In a cheerful little house, painted bright yellow, lived Mama Goat and her seven little kids. They loved to play hide-and-seek in the meadow and nibble on sweet clover.

One sunny morning, Mama Goat needed to go to the market to buy some tasty berries. "Now, my darlings," she said, her voice kind but firm, "while I'm gone, you must be very careful. There's a tricky wolf who loves to gobble up little goats."

"How will we know it's him, Mama?" asked the smallest kid, peeking from behind a chair.

"He has a gruff, scratchy voice," Mama Goat explained, "and big, black paws. Don't open the door for anyone unless you are absolutely sure it's me!" The seven little goats nodded. "We'll be good, Mama!" they promised.

Not long after Mama Goat left, knock, knock, knock! Someone was at the door.
"Open up, my little dears," came a rough, gravelly voice. "Your mama is back with yummy treats!"

But the little goats were clever. "Oh no!" whispered one kid. "That doesn't sound like Mama! Her voice is sweet and soft."
"Go away, Mr. Wolf!" they shouted. "Your voice is too rough!"

The wolf grumbled. He stomped off to the shop and bought a big piece of chalk. He nibbled and nibbled until his voice was much smoother.

Back he went to the little yellow house. Knock, knock, knock!
This time, a sweet voice called, "Open up, my darlings, it's your mama!"
"That sounds like Mama!" said one. But the cleverest kid peeked under the door.
"Wait!" he whispered. "Look at those big, black paws!"
"Go away, Mr. Wolf!" they cried. "Mama has white feet, not black ones!"

The wolf huffed. He hurried to the baker's shop. "Mr. Baker," he said, "please put some white flour on my paws." The baker, a bit surprised, dusted the wolf's paws until they were white as snow.

For the third time, the wolf went to the goats' house. Knock, knock, knock!
"Open up, my sweet children," cooed the soft voice. "It's Mama, and I have white paws!"
The little goats peeked. They saw white paws. They heard a sweet voice. "It must be Mama!" they cheered, and unbolted the door.

In rushed the big, bad wolf! The little goats scattered, squeaking in fright. One hid under the bed, one in the cupboard, one behind the curtains, one in the wash-tub, one in the oven, and one under a big bowl. But the wolf was quick. Snap, snap, snap! He gobbled up six of them, one by one. Only the very youngest, who had squeezed into the tall grandfather clock case, was safe.

With his tummy full, the wolf felt sleepy. He wandered out to the meadow, lay down under a big tree, and soon began to snore.

When Mama Goat returned, the house was a mess! Chairs were overturned, toys were scattered. "My children! My children!" she cried.
Then, a tiny voice whimpered from the grandfather clock. "Mama?" Out popped the youngest kid, trembling. He told Mama Goat everything about the tricky wolf.

Mama Goat was very sad, but also very brave. "We'll find him," she said. She took her sewing basket with scissors, a needle, and thread. The youngest kid showed her where the wolf was sleeping.

They found the wolf snoring loudly by the river. His tummy was so full it rumbled like thunder, and something was wiggling inside!
Mama Goat tiptoed closer. Snip, snip, snip went her sharp scissors, carefully cutting open the wolf's tummy.

One by one, pop, pop, pop, pop, pop, pop! Out jumped the six little goats, all safe and sound! They hugged their mama tightly.
"Quickly," whispered Mama Goat, "find some big, heavy stones."
The little goats gathered stones, and Mama Goat carefully filled the wolf's tummy with them. Then, stitch, stitch, stitch, she sewed him up again, so neatly he wouldn't even notice.

Soon, the wolf woke up. "Oh, my tummy feels so heavy," he groaned. "I must be thirsty."
He wobbled to the river to drink. But the stones were so heavy! As he leaned over, ker-splash! He tumbled into the water and, with all those stones, sank right to the bottom.

Mama Goat and her seven little kids danced with joy! They were all safe, and the tricky wolf was gone for good. And they all agreed to always listen very carefully to Mama Goat's warnings from then on.

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