Fables for kids are a fun way to teach important life lessons through short and engaging bedtime stories. This unique retelling of the classic “Boy Who Cried Wolf” fable explores why honesty matters and why trust should never be taken for granted. If you love bedtime stories with a moral, this one is perfect for young listeners!
The Shepherd Who Played a Dangerous Trick
In a small village on a hillside, a young shepherd named Liam had an important job—watching over the village’s sheep and keeping them safe from wolves.
But Liam was bored. Day after day, he sat alone in the fields, with nothing exciting ever happening.
“If only something fun would happen!” he sighed.
Then, an idea struck him. With a mischievous grin, he ran down the hill toward the village, shouting,
“Wolf! Wolf! A wolf is attacking the sheep!”
The villagers dropped everything and rushed up the hill with sticks and tools, ready to protect the flock. But when they arrived, there was no wolf—just Liam, laughing.
“I tricked you all! There’s no wolf!” he giggled.
The villagers grumbled and shook their heads. “Liam, lying isn’t funny. We won’t believe you next time!”
But Liam didn’t listen. The next day, feeling bored again, he cried out even louder,
“Wolf! Wolf! This time it’s real!”
Once again, the villagers ran up the hill, only to find Liam laughing even harder.
“I fooled you again!” he boasted.
The villagers were furious. “We won’t be tricked again, Liam!” they warned, before heading back to their work.
Later that night, as the sun dipped behind the hills, a real wolf crept out of the forest, its sharp eyes gleaming. Liam gasped in fear as it lunged toward the sheep.
“HELP! WOLF! IT’S REAL THIS TIME!” Liam screamed at the top of his lungs.
But down in the village, no one listened.
“Ignore him,” a farmer said. “He’s just playing another trick.”
“He brought this upon himself,” said another.
Liam kept shouting, but no one came. The wolf chased the sheep, scattering them into the night.
The next morning, Liam stood by the empty pen, ashamed. He had lost the villagers’ trust—and the sheep.
An elder placed a hand on his shoulder. “Liam, trust is like glass—once broken, it’s hard to fix. Always be honest, or one day, no one will believe you when it really matters.”
Liam never lied again, and the village never forgot the lesson his foolish trick had taught them.
Moral of the story:
“Honesty is the foundation of trust. If you lie, people won’t believe you—even when you’re telling the truth.”
