How Being Polite Saved A Rabbit

A Mexican folktale retold by Clever Hedgehog

Illustrations: Olga Zhestkova

This story took place in a faraway forest, where a very polite rabbit lived. 🐇

One day, after eating cabbage and other delicious vegetables in a farmer’s garden, Rabbit was about to go home when he suddenly noticed a hungry fox. 🦊

The fox came to the farmer’s yard to steal a chicken or a duck.

The rabbit got so scared that his heart skipped a beat. He thought, “I need to run away from here, but where?” 

He looked around and saw a little cave behind the garden’s fence, where he could hide and be safe.

A Furry Thief (Sister Fox) Казка Лисичка-сестричка

But the rabbit didn’t know that another great danger awaited him there — a snake had made the cave its home. 🐍

The rabbit was so well-mannered that he didn’t jump into the cave right away. He knew it was impolite to enter someone else’s house without permission. 

He thought, “I must greet them! But I don’t see anyone? Maybe I should greet the cave itself?”

So, the rabbit politely said:

— Hello, dear cave! Please allow me to come in.

A Furry Thief (Sister Fox) Казка Лисичка-сестричка

How delighted the snake was to hear the rabbit’s voice! She loved eating rabbits very much.

— Plea-s-s-se come in! — the snake answered, hoping to trick the rabbit and eat him for lunch.

But by her voice, the rabbit understood perfectly well who it was.

— Forgive me for disturbing you, — he said. — I quite forgot my wife is waiting for me at home! Goodbye! — and off he ran as fast as he could.

The rabbit hopped safely back to his burrow and thought that politeness had never hurt anyone. 

Meanwhile, the snake coiled herself up and grumbled:

— Oh, these polite rabbits! I’d have been better off not answering! 

🐇🥬🦊🐍

The End

A Furry Thief (Sister Fox) Казка Лисичка-сестричка

Did you like the story? Why did the fox come to the farmer’s garden? Who was living in the cave where the rabbit wanted to go? How did politeness help the rabbit escape?

Read this fairy tale in the Ukrainian language >>>

Flip the page to read the story

Share this story: the link >>>

 Play with Clever Hedgehog: Can you answer this quiz?

Feel free to go back and look for the answers! Have fun!

1. Why did the rabbit want to run away from the fox?





2. How did politeness help the rabbit escape?





3. What lesson did the rabbit learn at the end of the story?





Check your answers
  1.  c) Because he could get into trouble
  2.  c) He asked permission before entering the snake’s home
  3.  b) Politeness is important
Hedgehog reading a book

Help the rabbit find the safe path to his home

Check your answers:

Share this story:

Tell us what you think!

Read Next

Seven vines Ukrainian folk tale of the Upper Dnipro region

Once upon a time, in a faraway forest, the King Grizzly Bear wanted to see the fastest among the animals. Let’s find out who the winner was. Read “Hedgehog and Hare“

Read the story >>

Read Books with Clever Hedgehog

Join Sesame Street Friends to Watch, Play, and Learn

Learn Fun Facts about animals, space and much more

Listen to Ukrainian Songs and Sing Along

Discover Fun News

Get Creative With Coloring Pages

Find Resources for Parents

Play Games with Family or Friends

Download Free Printable Packages

Learn to Draw with Step-by-step Instructions

Tags: stories for kids, bedtime stories, fairy tales for children, stories about rabbits, stories about animals, stories for toddlers, stories for preschoolers, stories for kindergarten, fairy tales for 5-year-olds, fairy tales for 6-year-olds, fairy tales for 7-year-olds, fairy tales for 8-year-olds, fairy tales for 9-year-olds, fairy tales for 10-year-olds