Snow White

Once upon a time, there lived a kind queen.

She had skin as white as snow.

Her lips were red as cherries.

Her hair was black as night.

When she had a baby girl,

she named her Snow White.

Sadly, the good queen became very sick.

She died when Snow White was still tiny.

The king cried and cried.

He missed his beautiful wife so much.

Little Snow White had no mother now.

One year later, the king married again.

The new queen was very beautiful.

But she was mean and vain.

She loved to look at herself.

She thought she was the prettiest

woman in the whole world.

The new queen had a magic mirror.

It could answer any question.

Every morning, she would ask:

"Mirror, mirror on the wall,

who is the fairest of them all?"

For many years, the mirror said:

"You are the fairest, my queen."

This made the queen very happy.

She smiled and danced around.

But Snow White was growing up.

She became more beautiful each day.

When Snow White turned sixteen,

something terrible happened.

The queen asked her mirror:

"Mirror, mirror on the wall,

who is the fairest of them all?"

This time, the mirror answered:

"You are fair, my queen, it's true.

But Snow White is fairer than you."

The queen's face turned red.

She stamped her feet in anger.

She could not stand this news!

The wicked queen made an evil plan.

She called her best huntsman.

"Take Snow White to the forest," she said.

"Kill her there where no one can see.

Bring me her heart in a box."

The huntsman felt very sad.

But he had to obey the queen.

He took Snow White for a walk.

"Let's go see the pretty flowers,"

he said with a heavy heart.

Snow White was happy to go.

She loved walks in the forest.

She picked daisies and sang songs.

Birds flew around her head.

Rabbits hopped beside her feet.

They walked deeper and deeper.

The trees grew tall and dark.

Finally, the huntsman stopped.

He pulled out his sharp knife.

Snow White looked at him, confused.

"Run away, child!" he cried.

"The queen wants you dead!

She is jealous of your beauty.

Run far away and hide!

Never come back to the palace!"

Snow White ran as fast as she could.

Tree branches scratched her arms.

Thorns tore her pretty dress.

She ran until her feet hurt.

Tears streamed down her face.

The forest was dark and scary.

Strange noises came from everywhere.

Owls hooted in the trees.

Wolves howled in the distance.

Snow White had never been so afraid.

She was tired and hungry.

Her stomach growled loudly.

Just when she wanted to give up,

she saw a tiny light ahead.

It was a little cottage!

Snow White knocked on the door.

Nobody answered her knocks.

She pushed the door gently.

It opened with a little creak.

"Hello?" she called softly.

Inside, everything was tiny!

There were seven little chairs.

Seven little plates on the table.

Seven little spoons and forks.

Seven little cups filled with milk.

Snow White was so hungry!

She took a tiny bite from each plate.

She sipped from each little cup.

"I hope they won't be angry," she said.

Then she climbed the stairs.

Upstairs were seven tiny beds.

Each had a different colored blanket.

Snow White was so sleepy.

She lay across three beds.

Soon she was fast asleep.

That evening, seven dwarfs came home.

They worked in the diamond mines.

Their names were very special:

Doc, Grumpy, Happy, and Sleepy,

Bashful, Sneezy, and Dopey.

"Someone ate from my plate!" said Doc.

"Someone drank from my cup!" said Grumpy.

"Someone is in our beds!" said Happy.

They all ran upstairs quickly.

There was Snow White, sleeping peacefully.

"She's beautiful!" whispered Bashful.

"Like an angel!" said Happy.

"Achoo!" sneezed Sneezy loudly.

But Snow White didn't wake up.

The next morning, Snow White opened her eyes.

Seven little faces stared at her!

She sat up quickly, frightened.

"Don't be scared," said Doc kindly.

"We won't hurt you, dear."

Snow White told them her sad story.

The dwarfs listened carefully.

Their hearts felt sorry for her.

"You can stay with us!" said Happy.

"We'll keep you safe!" added Doc.

"But you must be careful," warned Grumpy.

"Never open the door to strangers.

The queen might find you here.

Promise us you'll be careful."

Snow White promised right away.

Every day the dwarfs went to work.

Snow White cleaned the cottage.

She cooked yummy meals for them.

She sang while she worked.

The birds helped her clean.

Everyone was happy together.

Back at the palace, the queen asked:

"Mirror, mirror on the wall,

who is the fairest of them all?"

The mirror answered truthfully:

"Snow White is still the fairest.

She lives with seven dwarfs."

The queen screamed with rage!

She decided to kill Snow White herself.

She dressed like an old woman.

She made her back look hunched.

She practiced a sweet, kind voice.

Then she made a special apple.

Half was red and pretty.

Half was white and plain.

The red half had poison in it.

One bite would make someone

fall asleep forever.

The next day, someone knocked.

"Who is it?" called Snow White.

"Just a poor old woman," said a voice.

"I'm selling pretty apples.

Would you like to see them?"

Snow White looked out the window.

She saw a harmless old lady.

The woman held up a shiny apple.

It was the prettiest apple ever!

Snow White's mouth watered.

"I can't open the door," said Snow White.

"That's okay, dear," said the woman.

"Look how safe this apple is!"

She took a bite of the white half.

"See? It's perfectly fine!"

Snow White reached through the window.

She took the beautiful apple.

"Thank you!" she said politely.

She bit into the red half.

Suddenly, everything went black.

Snow White fell to the floor.

When the dwarfs came home,

they found Snow White on the floor.

She wasn't breathing at all.

They tried to wake her up.

They shook her gently.

Nothing worked.

All seven dwarfs cried and cried.

They loved Snow White so much.

Even Grumpy had tears in his eyes.

"She's gone," sobbed Happy.

"Our dear friend is gone."

But Snow White looked so peaceful.

Her cheeks were still rosy.

Her lips were still red.

She looked like she was sleeping.

The dwarfs couldn't bury her.

They made a beautiful glass coffin.

They put it in a flower meadow.

Every day they brought fresh flowers.

They took turns watching over her.

They hoped for a miracle.

One day, a prince rode through the forest.

He was young and handsome.

He saw the glass coffin.

He saw the beautiful girl inside.

His heart skipped a beat.

"Who is she?" he asked the dwarfs.

Doc told him the whole story.

The prince felt so sad.

"May I kiss her goodbye?" he asked.

The dwarfs nodded sadly.

The prince leaned down gently.

He kissed Snow White's lips.

Suddenly, her eyes opened!

She sat up and smiled.

The spell was broken!

True love's kiss saved Snow White!

The dwarfs danced with joy.

They hugged their dear friend.

Happy tears ran down their faces.

Snow White was alive again!

The prince and Snow White fell in love.

They decided to get married.

The seven dwarfs were so excited!

They would be special guests

at the royal wedding.

When the evil queen asked her mirror,

it told her Snow White was alive.

The queen was so angry

that her wicked heart burst.

She fell down dead instantly.

Snow White married her prince.

The seven dwarfs came to live

in the palace with them.

They had their own special rooms.

Everyone was happy forever.

And they all lived happily ever after!