Mother Holle

An illustrated tales story from Wonder Tales — free to read, with narration.

Mother Holle — an illustrated tales story. 10 illustrated pages, free to read on Wonder Tales.

Mother Holle — book cover — Wonder Tales
Mother Holle — an illustrated tales story. 10 illustrated pages, free to read on Wonder Tales.

Page 1

Greta and Elara were sisters, as different as honey and ash. Greta, sweet and fair, toiled endlessly while Elara, favored and cruel, mocked her every effort.
Greta and Elara were sisters, as different as honey and ash. Greta, sweet and fair, toiled endlessly while Elara, favored and cruel, mocked her every effort. Their bakery wasn't merely a shop filled with tempting aromas; it held doors unlocked by secret recipes, each leading to realms unknown. But the realm of Mother Holle, where gold and ash await, demanded a choice—kindness or scorn.

Greta and Elara were sisters, as different as honey and ash. Greta, sweet and fair, toiled endlessly while Elara, favored and cruel, mocked her every effort. Their bakery wasn't merely a shop filled with tempting aromas; it held doors unlocked by secret recipes, each leading to realms unknown. But the realm of Mother Holle, where gold and ash await, demanded a choice—kindness or scorn.

Page 2

One sweltering afternoon, Greta sat spinning wool near the well. "Hurry, girl!" Elara snapped. "The customers won't wait for dreams!" Greta sighed, and as she…
One sweltering afternoon, Greta sat spinning wool near the well. "Hurry, girl!" Elara snapped. "The customers won't wait for dreams!" Greta sighed, and as she leaned over, the spindle slipped from her tired fingers and tumbled into the dark water. Elara stormed, "Clumsy fool! Now fetch it, or you'll sleep with the rats!"

One sweltering afternoon, Greta sat spinning wool near the well. "Hurry, girl!" Elara snapped. "The customers won't wait for dreams!" Greta sighed, and as she leaned over, the spindle slipped from her tired fingers and tumbled into the dark water. Elara stormed, "Clumsy fool! Now fetch it, or you'll sleep with the rats!"

Page 3

Fear turned to resolve. Greta knew the stories: gold awaited those who served, but cruelty brought ruin. She plunged into the well's icy depths.
Fear turned to resolve. Greta knew the stories: gold awaited those who served, but cruelty brought ruin. She plunged into the well's icy depths. Down, down she swam, the world above fading into a distant memory. She finally reached the bottom, clutching the spindle—and found not the muddy floor, but a shimmering, light-filled passage.

Fear turned to resolve. Greta knew the stories: gold awaited those who served, but cruelty brought ruin. She plunged into the well's icy depths. Down, down she swam, the world above fading into a distant memory. She finally reached the bottom, clutching the spindle—and found not the muddy floor, but a shimmering, light-filled passage.

Page 4

Greta emerged into a strange land, where ovens called to her. "Pull me out!" one cried, its door bulging. "Or my bread will burn!" Greta hesitated, for the oven…
Greta emerged into a strange land, where ovens called to her. "Pull me out!" one cried, its door bulging. "Or my bread will burn!" Greta hesitated, for the oven was heavy and hot. But recalling the bread's sweet fragrance from her own bakery, she heaved open the door and pulled out a batch of perfectly golden loaves.

Greta emerged into a strange land, where ovens called to her. "Pull me out!" one cried, its door bulging. "Or my bread will burn!" Greta hesitated, for the oven was heavy and hot. But recalling the bread's sweet fragrance from her own bakery, she heaved open the door and pulled out a batch of perfectly golden loaves.

Page 5

Further on, an apple tree groaned under the weight of its ripe fruit. "Shake me!" it begged. "My branches will break!" Elara's voice echoed in Greta's mind…
Further on, an apple tree groaned under the weight of its ripe fruit. "Shake me!" it begged. "My branches will break!" Elara's voice echoed in Greta's mind, urging her to ignore the burden. But Greta remembered the tart sweetness of apple pies, and with a kind heart, shook the tree until every apple fell.

Further on, an apple tree groaned under the weight of its ripe fruit. "Shake me!" it begged. "My branches will break!" Elara's voice echoed in Greta's mind, urging her to ignore the burden. But Greta remembered the tart sweetness of apple pies, and with a kind heart, shook the tree until every apple fell.

Page 6

Finally, she reached a cottage. A kind, ancient woman with snow-white hair sat spinning by the window. "Welcome, Greta," Mother Holle said, her voice like the…
Finally, she reached a cottage. A kind, ancient woman with snow-white hair sat spinning by the window. "Welcome, Greta," Mother Holle said, her voice like the rustling of leaves. "You've proven yourself worthy. Now, help me with my chores, and earn your reward."

Finally, she reached a cottage. A kind, ancient woman with snow-white hair sat spinning by the window. "Welcome, Greta," Mother Holle said, her voice like the rustling of leaves. "You've proven yourself worthy. Now, help me with my chores, and earn your reward."

Page 7

"What must I do?" Greta asked. Mother Holle smiled. "Each day, you must shake my featherbeds. When the feathers fly, it snows on earth.
"What must I do?" Greta asked. Mother Holle smiled. "Each day, you must shake my featherbeds. When the feathers fly, it snows on earth. Do this faithfully, and your worth will shine." Greta smiled, remembering a quote from Maya Angelou: "'Nothing will work unless you do.' And I will work, and my kindness will shine."

"What must I do?" Greta asked. Mother Holle smiled. "Each day, you must shake my featherbeds. When the feathers fly, it snows on earth. Do this faithfully, and your worth will shine." Greta smiled, remembering a quote from Maya Angelou: "'Nothing will work unless you do.' And I will work, and my kindness will shine."

Page 8

For many months, Greta shook the beds. She worked with diligence and a pure heart. One day, Mother Holle declared, "Your time is done.
For many months, Greta shook the beds. She worked with diligence and a pure heart. One day, Mother Holle declared, "Your time is done. Choose your reward." Elara's image flashed in Greta's mind, greedy and envious. With a deep breath, Greta said, "I wish only to return home."

For many months, Greta shook the beds. She worked with diligence and a pure heart. One day, Mother Holle declared, "Your time is done. Choose your reward." Elara's image flashed in Greta's mind, greedy and envious. With a deep breath, Greta said, "I wish only to return home."

Page 9

As Greta stepped through the doorway, gold rained down upon her, covering her from head to toe. "This is for your kindness," Mother Holle called.
As Greta stepped through the doorway, gold rained down upon her, covering her from head to toe. "This is for your kindness," Mother Holle called. Greta returned to the bakery, radiant and wealthy. Seeing Greta's fortune, Elara, consumed by envy, demanded to go to Mother Holle as well. She leaped into the well, hoping for easy riches.

As Greta stepped through the doorway, gold rained down upon her, covering her from head to toe. "This is for your kindness," Mother Holle called. Greta returned to the bakery, radiant and wealthy. Seeing Greta's fortune, Elara, consumed by envy, demanded to go to Mother Holle as well. She leaped into the well, hoping for easy riches.

Page 10

Elara, however, refused to work. She was rude, lazy, and scornful. When she returned, not gold, but ash fell upon her, clinging to her skin and soul.
Elara, however, refused to work. She was rude, lazy, and scornful. When she returned, not gold, but ash fell upon her, clinging to her skin and soul. The ash could never be washed away. And so, Greta continued to bake, her kindness a light in the bakery, while Elara remained forever marked by her greed. In their family and neighborhood, all remembered that true wealth lies in a kind heart.

Elara, however, refused to work. She was rude, lazy, and scornful. When she returned, not gold, but ash fell upon her, clinging to her skin and soul. The ash could never be washed away. And so, Greta continued to bake, her kindness a light in the bakery, while Elara remained forever marked by her greed. In their family and neighborhood, all remembered that true wealth lies in a kind heart.

About this story

  • Audience: kids (ages 6–12)

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