The Wolf and the Kids – The Full Version of a Russian Folk Tale
The folk tale "The Wolf and the Kids" tells the story of the sly wolf who tried to trick his way into the house of the kids. A full text of an exciting and moral tale.
Description: A Russian folk tale about the clever wolf and the kids, whom he tried to trick. This story teaches caution, cleverness, and mutual assistance. Read the full text of the tale!
Once upon a time, there lived a goat, and she had seven kids. She loved her children dearly and always took care of them. One day, the goat went to the forest to gather grass and water for dinner. Before leaving, she strictly warned her kids:
– Kids, do not let anyone in the house, especially the wolf. If he gets in, he will eat you all. I will come back and knock like this: "Tuki-tuki, kids, I am your mama! I’ve brought you some milk!"
The kids promised to be cautious, locked the door, and the goat left. The wolf, passing by, overheard her words and decided to trick the kids. He approached the house, knocked, and in a rough voice said:
– Tuki-tuki, kids, it’s your mama, I’ve brought you some milk!
The kids immediately realized that this wasn’t their mama.
– You’re not our mama! Our mama has a gentle voice, and yours is rough! – they replied, and did not open the door.
The wolf got angry, ran to the blacksmith, and ordered him to make his voice softer. The blacksmith heated the metal and burned the wolf’s throat. The wolf’s voice became soft and gentle.
The wolf went to the kids’ house again, knocked, and in a sweet voice said:
– Tuki-tuki, kids, it’s your mama, I’ve brought you some milk!
The kids heard that the voice sounded like their mama’s, but when they looked out the window, they saw large gray paws.
– You’re not our mama! Our mama has white paws, and yours are gray! – the kids shouted.
The wolf ran to the blacksmith again and ordered him to cover his paws in flour. Now his paws became as white as the goat’s.
For the third time, the wolf knocked on the door and gently said:
– Tuki-tuki, kids, it’s your mama, I’ve brought you some milk!
The kids peered out the window, saw the white paws, and believed him. They opened the door, and the wolf rushed inside. The kids were frightened and began to hide. One hid under the bed, another in the wardrobe, the third in the stove, the fourth in the pot, the fifth under the table, the sixth behind the curtain, and the seventh in the large wall clock.
The wolf found all of them, except the youngest, and ate them. Afterward, he left, full and content, and lay under a tree to rest.
The goat returned home, saw the open door, the mess, and began to cry. At that moment, the youngest kid ran up to her and told her what had happened. The goat took scissors, a needle, and thread, found the sleeping wolf, and carefully cut open his belly. All the kids he had swallowed were still alive. The goat pulled them out and placed stones in their place. Then she sewed him back up.
The wolf woke up, felt thirsty, and went to the river. He leaned down to drink, but the heavy stones pulled him down, and he drowned.
The goat and the kids rejoiced that they had gotten rid of the wolf, and they never again left the house unattended.
Moral: This tale teaches us to be cautious, listen to the elders, and never open the door to strangers. It also shows that love and cleverness help us overcome any difficulty.
Questions for children:
- Why did the goat tell the kids not to open the door to anyone?
- How did the wolf try to trick the kids?
- What lesson does this story teach us?
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