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Eastern Europe

The Goat with Three Kids

Mother goat warns her kids about a cunning wolf; two are eaten, but the diligent youngest remains safe and helps defeat the wolf.
Consequences
Responsibility
Deception
Romanian Folktales - The Goat with Three Kids
Audio available for B1 version

Once upon a time, in a peaceful valley, there lived a mother goat with her three little kids. The two older kids were playful and mischievous, while the youngest was diligent and obedient.

One day, the mother goat had to go into the forest to gather food. Before she left, she warned her kids, "Keep the door tightly locked, and do not open it unless you hear me singing our special song." The three little kids promised to do as their mother asked.

Just as she was speaking, a cunning wolf was hiding nearby, listening to every word. As soon as the mother goat left, the wolf came to the door and tried to sing the special song.

The oldest kid, eager to see his mom, started to unlock the door. But the youngest kid said, "Wait! That doesn't sound like mother's voice. It's too deep and rough!"

The wolf overheard and decided to fix his voice. The clever wolf went to a nearby stream and drank water until his voice became soft. He returned and tried again, this time with a softer voice. The oldest kid, thinking it was their mother, opened the door despite the youngest one's warning.

But as the door creaked open, the wolf rushed in and swallowed the oldest kid. He then started looking for the other two. The middle kid was hiding in the cupboard, and the youngest in the fireplace. The wolf found the one in the cupboard and ate him too, but he couldn't find the youngest kid. Finally, the tired wolf left the house.

The little one, terrified but safe, locked the door again and wept for his lost brothers.

Just then, their real mother returned from the forest, singing their special song. The youngest kid, relieved to see his mother, immediately opened the door and narrated the terrible incident. The mother goat, filled with rage and sorrow, swore to teach the wolf a lesson.

She cooked delicious food and dug a deep pit in her garden. She covered it with wooden boards and placed a chair on top. Then, she invited the wolf to her house the next day. The unsuspecting wolf, still greedy for the last kid, agreed.

When the wolf sat down to eat, he fell into the pit! "Please, save me! I feel like I'm burning inside!" the wolf cried.

"No," said the mother goat. "You made my heart burn when you took my kids. Now, it's your turn!"

The mother goat and her youngest kid then filled the pit with rocks until the wicked wolf was no more. The news of the wolf's defeat spread across the forest, bringing relief to all the goats. And from then on, the mother goat and her youngest kid lived peacefully, always remembering the importance of obedience and caution.

Once upon a super-duper fun time in a valley—where everything's cool and everyone's happy—a Mommy Goat lived with her three little kiddos. The first two were like little firecrackers, always running around and having fun. The youngest one was the careful type, the one who always listens.

Before heading out to the forest to pick up some munchies, Mommy Goat tells her kiddos, "Now, you guys better keep that door locked, okay? Don't open it for anyone except me, and you'll know it's me 'cause I'll sing our special family song. Deal?"

The kids all nod. "You bet, Mom! We won’t open the door for anyone but you!"

Now, here's the twist: a sly wolf hears the whole thing! He thinks he’s so smart, waiting for Mommy Goat to leave so he can trick the kiddos. As soon as Mommy Goat is out of sight, the wolf comes up to the door and tries to sing. The oldest kid is super excited, "Mom's back! Yay!" But the youngest says, "Hold your horses! That sounds like Mom if she had a frog in her throat!"

Mr. Wolf hears this and thinks, "Hmm, maybe some water will fix my voice." So, he runs to a stream, drinks a whole bunch, and comes back with his "new voice."

The oldest is like, "Yeah, that's Mom for sure this time!" But the youngest says, "Don’t do it! Something’s fishy!"

Too late. The oldest opens the door, and in comes the wolf! Gobble, gobble—there goes the oldest! Then he sniffs out the middle one hiding in a cupboard. Gobble, gobble, again! But the youngest? He's a smarty-pants; he hides in the fireplace where the wolf can't find him. Finally, the wolf gives up and leaves.

The youngest locks the door back up and starts to cry a little. But just then, Mommy Goat is back, singing the real family song. He opens the door, "Oh, Mom, you won't believe what happened!"

Mommy Goat gets really mad. "That wolf is in for a surprise!"

They cook up the most yummy-smelling food ever and dig a big hole in the garden. They cover it with wooden boards and put a chair on top. Then they invite the wolf over for dinner.

The wolf can't resist. "Food? I’m in!"

He sits down to eat, but—whoopsie-daisy!—down he goes into the pit!

"Help me, help me! It's hot in here!" the wolf yells.

Mommy Goat says, "You made me feel super bad when you ate my kids, so it's only fair!"

They fill the hole with rocks, and the mean old wolf is gone for good. Everyone in the forest hears about it and throws a big party, just for goats though.

So, Mommy Goat and her youngest kiddo live happily ever after, always being careful and smart. And they never, ever forget to listen to Mommy Goat's special family song. The end!

In a valley calm and fair,
A mama goat lived with kids three, each with tufts of hair.
Two were cheeky, loved their pranks,
But the littlest one always said, "Thanks!"

Mommy Goat said, "Kids, I'll roam
The forest wide, to bring food home.
Lock the door, don't let it crack,
'Til you hear our special tune, when I get back."

Close by, a sneaky wolf did spy,
Dreaming of a goat-filled pie.
Mom left, and he tried to sing,
But his voice was more of a croaky thing.

Big Kid reached to turn the lock,
Littlest said, "Stop! That's not mom, that's a rock!"
Wolf heard this and thought, "I'll fix
My voice with stream water, blend in like a mix."

He drank, returned, and tried anew,
Big Kid thought mom was back—oh, if he only knew!
The door swung open, wolf dashed in fast,
Swallowed Big Kid; oh, how he didn't last!

Middle hid in a cupboard near,
Littlest in the fireplace, trembling with fear.
Wolf found Middle, oh so quick,
But Littlest stayed hidden, that was his trick.

Weary wolf gave up and fled,
Littlest locked the door, eyes swollen and red.
Just then, a song filled the air so sweet,
It was Mommy Goat, with forest treats!

He opened the door, tears in his eyes,
Told his mom of the wolf's cruel lies.
Mommy Goat felt sorrow, but then she thought,
"I'll teach that wolf the lesson he ought to be taught."

She cooked a feast, dug a pit quite deep,
Laid boards on top, then called wolf for a meal to keep.
Wolf sat to dine, his greed his downfall,
Into the pit he went, losing it all.

"Save me," cried wolf, "I feel a fiery yearn!"
Mom said, "You made my heart burn.
You took my kids, now it's your turn."

With rocks they filled the pit so high,
No more wicked wolf to make them cry.
Word spread fast through trees and stones,
In the valley, you'd hear just happy tones.

Mom and Littlest knew from then,
Obedience and caution were their truest friends.
In the valley fair, under sky so grand,
They lived their days, the happiest in the land.

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Understanding Questions

Reflection Questions

  1. Why do you think the youngest kid didn't open the door when the wolf tried to sound like their mother?
  2. How did the youngest kid's carefulness and obedience help save him from the wolf?
  3. Can you recall a situation where being cautious and listening to advice helped you avoid trouble?
  4. What does this story tell us about the importance of recognizing and listening to trusted voices?
  5. How can we use the lessons from this story to be more careful and attentive in our everyday lives?

Fable Quotes

Disobedience unlocks the door to consequences that can devour the joys of life.
When trusted with a task, hold it close to heart.
False voices may trick the ear, but they can't fool a wise heart.
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