***

Hansel and his younger sister Gretel, lived with their father and stepmother near a forest. One day, their father, who was a poor woodcutter, said to his wife, "We do not have enough money to buy food for all of us."

"Let us leave the children in the forest," said his wife.

The shocked woodcutter cried, "I can do no such thing."

"Then all of us will die of hunger," said his wife. The woodcutter still did not agree.

"I would take them to the forest myself," said his wife.

What sort of mother would take their children to the forest because she can't feed them? Terrible rights? Let's find out what happens next.

The next morning, the children's stepmother woke them up and said, "Come with me to the forest to collect firewood." While walking, Hansel dropped pebbles along the path. After a while, they reached the middle of the forest. Hansel had eavesdropped on his parent's conversation and he knew the plan.

"Wait here while I collect the firewood," their stepmother told them, but she never returned. Soon, Hansel and Gretel fell asleep and I woke up when it was dark, still in the middle of the forest. Let's find out what happens.

Gretel was scared. "How will we return home?" She cried.

Hold my hand, Hansel told her. Hansel and Gretel followed the white pebbles that shone in the moonlight and found their way home. Their stepmother was shocked to see them, but their father was delighted. So for the next few days, Hansel and Gretel's stepmother tried to dump them in the forest and escape. But Hansel always had a plan, until, one day, this happened.

Hansel had put breadcrumbs on the path to take them home. But when their stepmother had gone, Hansel tried to find the breadcrumbs that he had dropped earlier, but he could not find any of them, because the birds had eaten them.

The children tried to find their way home, but they were lost. Then they saw a little cottage. It was made of chocolates and cakes. The hungry children broke some chocolates and started eating them. Suddenly the door to the cottage opened. An ugly old woman came out and cried, "Who is nibbling at my house?"

When the woman saw Hansel and Gretel, she cried, "Oh it's you! Dear children, come in."

The poor children did not know the old woman was actually a witch, who ate children. They went inside the chocolate cottage. Immediately, the witch locked Hansel in a cage, roast some chicken for Hansel.

"Once he grows fat, I will eat him," the witch told Gretel. That must have been a very terrible situation to be in.

Being locked in a cage by a witch and being fed, just like a chicken is fed and fattened to be slaughtered during the holiday. What happens? Let's find out.

The witch had become impatient. She told Gretel, "I will eat Hansel today. Check if the oven is hot."

"I don't know how to do it," said Gretel.

"Watch, miss silly girl," cried the witch.

When the witch opened the door of the oven, Gretel pushed her inside and shut the door. Then she freed Hansel. The witch's cottage was filled with jewels. The children decided to take some to their father. Soon, they found their way back home. The woodcutter was overjoyed to see them. Their step mother was gone as she could not bear the poverty any longer. But now, the woodcutter and his children were rich. They lived happily ever after.

Such a beautiful story, and we see the perseverance of Hansel and Gretel and how they were able to creatively think their way out of trouble. They didn't panic because they creatively found a way out of trouble. Their father loved them and was glad to have them back, at the end of their adventures in the forest. Good resourcefulness there, Hansel and Gretel, and I hope we've taken an important lesson from this story.

Farewell for now.

***

This marks the end of season one of Jolly Reading with Mr. Namse. I hope we've enjoyed all those stories and folktales told over the last one year. I promise you, I'll be back and better. You can follow my social media handles Twitter @namse on Facebook, @Namse Peter Udosen. On Instagram, @namselicious for more updates on my activities on literacy and reading. I promise you I'll be back, stronger and better in season two, with more beautiful stories and lessons to be learnt, with Jolly Reading with Mr. Namse.

Bye.

You can grab yourself a copy of the book from Amazon here. You can also recommend more stories for Namse to read on the show. Just send him an email over at namse.udosen@ayambalitcast.com, or message him on one of our social media channels. 

If you like the story, grab yourself a copy of Do As You're Told Baji! from Ouida Books here.

To recommend books for Namse to read on the show, send him an email over at namse.udosen@ayambalitcast.com.

To recommend books for Namse to read, send him an email over at namse.udosen@ayambalitcast.com.

Want to hear Namse read your favourite children's story or folktale? Then let him know via email at namse.udosen@ayambalitcast.com.

In the fifth episode of the Jolly Reading - World Folktale and Fables Week Special, we are regaled with a tale from Calabar titled, The Hawk and the Owl. Discover why hawks have a taste for a particular prey.

This tale was narrated by Jessica Chat Paul. Enjoy!

On the sixth and final episode of the Jolly Reading - World Folktale and Fables Week Special, we do something a little different. Namse brings you the tale titled, Kaza da Mage. It was narrated by Saadatu Malumfashi and Elina Augustine Jiwul in Hausa and English respectively.

Enjoy and let us know what you think.

This is the first episode in a series of six (6). It is a folktale about Oduduwa and his brother, Obatala and how they were sent down from the skies by Olodumare in order to create Earth.

This piece was read by Mandrel Mykels. Enjoy!

In the second episode of the World Folktale and Fables Week Special, we explore the myth behind the natural, fluid pattern on a tortoise’s shell. The tale includes feasts in the sky and much more.

This piece was narrated by Nabilah. Enjoy!

In the third episode of the World Folktale and Fables Week Special, we discover the tale of The Sun and the Sea. Ever wondered why there is so much distance between the sun and the sea? Then listen to this episode.

This piece was narrated by Blessing Akpan. Enjoy!

In episode four of the Jolly Reading - World Folktale and Fables Week Special, we find ourselves whisked to the land of the Ibibio. The cunning Tortoise returns with new tricks up his sleeves and this time he has his sights set on Hippo. Listen to the show to find out how the story unfolds. 

This tale was narrated by Namse Udosen. Enjoy!

Enjoy!

It is a tale that will leave you gasping with laughter. As usual, tortoise does not disappoint. Do listen!

Listen to this introduction as Namse whets your appetite in expectation of what is to come.

Enjoy!