The Wolf and the Seven Goats

Once upon a time, in a cozy little cottage nestled at the edge of a dense forest, there lived seven adorable goats with their mother. They spent their days grazing in the meadow and playing among the trees, under the watchful eye of their loving mother.

One sunny morning, as the golden rays of the sun danced through the leaves, Mother Goat had to venture into the forest to gather food for her little ones. Before leaving, she warned them sternly, "Beware of the big bad wolf! He prowls around these woods, waiting for a chance to gobble you up. Keep the door locked and don't open it for anyone but me."

The seven little goats promised to be good and stay safe while their mother was away. With a worried heart, Mother Goat trotted off into the forest, leaving her children behind.

No sooner had Mother Goat disappeared into the woods than a shadowy figure appeared at the edge of the clearing. It was the big bad wolf, his eyes gleaming with hunger as he eyed the delicious goats.

"Little goats, little goats, let me in," he called out in a deceptively sweet voice. "Your mother has sent me to fetch you."

But the clever little goats recognized the wolf's voice and knew better than to trust him. "No, no, no! You're not our mother. Our mother's voice is gentle and sweet, not gruff like yours. Go away, big bad wolf!" they cried in unison, fearfully huddling together inside the cottage.

The wolf, frustrated by the goats' refusal, hatched a cunning plan. He crept around to the back of the cottage and climbed onto the roof, hoping to trick the goats into opening the door.

"Little goats, little goats, let me in," he called again, his voice muffled through the chimney. "Your mother has sent me to fetch you."

This time, the cleverest of the little goats peeked out of the window and spotted the wolf's tail disappearing up the chimney. "Look out, brothers and sisters! It's the big bad wolf trying to trick us. Don't be fooled!" he warned, his voice filled with alarm.

The quick-thinking goats sprang into action. They fetched a big pot of boiling water and placed it under the chimney. Then, with a loud cry of "Now!", they pushed the wolf off the roof and sent him tumbling down into the pot below.

With a yelp of pain, the scalded wolf scrambled out of the pot and fled into the forest, never to bother the goats again.

When Mother Goat returned home, she found her little ones safe and sound, gathered around the table, sharing tales of their adventure and bravery. She hugged each of them tightly, proud of their quick thinking and courage in the face of danger.

And so, the seven little goats learned that as long as they stuck together and stayed true to their instincts, they could overcome any challenge, no matter how big or scary. As the stars twinkled in the night sky, they drifted off to sleep, knowing that they were safe and loved in their cozy little cottage in the heart of the forest.

The End!

Follow-up questions:

• How did the seven little goats recognize the big bad wolf's voice, and why did they refuse to let him in?

• What clever plan did the goats come up with to outsmart the wolf when he tried to enter the cottage through the chimney?

• What lesson did the goats learn from their encounter with the big bad wolf, and how did their actions demonstrate bravery and teamwork?