Once upon a time, in a sunny forest, there lived a clever but hungry fox. He hadn’t eaten all day and his stomach was growling. As he wandered through the trees, sniffing the air for food, he spotted something that made his eyes light up—a beautiful vine full of plump, juicy grapes hanging from a tall tree branch. They looked so delicious, glistening in the sunlight. The fox licked his lips and thought to himself, “Ah, those grapes would make the perfect meal!”

Without wasting a moment, the fox decided he would have those grapes no matter what. He leaped up as high as he could, snapping at the bunches, but they were just out of reach. Determined, he tried again, this time jumping even higher, but still, he couldn’t grab a single grape.

The fox circled the vine, looking for a better angle. He crouched low, then sprang up, stretching his paws out as far as he could—but no luck. The grapes were simply too high for him to reach.

Panting and tired, the fox sat down, his tail flicking in frustration. He stared at the grapes hanging above him, still glistening and looking oh so tempting. But after a few more failed jumps, he realized it was no use.

Finally, with a huff, the fox said, “Well, those grapes are probably sour anyway. I wouldn’t want them even if I could reach them.” He turned his back on the vine and trotted off, pretending he didn’t care about the grapes at all.

But deep down, the fox knew he really wanted those grapes. It was just easier to say they weren’t worth it than admit he couldn’t get them.

Moral:

It’s easy to say you don’t want something when you can’t have it. But pretending something isn’t valuable just because it’s out of reach doesn’t change how you truly feel.

Parenting Tip: Help your child understand that it’s okay to feel disappointed when something doesn’t go as planned. Instead of dismissing their feelings, guide them to learn persistence or acceptance in healthy ways.

Fun Questions for Curious Kids:

• Why did the fox want the grapes so badly?
• What tricks did the fox try to reach the grapes?
• Why did the fox say the grapes were sour?
• Do you think the fox really believed the grapes were sour? Why or why not?
• Can you think of a time when you wanted something but couldn’t have it? How did you feel?
• What would you tell the fox to help him feel better about not getting the grapes?

Did You Know? Fun Facts About Grapes and Foxes

1. Grapes grow in bunches on vines and can be red, green, purple, or black!
2. Grapes are one of the oldest cultivated fruits in the world.
3. They’re used to make juice, jelly, raisins, and even vinegar!
4. Foxes are very clever and use their sharp senses to find food.
5. They can hear small animals moving underground!
6. Foxes use their fluffy tails for balance and to keep warm when they sleep.

Activity Idea:

Reach for the Grapes Game

• Hang small objects (like balls or paper cutouts) from a high place, just out of reach.
• Challenge your child to figure out ways to “reach for the grapes” without jumping.
• Let them use tools (like a stick or a chair) to solve the problem.
• Discuss how creative thinking can help solve challenges that seem impossible at first!

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!