← Back to all Modern Day Fairytales
📚 This is Book 2 of 5 in the Modern Day Fairytales. Every book is a complete story, so you can read them in any order.
1. The Piper of Puddingham → 2. Hansel and Gretel and the Gingerbread Café → 3. Ella and the Midnight Disco → 4. Jack and the Sky-High Beanstalk → 5. Little Red and the Very Hungry Wolf
🛒 Buy your copy
Paperbacks are printed to order in the UK and delivered in 4–7 working days. Ebooks (EPUB) download instantly after checkout.
Some sweets are too good to be true.
Hari and Greta were never supposed to go into Witchwood. But a runaway puppy, a trail of cheesy puffs and some very greedy crows leave them hopelessly lost.
So when they find a café made of gingerbread, run by the smiliest lady they have ever met, it seems too good to be true.
It is. One bite of Mrs Honeycomb’s Forget-Me-Fudge and Hari can’t even remember his own name. Can six-year-old Greta and a very special family song bring everybody home?
A read-aloud chapter book for ages 4–8 · 10 bedtime-sized chapters · 8,000 words · Text only, no illustrations
Bedtime tips for grown-ups
- Make up a tune for the family song, “Walker, Walker, home we go”, and sing it every time it appears.
- Mrs Honeycomb should sound sweet as syrup, at least at first.
- Ask your listener what they would do if they got lost. It’s a natural way to talk about staying with a grown-up.
- Little brothers and sisters will love that it’s the younger sibling who saves the day.
💛 Why kids love it
- A café built entirely of gingerbread, with doors made of chocolate.
- Greta, the six-year-old who is braver than she thinks.
- A magic fudge that makes you forget, and a family song that makes you remember.
- A witch who gets a second chance to be kind.
- Just enough tension to be exciting, always followed by comfort.
Who is Hansel and Gretel and the Gingerbread Café for?
Hansel and Gretel and the Gingerbread Café is a magical read-aloud chapter book for children aged 4 to 8. It is ideal for brothers and sisters, and for families who enjoy a little gentle suspense at bedtime with a warm, reassuring ending.
Themes in the story
- Brothers and sisters looking after each other.
- Being careful of things that seem too good to be true.
- The power of family, home and belonging.
- Kindness and second chances.
Is Hansel and Gretel and the Gingerbread Café right for my child? A parent’s guide
This is a gentle retelling of Hansel and Gretel. There is mild suspense when the children are lost and when Mrs Honeycomb’s fudge makes Hari forget, but nobody is hurt and there are no ovens or frightening scenes. The witch is defeated by cleverness and becomes a kind baker.
Frequently asked questions
What age is Hansel and Gretel and the Gingerbread Café for?
It is written to be read aloud to children aged 4 to 8, and confident readers aged 7 to 9 can enjoy it on their own.
Is it too scary for young children?
No. It has a little gentle tension, but the scary parts of the original tale have been left out and every chapter ends somewhere safe enough for sleep.
How many chapters are there?
Ten chapters, each about five to seven minutes long when read aloud.
Does the book have pictures?
No. It is a text-only chapter book designed to spark your child’s imagination.
How much does Hansel and Gretel and the Gingerbread Café cost?
The paperback is £6.99, printed to order in the UK, with free UK delivery on orders over £25. The ebook is £2.99 and downloads instantly.