The Magic Porridge Pot

Quick Answer

Why This Story Works for Bedtime

It’s light and rhythmic, with a big silly ‘oops’ that resolves. The ending is cozy—food, home, and a gentle reminder to listen carefully.

Story Synopsis

A poor widow and her little girl struggle to find enough food. One day the girl meets a kind old woman who gives her a magic porridge pot. With the words “Cook, little pot, cook,” the pot makes warm porridge. With “Stop, little pot, stop,” it ends. For the first time, the small family can eat until they’re satisfied. The girl learns the words, and life becomes easier. But one day, while the girl is away, the mother tries to use the pot and remembers only the cooking phrase. The pot happily begins… and begins… and begins. The house fills. The porch floods. Porridge runs down the street like a warm river. Neighbors are delighted at first—free food!—until it becomes too much. The town turns into a comical porridge disaster. When the girl returns, she knows exactly what to do. She says the stopping words and the flow ends. Everyone laughs, eats their fill, and finally cleans up. The Magic Porridge Pot is a fairy tale about helpful gifts—and the importance of remembering instructions, practicing moderation, and knowing when to say ‘stop.’

Story Excerpt

Once there was a good little girl who lived with her mother in a small, plain house. They were kind and hardworking, but they were very poor. One day their cupboard was almost empty, and their pot on the stove had nothing in it at all. The mother tried to smile anyway, but the girl could see the worry in her eyes. “ I’ll go into the forest, ” the girl said softly. “ Maybe I can find something to help us. ” So she walked along the forest path where the trees made cool shade, and the ground smelled like leaves and earth. Her stomach felt hollow, but she kept going. Before long she met an old woman standing beside the path. The woman’s back was bent, and her hair was white as wool, but her eyes were bright and gentle. “ Little one, ” the old woman said, as if she already knew, “ you look troubled. What is it? ” The girl told her the truth. “ My mother and I don’t have anything left to eat. ” The old woman nodded, as though she had been expecting that answer. Then she reached into her basket and took out a small pot. It was plain, no bigger than a cooking bowl, but it looked clean and sturdy. “ Take this, ” the old woman said. “ It will help you. When you say, ‘ Cook, little pot, cook, ’ it will make good, sweet porridge. And when you say, ‘ Stop, little pot, ’ it will stop at once. ” The girl held the pot carefully with both hands. “ Thank…

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