Once upon a time, there was a clever fox who took great pride in his beautiful, bushy tail. He loved to swish it around and show it off to all the other animals. But one unlucky day, the fox got caught in a hunter’s trap. As he struggled to escape, his beautiful tail was caught, and with one last desperate pull, he broke free—but he had lost his tail!

The fox was heartbroken and embarrassed. How could he face the other foxes without his magnificent tail? But then, he came up with a sneaky idea. “I’ll make them think that being tailless is the new trend!” he thought.

The next day, the fox called all the other foxes together. He stood proudly in front of them and said, “Look at me, friends! Without a tail, I feel lighter, faster, and much more stylish. You should all get rid of your tails too!”

The other foxes looked at him, puzzled. They turned to each other and whispered, unsure of what to think. One wise old fox stepped forward and said, “You only want us to cut off our tails because you lost yours! We like our tails just fine, thank you.”

The fox without a tail realized his plan had failed. No one was fooled, and no one wanted to give up their tails just because he had lost his. From that day on, he learned that trying to make others share in your misfortune wasn’t the right thing to do.

Moral:

Don’t listen to advice from someone who stands to gain from your misfortune.

Parenting Tip: Use this story to teach your child about self-acceptance and critical thinking. Help them understand that not all advice is good advice, especially if it benefits the person giving it more than it helps you.

Fun Questions For Curious Kids

• Why do you think the fox felt embarrassed after losing his tail?
• What was the fox’s plan to make the other animals like him again?
• How did the wise old fox figure out the truth?
• If you were one of the foxes, would you have believed the tailless fox? Why or why not?
• Why is it important to think carefully before following someone else’s advice?
• Have you ever heard advice that didn’t feel right? What did you do?
• What do you think the fox learned at the end of the story?
• If you could design a “special tail” for the tailless fox, what would it look like?

Did You Know? Fun Fox Facts!

1. Foxes have excellent hearing: They can hear a mouse squeak from 100 feet away!
2. Fox tails are called “brushes”: They help with balance and keep foxes warm when they curl up to sleep.
3. Arctic foxes have fluffy white tails: These act as a blanket during cold winters.
4. Foxes are great at adapting: They can live in forests, deserts, and even cities!
5. Foxes are part of the dog family: But they also have cat-like traits, like retractable claws.
6. Foxes communicate with over 40 sounds: From barks to screams, they’re very vocal animals.
7. The red fox is the most common species: Found on almost every continent except Antarctica.
8. Foxes are clever problem solvers: That’s why they’re often depicted as cunning in fables and folklore.

Activity Idea:

“Design Your Dream Tail” Craft Activity

• What You’ll Need: Paper, crayons, markers, glue, scissors, and colored feathers or fabric scraps.
• How to Play: Ask your child to design a tail for the fox who lost his. Should it be fluffy, sparkly, or colorful?
• Purpose: This activity encourages creativity and empathy, imagining how to help the fox feel better.

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!