The Wolf and the Seven Little Kids

Once upon a time, in a little house at the edge of a forest, there lived a kind and loving mother goat and her seven little kids. They were a happy family, and the little kids would spend their days playing in the meadow near their home. The mother goat, however, was always concerned for their safety. She had heard stories of the dangerous wolf that roamed the woods, and she knew that he would not hesitate to harm her little ones.

One sunny morning, after the mother goat had finished her chores, she called her children together and gave them a stern warning. “Children, listen to me carefully,” she said. “I must go out to buy some food for our dinner. While I am gone, you must stay inside and keep the door locked. Whatever you do, do not open the door to anyone—especially not to the wolf.”

The kids all promised to obey their mother’s instructions, but the youngest one, a playful and curious little kid named Billy, asked, “But Mother, how will we know if it’s really the wolf who knocks on our door?”

The mother smiled gently at her children. “You will know, dear ones, because the wolf’s voice is rough and growling, and his paws are black and hairy. If anyone comes to the door with a soft, sweet voice and white paws, then it’s safe to open. But if the voice is rough, and the paws are dark and hairy, you must stay away.”

With that, the mother goat kissed each of her little ones on the forehead and left the house, reminding them once more to be careful. As soon as she was gone, the kids settled down inside and busied themselves with their games.

But deep in the forest, the wicked wolf had been watching the house from a distance. He was always on the lookout for a tasty meal, and when he overheard the mother goat’s warning, he thought to himself, That’s exactly what I need! Seven little goats for my dinner!

So, the wolf devised a sneaky plan. He went to the nearby mill and dipped his paws in white flour to make them look soft and harmless. Then, he stood outside the door of the little house and called out in his most gentle voice, “Children, let me in. I’m your mother, and I’ve brought you some treats.”

The little goats, suspicious but unsure, peered through the window. They saw the wolf’s white paws, but they did not recognize his voice. The voice was too rough, and their instincts told them to stay away. “We don’t believe you,” the eldest kid said, shaking his head. “You are not our mother. Your voice is rough, and your paws are black and hairy.”

The wolf growled in frustration, but he didn’t give up. He quickly went back to the mill, dipped his paws in flour again, and tried a new trick. This time, he covered his voice with honey and sugar, making it sound sweet and soothing. When he returned to the door, he tried once more. “Children, open the door! I’ve brought you delicious treats and your favorite snacks. I’m your mother, come back from the market.”

This time, the little goats were more tempted. The voice did sound familiar, but they still weren’t quite sure. The eldest kid said, “Let’s look at your paws first.” When they saw the white paws, they started to feel more convinced. But just before they opened the door, they remembered what their mother had told them about the wolf’s rough voice. The voice was too sweet, too sugary, and they were still wary.

“No! You are not our mother!” they shouted in unison. “You are the wolf!”

Furious, the wolf stamped his feet in anger and ran away from the door. He tried to think of another way to trick the clever little goats, but he knew he had to act fast before they grew suspicious again.

The wolf’s patience was wearing thin, and he went back to the forest for his final plan. He went to the local bakery and asked the baker for some fine white flour. He also bought some bread dough and rubbed it over his paws until they were as soft and white as snow. When the wolf felt sure that his paws would deceive the little goats, he returned to the house with one more disguise.

This time, he knocked at the door, but instead of calling in his rough voice, he whispered softly, “Children, it is your mother. I’ve brought you delicious treats and presents. Open the door, my darlings.”

The little goats, seeing the fine white paws and hearing the soft voice, were almost convinced. However, the eldest kid, who was always the most cautious, told his brothers and sisters to wait. “Let me look at your paws,” he said, “just to be sure.”

The wolf quickly showed his paws through the crack in the door, and the little goats, seeing them now pure white, started to open the door. But just as they were about to unlock it, the eldest kid stepped back and looked closer.

“No!” he cried, his heart racing. “That’s not our mother! Our mother’s paws are soft, but her voice isn’t like that—it’s much gentler. This is the wolf!”

The little goats slammed the door shut just as the wolf pushed to get in. But the wolf had one final trick up his sleeve. He squeezed through the small opening at the side of the house and climbed up onto the roof, intending to sneak down the chimney.

Inside, the little goats were trembling in fear, but the eldest kid had a plan. “We will hide!” he declared. “If the wolf is clever enough to climb down the chimney, we will be clever enough to outwit him!”

As the wolf crept down the chimney, the little goats quickly ran and hid in their hiding spots. The wolf fell down into the fireplace with a loud crash, sending ashes everywhere. When he looked around, he saw nothing but empty corners. The clever little goats had all escaped through the back door!

Frustrated and hungry, the wolf climbed back up the chimney, but by the time he made his way back into the forest, the little goats had already escaped to safety. They ran to the nearby village, where they knew they would be safe from the wolf.

When the mother goat returned, she was relieved to find her children safe and sound. The kids told her all about their adventure with the wolf, and she praised them for their cleverness and bravery. “You have learned to listen carefully and stay safe,” she said with a smile. “You made your mother proud today.”

And so, the wolf, after many failed attempts to catch the little goats, finally gave up and wandered off into the forest, never to bother them again. From that day on, the little goats stayed safe inside their house whenever their mother went out, always remembering the lesson they had learned: to be cautious and listen carefully when danger is near.