The Magic Porridge Pot

Ladybird – Well Loved Tales Series 606D #1.11

by Jacob Grimm, Wilhelm Grimm, Vera Southgate

Aimed at children aged four and over, this classic story, accompanied by charming and highly appealing illustrations, is retold with simple text to delight and inspire any child who is just beginning to read.

Genres: Childrens, Picture Books, Fantasy, Fiction, Fairy Tales, Short Stories, Classics

50 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1812

About the author

German philologist and folklorist Jakob Ludwig Karl Grimm in 1822 formulated Grimm's Law, the basis for much of modern comparative linguistics. With his brother Wilhelm Karl Grimm (1786-1859), he collected Germanic folk tales and published them as Grimm's Fairy Tales (1812-1815).

Indo-European stop consonants, represented in Germanic, underwent the regular changes that Grimm's Law describes; this law essentially states that Indo-European p shifted to Germanic f, t shifted to th, and k shifted to h. Indo-European b shifted to Germanic p, d shifted to t, and g shifted to k. Indo-European bh shifted to Germanic b, dh shifted to d, and gh shifted to g.

This jurist and mythologist also authored the monumental German Dictionary and his Deutsche Mythologie .

Adapted from Wikipedia.

Reviews

[Jan-Maat]

The season brings my mind to thoughts of porridge, and porridge leads me back to this children's book.

A book I read when I was small, the heart warming tale of how a magic porridge pot was misused, causing a village to be drowned by a slow flowing, still growing, flood of porridge.

As I remember it, and this may be wishful thinking, later travellers had to eat their way through the cold, solid mess of porridge to get through the other side of the village (which presumably lay in a dell or hollow of some kind).

There are similar stories involving magic salt cellars and other hard to acquire household gadgets.

The best thing to add to porridge, I find, is some scraps of left over roast chicken, but mind you, I also imagine doughnuts with a cheese filling. So make of that what you will.

[Clare O'Beara · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this when we were small, the little hardback was enjoyable and well illustrated. This one was seen as a tale for girls, who were given stories about princesses and sleeping beauties. In general boys were clearly expected to go out and have adventures. Girls were not, or they met savage beasts in the forest. This one shows a woman at home making porridge but other townsfolk are involved.
I think it's important to tell the old fairytales to children as otherwise they won't know the stories in today's jumble of other entertainments and games.
This is an unbiased review.

[Documentally · Rating 4 out of 5]

As I entered Hunts bookshop in Rugby. I stood there for a moment and gawped at this book which I haven't seen since the 70s. As I stood there reading it I could hear my late mothers voice.

The ending was a little weak. I was hoping for some kind of metaphor on the state of society and our overconsumption. Still, the warm fuzzy feeling I got while reading it made it all worthwhile.

[Saleh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Even though this was not the fantasy book I read the book showed if you worked hard you will get what you want. One example is when the wood cutter saw The pot and he said that it was too heavy to carry he still carried in knowing that it would be worth it as he walked home and the one axe he put inside it doubled the pot doubles down every thing so he put his money his home and his wife in their

[Jane Scholey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Finding I’m in love with all my old Ladybird books again.

[Theresa · Rating 3 out of 5]

a story of acceptance and reliance

[Andrea Lewis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very cute variation of "Sweet Porridge" from the Brothers Grimm collections. I like that there are separate lessons being taught: generosity is rewarded while greed is punished. The illustrations are very nice. Something I noticed in particular was how sweet and friendly the witch looks!

[Lynn Smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rediscovered this with my young niece

[Katie Pescod · Rating 4 out of 5]

Entertaining book about a ginormous porridge disaster!

[Polly Batchelor · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Cook, little pot, cook! It will cook some very good porridge for you."

[Mitchell Seth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent illustrations

[R J · Rating 1 out of 5]

Genuinely the most terrifying book I have ever read. I was in reception class when this horror left its indelible mark on my psyche.

[Georgina Nutt · Rating 3 out of 5]

A traditional tale that touches on children's feelings of worry, delight and empathy. It is a short story ideal for young children with active imaginations.

[Mary]

German folktale

[Jen · Rating 5 out of 5]

drove over my to my parents to read this cause it was one of my fav childhood books

[s · Rating 4 out of 5]

أخيراً قصة أطفال قديمة حلوه بدون رعب او قسوة 😂⭐️🫱🏼‍🫲🏻

[Donna · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful book from my childhood. I remember the wonder I felt reading and looking at the illustrations as a child. I have since purchased a copy for my 4 year old daughter who loves porridge! I will talk to her about the light-hearted ending and all the other possible situations that might result from this...such as all the people had plenty to eat and share in the end. 5* book!

[JaNeal · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a traditional tale that I have read numerous times in many variations. When my boy asked me to read it with him over and over again, I decided it deserved a place on my Goodreads shelf. Like many traditional tales, it has a strong sense of right and wrong and justice being served. This is a great book for emerging readers--a good fit in both language and psychology.

[Bettie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had to read this over and over and over and over and over and over and over. This and Chicken Licken. What is it with youngsters and repetition lol

[Tina · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lovely and memorable story.

[Jenks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a great children's tale .

I remember from my own childhood and recommend

[Sarah Baines · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't mind admitting that when I first read The Magic Porridge Pot as a child, it put me off porridge for decades.

Edited 6/12/25 - This book has just put me off porridge again!

[Jessica Sharland · Rating 3 out of 5]

A traditional tale story about greed and theft.

[Hm · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good💝

[Sarthak Agarwal · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was a lovely book but the boy the stole the porridge pot in the last the girl came and shut down the pot❤️❤️❤️❤️

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was one of my favourite books as a kid. I picked this up on a whim second hand and had such a good time getting lost back in that nostalgia. Even though I don't remember this book being so short! What a fun and completely bizarre story that I still love.