One hot afternoon, a clever fox was chasing a rabbit through the woods. In his excitement, the fox didn’t watch where he was going and tumbled straight into a deep well. He splashed into the cold water and, no matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t climb out. He was stuck!

As the fox sat in the water, thinking of a way to escape, a thirsty goat wandered by and peered into the well. “What are you doing down there?” the goat asked, curious.

The fox, always quick to come up with a plan, smiled slyly and said, “Oh, the water here is the best I’ve ever tasted! It’s so cool and refreshing! You should jump in and enjoy it too!”

The goat, eager to quench his thirst and trusting the fox’s words, didn’t stop to think. Without another moment’s hesitation, he leaped into the well. As soon as the goat landed, he began drinking the water, relieved to have found it.

But the sneaky fox had a different idea. While the goat was busy drinking, the fox quickly climbed onto the goat’s back and then onto his strong horns. Using the goat as a ladder, the fox jumped out of the well in one swift move.

As the fox reached the top, the goat looked up in surprise. “Wait! What about me?” the goat cried. “How will I get out?”

The fox just smirked and said, “You should have thought about that before jumping in without a plan.” With that, the fox trotted off, leaving the poor goat stuck at the bottom of the well, all alone.

The goat realized too late that he had been tricked. “If only I had thought before acting,” he muttered sadly to himself as he waited for help.

Moral:

Always think before acting and be careful who you trust. Not everyone has your best interests at heart, especially tricksters.

Parenting Tip: Teach your child the importance of thinking carefully before making decisions and the value of questioning others’ intentions. This story can help foster critical thinking and discernment in kids.

Fun Questions For Curious Kids

• Why did the goat believe the fox?
• What would you have done if you were the goat and saw the fox in the well?
• Why do you think the fox tricked the goat?
• How do you feel about what the fox did? Was it fair or unfair?
• If you were the goat, what plan would you come up with to get out of the well?
• Why is it important to think before making decisions?
• Can you think of a time when you trusted someone but should have been more careful?
• How do you know when to trust someone?

Did You Know? Fun Fox and Goat Facts!

1. Foxes are excellent problem-solvers: Foxes use their cleverness to find food and escape danger, making them symbols of intelligence in many cultures.
2. Goats are curious by nature: Goats often investigate new things without hesitation, which makes them adventurous but also a little reckless!
3. Foxes have cat-like skills: Unlike most dogs, foxes can retract their claws and even pounce like cats when hunting.
4. Goats communicate with bleats: Each goat has a unique “voice,” and mother goats can recognize their kids by their sounds.
5. Foxes are great jumpers: A red fox can leap up to 6 feet in the air—a handy skill for climbing out of tricky situations!
6. Goats are excellent climbers: Goats can climb steep cliffs and even trees, which helps them escape predators in the wild.
7. Foxes live in dens: Foxes often dig underground burrows called dens where they rest and raise their young.
8. Goats have rectangular pupils: Their unusual eye shape gives them a wide field of vision to spot danger.
9. Foxes adapt easily: Foxes can live in forests, deserts, mountains, and even cities, making them one of the most adaptable animals.
10. Goats chew constantly: Goats are ruminants, meaning they chew cud to digest their food better, much like cows.

Download Free Coloring Pages Related To This Story

Bring the story to life with coloring pages designed to spark creativity and make story time even more fun. Coloring helps kids express their creativity, improve focus, and reinforce the story’s themes in a fun, engaging way. After reading together, let them bring the story to life with colors!

Click on any of the free coloring pages below to download or print it!