The Story
Once upon a time, in a faraway kingdom, a king and queen wished for a child. One winter day, the queen sat sewing by a window with a frame of dark wood, watching the snow fall. She pricked her finger, and three drops of blood fell on the snow. She wished for a child with skin as white as snow, lips as red as blood, and hair as black as the dark wood. Before long, a baby girl was born, and they named her Snow White.
Not long after, the queen passed away. Eventually, the king married again. The new queen was beautiful, but she was also proud and cruel. She owned a magic mirror and often stood in front of it to ask, “Mirror, mirror on the wall, who is the fairest of them all?” The mirror always answered that she was the fairest, and that made her very happy.
Snow White grew up kind, gentle, and lovely. As she got older, her beauty began to shine in a quiet and natural way. One day, when the queen asked the mirror her usual question, the mirror replied that Snow White was now the fairest in the land.
The queen was filled with jealousy. She could not stand the idea that anyone could be more beautiful than her. She called a huntsman and ordered him to take Snow White into the forest and get rid of her. Though the huntsman was loyal to the queen, he was not a bad man.
He led Snow White deep into the forest, but when it came time to follow the queen’s command, he could not do it. Snow White’s gentle tears and innocence touched his heart. He told her the truth about the queen’s order and told her to run far away and never return to the castle. Then he left her there, alone but alive.
Snow White wandered through the forest, frightened by every rustling leaf and every snapping twig. After a long while, she came upon a small cottage with a pointed roof and seven tiny chairs around a little table. Inside, everything was neat but small, as if it belonged to children.
She was exhausted, so she tasted a little food from each plate, drank a small sip from each cup, and then lay down to rest. The seven little beds upstairs were too small for her to stretch out, so she lay across them and fell into a deep sleep.
As night fell, seven dwarfs came home from working in the nearby mountains. They mined for gems and metals all day and returned to the cottage each evening. When they went inside, they noticed that someone had been there. Their food had been tasted, their chairs moved, and upstairs they found Snow White fast asleep across their beds.
Instead of being angry, they were curious. When she woke up and told them her story, the dwarfs felt sorry for her and decided to help. They offered her a home and said, “If you keep the house tidy, cook, and be our friend, you may stay here and be safe.” Snow White gratefully agreed.
She lived happily with the seven dwarfs. She cooked for them, kept the cottage clean, and they, in return, cared for her as their dear friend. However, danger had not disappeared. Back at the castle, the queen once again stood before her magic mirror, expecting it to say that she was now the fairest.
Instead, the mirror told her that Snow White was still alive, living with seven dwarfs in a cottage in the forest, and that Snow White was the fairest in the land. The queen’s jealousy burned even stronger. She decided that if she wanted Snow White gone, she would have to do it herself.
The queen disguised herself as an old peddler woman and went into the forest to find Snow White. When she reached the dwarfs’ cottage and saw Snow White inside, she offered to sell her pretty ribbons and laces. Snow White, who was kind and trusting, let the old woman in.
The disguised queen laced Snow White’s dress too tightly, so Snow White could not breathe and collapsed. The queen left her there, thinking she had succeeded. But when the dwarfs came home, they found Snow White lying on the floor and quickly loosened her laces. She took a deep breath and woke up. The dwarfs warned her never to let anyone in when they were gone.
The queen later returned to the mirror, expecting to hear that she was now the fairest. Instead, the mirror once again told her that Snow White was alive and still the fairest. Furious, the queen tried again. This time she disguised herself and offered Snow White a poisoned comb. Snow White allowed the woman to comb her hair, and the poison made her fall unconscious.
Again, the dwarfs arrived in time. They removed the comb, and Snow White woke up. The dwarfs were more worried than ever. They begged her not to open the door to anyone and to be very careful.
The queen spoke to the mirror for a third time and still heard that Snow White was the fairest. Now she was determined to end things once and for all. She prepared a bright red apple, beautiful on the outside but poisoned inside. One bite would put Snow White into a deep sleep.
Then the queen disguised herself as a simple old woman who looked very harmless. She went back to the dwarfs’ cottage and called to Snow White from outside the door, offering her the apple.
Snow White remembered the dwarfs’ warnings and did not want to let anyone in. The queen, pretending to be kind and harmless, suggested that they each take a bite from the apple, to show it was safe. She had prepared the apple so that only Snow White’s side was poisoned.
Seeing the old woman take a bite from the unpoisoned side, Snow White believed it was all right. She opened the door, took the other half, and bit into it. The poison worked immediately, and Snow White fell to the floor, as if dead.
When the dwarfs came home, they could not wake her. Her cheeks were still red, and she still looked beautiful, as though she were only sleeping. They were heartbroken. Believing she was gone, they could not bear to bury her in the ground. Instead, they made a clear glass coffin, laid her gently inside, and kept watch over her on a hill in the forest.
Time passed, and one day a prince riding through the forest saw the coffin on the hill. He was struck by Snow White’s beauty and felt a deep sadness that such a kind and lovely girl appeared to be lost forever. He asked the dwarfs if he could take the coffin to his castle, so that he could honor her and keep her memory safe.
The dwarfs, seeing his genuine kindness, agreed. As the prince’s servants carried the coffin, they stumbled slightly over a rock. The movement caused the piece of poisoned apple to shift in Snow White’s throat. She coughed softly, opened her eyes, and sat up, alive again.
The prince and the dwarfs were amazed and overjoyed. Snow White told them what she remembered, and the prince gently explained how she had been watched and cared for while she slept. Grateful to be alive and safe, Snow White accepted the prince’s invitation to go to his castle.
In time, Snow White and the prince were married, and the dwarfs were honored guests. The cruel queen, who could not see beyond her jealousy, lost the attention she craved and faded from the story. Snow White’s kindness and inner beauty were what truly lasted and were remembered by all.
Lessons Kids Can Learn
- True beauty comes from kindness
The queen cared only about being the most beautiful on the outside. Snow White was kind, gentle, and caring to everyone she met. The story shows that inner qualities like kindness, honesty, and warmth are what make someone truly beautiful, not just their appearance. - Jealousy can hurt everyone, including the person who feels it
The queen’s jealousy made her bitter, cruel, and lonely. Instead of celebrating Snow White’s joy, she tried to destroy it. Jealousy often hurts others first, but it also damages the heart of the person who refuses to let go of it. - Listen to people who want to protect you
The seven dwarfs warned Snow White several times to be careful and not open the door to strangers. When she ignored their warnings, she got into serious trouble. Good advice from people who truly care about us can keep us safe. - Do not trust every stranger, even if they seem kind
The queen disguised herself as a harmless old woman to trick Snow White. This teaches children to be cautious and thoughtful. Someone’s kind words or pleasant appearance do not always mean they are safe or honest. - Goodness attracts good friends
Snow White’s gentle nature made the dwarfs want to help and protect her. When we are kind, respectful, and helpful to others, we are more likely to form strong friendships with people who will stand by us in hard times. - People can care about you even when you are not aware of it
While Snow White lay in her deep sleep, the dwarfs watched over her, and later the prince honored her memory. This reminds children that they are loved and cared for even when they do not see or notice every act of care. - Doing what is right matters more than following wrong orders
The huntsman was given a cruel order, but his conscience told him it was wrong. He chose to spare Snow White’s life instead. This teaches that doing what is right, even when it is hard or scary, is more important than obeying wrong commands. - Envy cannot win over courage and love
The queen tried again and again to harm Snow White because of envy. Yet, Snow White’s courage, the dwarfs’ loyalty, and the prince’s love all worked together to protect her. In the end, it was kindness and love that lasted, not envy and cruelty. - Mistakes can be powerful teachers
Snow White’s trust in the disguised queen put her in danger more than once. These were serious mistakes, but they also show that we must learn from what goes wrong. Learning to be more careful and wise is part of growing up. - Hope can appear when things seem darkest
When Snow White lay in the glass coffin, it looked as if all hope was gone. Yet, that was not the end. A small accident while moving the coffin changed everything. This teaches children that even when a situation seems hopeless, change can still happen and good surprises can appear.
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs reminds children that kindness, courage, and wisdom matter far more than looks, power, or jealousy. It shows that people who care for each other, listen to good advice, and choose what is right can overcome even the darkest plans.
