The Boy Who Cried Wolf is a classic Aesop fable retold for kids aged 5–10. When Finn, a bored shepherd boy, tricks the village by shouting “Wolf,” he learns a lasting lesson about honesty and trust. Read aloud or use in class to spark discussion on truth, consequences and making amends.
The Boy Who Cried Wolf
Finn the Shepherd Boy
Finn was a young shepherd boy, in charge of the villagers’ sheep. Every day he led them up the big green hill to graze. It was an important job… but Finn found it terribly boring.
One sunny afternoon, Finn had an idea.
A mischievous idea.
A silly idea.
A very bad idea.
The First Trick
He cupped his hands and shouted with all his might:
“WOLF! WOLF!” he cried.
THERES A WOLF ATTACKING THE SHEEP!“
The villagers heard his cries and rushed up the hill. But at the top, there was no wolf… only Finn laughing at his trick.
The villagers were furious and stomped home.
The Second Trick
The next day, Finn did it again. “WOLF! WOLF!” he cried.
The villagers, though doubtful, came once more.
Again, no wolf. Just lies. They warned Finn they would not be fooled again.
When the Real Wolf Came
But later that day… a real wolf appeared.
Big. Grey. Sharp teeth flashing. It chased the sheep!
Finn screamed, “WOLF! WOLF! PLEASE HELP!”
But this time, the villagers didn’t come. They thought it was just another trick.
The wolf scattered the flock and carried one away. Finn was left alone, sad and regretful.
The Moral
When the villagers found him, they said:
“No one believes a liar, even when they tell the truth.”
And from that day on, Finn promised to always be honest.
THE END
For More Stories with Morals,
The Gingerbread Man – a runaway biscuit learns that bragging has consequences
The Pied Piper of Hamelin – a town discovers what happens when you break a promise.
The Three Little Pigs – an English folktale about effort, planning and staying safe.
This tale is one of Aesop’s classic fables. You can read more about Aesop on the official Wikipedia page.
