorated with gold, and placed it on a mountain top. Every day, they watched over her, and the forest animals paid their respects.

Outro

And that's where our wonderful story of Snow White ends for today. Thank you so much for listening! We hope you enjoyed joining us on this magical adventure. Perhaps you can imagine what Snow White did next, or even create your own marvellous tale! Don't forget to let Sonacasts know if you have any feedback on our stories. Until next time, keep dreaming big and exploring the amazing world around you! Goodbye!