Full Text: The Wolf and the Seven Goslings
One story, four ways to read it
Every story comes in its original version plus several simplified reading levels, so it grows with your child.
The original text is the full story with rich vocabulary and descriptive language, ideal for reading aloud together and for kids who are ready for longer sentences.
The simplified levels retell the same story in shorter, simpler sentences matched to your child's stage. Ages 2-6 uses a few short sentences per scene, perfect for first time readers. Ages 4-8 adds simple dialogue and everyday vocabulary for kids beginning to follow along. Ages 6-10 keeps the language accessible while bringing back more of the story's detail, a natural bridge to the original.
Start at the level where your child is comfortable, and move up when they're ready. Hearing the same story told in richer language each time is one of the best ways to build vocabulary in any language.
Original Text: The Wolf and the Seven Goslings
Once upon a time, a mother goose lived in a cosy cottage with her seven little goslings. She loved them more than all the stars in the sky. One morning, she needed to head to the village market. She gathered her brood and warned:
“My darlings, I must go. Keep the door locked tight. The big wolf is roaming the woods today. He is a master of disguise, but you can always tell it is him by his gravelly, rough voice and his heavy, dark paws. Don't let him trick you!”
The goslings chirped,
“Don't worry, Mummy! We’ll be safe as houses.”
The wolf had been watching from behind a cedar tree. As soon as the mother's tail feathers vanished, he trotted to the door. Knock! Knock!
“Open up, my sweets!” he called in his naturally raspy voice. “It’s your mother, and I’ve brought back a giant bag of treats!”
The goslings pressed their ears to the door.
“No way!” the eldest cried. “Our mother has a voice like a silver bell. Yours is scratchy like sandpaper. Go away, Mr Wolf!”
The wolf wasn't giving up. He ran to the shop and swallowed a jar of soothing honey to make his voice silky smooth. He crept back and whispered through the keyhole,
“Dearest children, let me in. It’s Mummy, and I have the most delicious snacks for you.”
The youngest gosling reached for the handle, but the smartest one pointed to the bottom of the door. There, peeking through the gap, were two huge, furry black paws.
“Nice try!” they shouted. “Our mother has soft, orange feet. You’re the wolf!”
Growling with frustration, the wolf dashed to a nearby bakery.
“Baker! Dust my paws with your whitest flour, or I’ll eat all your pies!”
The terrified baker complied. Now, with a sweet voice and snowy-white paws, the wolf knocked a third time.
“Open the door, little ones. Your mother is home at last with a surprise for everyone.”
The goslings saw the white paws and heard the gentle voice. Convinced it was safe, they turned the deadbolt and swung the door wide.
The moment the wolf leaped inside, the goslings scattered like marbles! One dove under the sofa, another under the bed. The third hid in the pantry, and the fourth behind a heavy curtain. The fifth squeezed into a cupboard, the sixth under a laundry basket, and the seventh-the tiniest of all-jumped inside the tall grandfather clock.
The wolf, being very greedy and very fast, caught six of them and, in one big gulp, tucked them away for later. He searched high and low for the seventh, but the ticking clock kept the little one's heartbeat a secret.
Feeling quite full and very sleepy, the wolf waddled out to the sunny meadow, lay under an oak tree, and fell into a deep, snoring sleep. Shortly after, Mother Goose returned. Her heart sank. The door was ajar, the cushions were tossed about, and the house was silent.
“My children!” she cried, her eyes filling with tears. “Where are you?”
“Mummy! Mummy! I’m in here!” a tiny voice squeaked.
She opened the grandfather clock, and her youngest gosling tumbled out, trembling as he told the story of the wolf's clever white-paw trick. Mother Goose wiped her eyes and stood tall.
“He hasn't won yet,” she said firmly. “Grab my sewing kit and the large craft scissors. I have a plan.”
They followed the wolf’s loud snores out into the long grass.
As the wolf slept, Mother Goose noticed something moving inside his tummy-it was the six goslings, still wiggling! With the precision of a surgeon, she used her scissors to make a quick snip. One by one, the goslings popped out, dizzy but completely unhurt. The wolf had been so greedy he hadn't even chewed! They quickly filled the space with heavy river stones and Mother Goose stitched him back up so neatly he didn't feel a thing.
When the wolf finally woke up, he felt incredibly heavy.
“Oh, my tummy feels like I've swallowed a mountain of rocks!” he groaned, still a bit groggy from his nap.
He hobbled toward the river to get a drink of water, thinking he had just had a very strange, very vivid dream about a goose family and a long swim in a calm river.
The wolf decided then and there that the meadow was far too confusing for him. He wandered off toward the distant mountains, looking for a quieter place to live.
The seven goslings and their mother watched him go from their window, safe and sound.
They had learned a very important lesson about looking closely at the details-and they lived happily ever after, always remembering to double-check who was at the door.
