The Three Little Pigs Short Story & Audiobook
Three little pigs build houses from straw, sticks and bricks. Which house can keep them safe from the big bad wolf?
The Three Little Pigs
Down in the valley was a farm. On the farm there was a pigsty. And in the pigsty lived Mummy Pig and The Three Little Pigs.
“You are growing so fast my dears,” said Mummy Pig to the three little Pigs. “Soon there'll be no space for you here. It is time for you to leave the farm and build your own houses to live in.”
Before leaving, Mummy Pig gave each of the three little Pigs a packed lunch box and told them something very important. So she said, “You must remember to build your house out of bricks. Bricks are very strong and they'll keep you safe no matter what.”
The Three Little Pigs set off down the lane to the brickyard, leaving Mummy Pig all alone in the sty.
After a short while they came across the next door farmer ploughing his field.
The first little Pig thought to himself, “By golly, if I build my house out of this farmer’s straw then I’ll save myself a trip to the brickyard and build my house in half the time!”
So the first little Pig said to the farmer, “I’d like a big bundle of your finest straw kind Sir. I'll use it to build my own house!”
The farmer—a little surprised by this request—happily obliged. He gave the first little Pig ten bales of his finest straw and the Pig built his straw house. The house looked sublime. There was not a single straw out of place and the little Pig was very proud of himself.
A big bad Wolf—who'd been watching from afar—strolled up to the straw house, knocked at the door, and said in a low, gruff voice, “Little Pig, little Pig, let me come in.”
“Not by the hair of my chinny chin chin!” replied the little Pig.
“Then I’ll huff and I’ll puff and I’ll blow your house in!” said the big bad Wolf.
Without delay the Wolf took a huge breath in. Then he huffed and he puffed and he blew the house in. The straw house looked wonderful, but it was extremely weak. It fell down in an instant and the big bad Wolf gobbled up the first little Pig.
“Lovely.”
Meanwhile, the second and third little Pigs had continued to walk down the lane to the brickyard.
They soon came across another farm. This was an apple farm and the farmer was busy chopping down the branches of the apple trees. An enormous pile of sticks lay on the ground next to the farmer.
The second Little Pig thought to herself “By golly, I’ve got it! I’ll make my house out of sticks. It'll save my tired legs from walking further and my house will be built faster!”
So the second little Pig said to the farmer, “I’d like to have that enormous pile of sticks kind Sir. I will use it to build my house!”
The farmer—who was looking for a way to get rid of his sticks—happily obliged. He gave the second little Pig all of the sticks and the Pig built her stick house. The house looked fabulous. There was not a single stick out of place and the little Pig was very proud of herself.
The Big Bad Wolf—fresh from gobbling the first little Pig—strolled up to the stick house, knocked at the door, and said in a low and gruff voice, “Little Pig, little Pig, let me come in.”
“Not by the hair on my chinny chin chin!” replied the second little Pig.
“Then I’ll huff and I’ll puff and I’ll blow your house in!” said the Big Bad Wolf.
Without delay the Big Bad Wolf took a huge breath in. Then he huffed and he puffed and he blew the house in. The stick house looked superb, but it too was extremely weak. It fell down in an instant and the Big Bad Wolf gobbled up the second little Pig.
“Yummy-yummy-yummy.”
Meanwhile, the third little Pig had made it all the way to the brickyard. He went up to the man in charge of the yard and said “Hello kind Sir, I would like a large pile of your bricks to build my house.”
The man—who, as it turned out, was extremely generous—happily obliged. He gave the third little Pig all the bricks he wanted and the Pig built his brick house. The house not only looked tremendous, it was extremely strong. The third little Pig had taken the time to build his house well and he was extremely proud of himself.
The Big Bad Wolf—fresh from gobbling the second little Pig—strolled up to the brick house, knocked at the door, and said in a low and gruff voice, “Little Pig, little Pig, let me come in.”
“Not by the hair on my chinny chin chin!” replied the third little Pig.
“Then I’ll huff and I’ll puff and I’ll blow your house in!” said the Big Bad Wolf.
Without delay the Big Bad Wolf took a huge breath in. Then he huffed and he puffed and he huffed and he puffed, but the brick house was much too strong and well built to be blown down.
This made the Big Bad Wolf wild with rage, so he devised a nasty plot to fool the third little Pig into coming out of his brick house.
Tap tap tap came from the window.
“Little Pig, I know a farmer with some marvellous turnips. You love turnips don’t you little Pig? Shall we go there tomorrow and get some?” said the Big Bad Wolf.
“Very well,” said the little Pig, “I do love turnips. What time do you want to go?”
“Seven o’clock sharp,” said the Wolf, “and don’t be late!”
The third little Pig may have been little, but he wasn't stupid. He was, after all, the little Pig that made his house from bricks—as his mother had wisely proposed. So the little Pig got up early, filled a sack full of turnips and was back in his house long before seven o’clock.
When the Wolf arrived he said, “Little Pig, are you ready to go?”
“Silly Wolf!” said the little Pig, “I’ve been. My turnips are already bubbling away in a huge pot for my dinner.”
The Wolf was incensed. He was so angry he felt sure he could have exploded, but he suddenly had a thought and pulled himself together.
“Little Pig,” he said, “I know a place where there is a wonderful apple tree. You love apples don’t you little Pig.”
“Oh yes, I do,” said the Pig, “Where is this wonderful tree you speak of?”
“Just over the hill,” said the Wolf, “I’ll be back here at six o’clock tomorrow and we can go together to get the apples. So you had better not deceive me this time little Pig!”
The little Pig woke at five the following morning and went over the hill to the big apple tree. He had hoped to help himself before the Wolf arrived, but the Wolf was too clever for that.
The little Pig saw the Wolf approaching—which, as you can imagine, terrified him greatly—and quickly climbed the tree.
“Hello, Wolf,” said the little Pig from up in the tree, “Wait there while I find the biggest, plumpest, juiciest apple for you.”
The Wolf waited.
The little Pig picked a big juicy apple, then called down, “I’ll throw it to you Wolf. Here it comes!” The Pig then threw the apple as far away as he could.
And while the Wolf was away collecting the apple—which took quite some time—the little Pig jumped down from the tree and ran safely home to his brick house.
By now the Wolf had had enough.
He followed the little Pig home and called through the window, “Little Pig, little Pig, I am going to eat you up. I will climb on the top of your house, come down the chimney and gobble you up in a single bite!”
Hearing this, the little Pig quickly made a roaring fire and placed upon it a large pot full of water. As the Wolf came down the chimney the little Pig lifted the lid of the pot. The Wolf fell in with a plop—head first—and the little Pig replaced the lid quick as a flash.
The little Pig then boiled the Wolf, gobbled him up for his supper and lived happily ever after.
The End
People also ask
Can you read The Three Little Pigs story for free?
Yes, you certainly can! Enjoy this modern retelling for free. Our story retellings closely follow the original storylines and we’ve added fun modern twists in the illustrations.
Can you listen to The Three Little Pigs read aloud?
Yes, listen to The Three Little Pigs on our Audio App, along with hundreds more, or read it yourself!
The story of The Three Little Pigs - short summary
This story is about three little pigs and the big bad wolf. The pigs build houses from straw, sticks and bricks. The first pig builds his house out of straw, the second little pig's house was built with sticks and the third pig builds his house out of bricks. When the wolf comes knocking on the pigs' doors, the pigs see the wolf coming and all believe their house is strong enough to protect them.
The three pigs all have different experiences when the wolf comes knocking. When the wolf comes to the straw house, he blows it down easily. When the wolf visits the stick house, it takes a bit more effort but he still manages to get in. He then goes to the third pig's house, which is made of bricks. No matter how hard he huffs and puffs, the third pigs' house won't be blown down.
What is the moral of the story?
The moral in the Three Little Pigs story is that persistence pays off. The third pig considered the options and chose the material that would take the most amount of effort and time to build his house, however this pays off because it is the most effective at keeping the wolf out. Whereas the first two pigs spent the least amount of effort and time to build their houses and unfortunately were not able to keep the wolf out of their houses!
Is The Three Little Pigs a short story?
This retelling of The Three Little Pigs is a short story. Most Sooper Books stories are short stories as we’ve created our library with bedtimes in mind.
Why is The Three Little Pigs such a well-loved story?
This classic tale has captured imaginations for years because it’s easy to follow, entertaining, and delivers a positive message about effort and planning. Children enjoy the wolf’s dramatic attempts and the clever strategies of the third pig, making it both fun and meaningful.
Is The Three Little Pigs inspired by a true story?
Not quite! This story has been around for generations as a fairy tale, designed to entertain and teach a lesson. While there’s no record of real pigs outsmarting a wolf with an impressive set of lungs, the message—about working hard and making smart choices—definitely applies to real life.
Why does the wolf blow down the houses?
The wolf wants to get inside and tries each house’s strength. The weaker houses of straw and sticks fall easily, but the well-constructed brick house remains standing. This contrast illustrates the importance of building something strong and lasting.
What valuable lessons does The Three Little Pigs teach?
It shows that careful preparation and hard work can prevent problems down the line. The third pig’s decision to build with bricks sets an example of how patience and effort can help us succeed.
What’s the main takeaway from The Three Little Pigs?
The story’s key message is that good planning and hard work lead to success. It teaches that taking the time to do something right pays off in the end.
How can this story help me talk about making good choices with my child?
By comparing the pigs’ decisions, you can discuss how making thoughtful, deliberate choices often leads to better outcomes. Ask your child, “Which pig made the best choice? Why?” and explore the benefits of thinking ahead.
How does The Three Little Pigs improve my child’s problem-solving skills?
This story shows how thinking ahead leads to smarter decisions. Ask your child, “What could the first two pigs have done differently to keep their houses safe?” to help them practise making thoughtful choices.
How does The Three Little Pigs help my child express their emotions?
This story helps children understand fear, relief, and frustration by showing how the pigs handle these emotions. Ask, “How do you think the pigs felt when the wolf arrived? What do you do when you feel scared?” to help your child talk about their feelings.
How does The Three Little Pigs help my child make confident choices?
This story teaches children to make careful, thoughtful choices. The third pig plans ahead, showing that independent decisions lead to better results. Ask, “Have you ever done something different from your friends because you knew it was the right choice?”
How does The Three Little Pigs help my child feel safe?
The third pig’s strong house shows how preparation can help us feel safe. Ask your child, “What makes you feel safe and cosy before bed?” to help them create their own sense of security.
What can siblings or friends learn from The Three Little Pigs?
The story shows that different approaches can lead to different results. Discussing the pigs’ building methods can help siblings or friends appreciate each other’s unique strengths and find ways to work together more effectively. Ask, “Do you and your sibling or friend solve problems the same way, or differently? How can working together help?”
What fun activities can we try after reading The Three Little Pigs?
- Build miniature houses. Use craft supplies or household items to create different types of structures.
- Reenact the story. Let your child play the roles of the pigs and the wolf, trying out new endings or scenarios.
- Create character masks. Make simple masks for the pigs and the wolf to bring the story to life through pretend play.
How can this story be used for STEM learning?
Try a simple experiment: gather materials like paper, straw, and blocks, and predict which will hold up best against a fan or “wolf breaths.” Test your predictions together and discuss the results.
What are some creative projects related to The Three Little Pigs?
- Draw the houses. Encourage your child to illustrate the pigs’ homes and imagine how they might have been built differently.
- Make a mini village. Use craft materials to create a small village, including the pigs’ houses.
- Craft puppets. Create stick puppets of the pigs and wolf to retell the story in their own way.
Why didn’t the first two pigs use better materials?
The first two pigs were more focused on speed and fun, not on building strong homes. This teaches a valuable lesson about taking the time to do things properly.
How can The Three Little Pigs inspire creativity?
Encourage your child to come up with new endings, imagine different materials for the houses, or introduce a fourth pig with a unique solution. These ideas inspire creative thinking and new perspectives.
How can I help my child connect more with the story?
- Pause to predict. Ask, “What do you think will happen next?” and discuss their ideas.
- Act it out. Role-playing helps children engage with the story and understand the characters’ choices.
- Change the setting. Imagine the pigs building houses in a forest, by a river, or on a mountain.
How does The Three Little Pigs compare to other fairy tales?
This story, like many timeless fairy tales, uses simple characters and clear challenges to teach important lessons. It’s memorable, meaningful, and encourages discussion—making it a favourite among children’s stories.
If your child enjoyed The Three Little Pigs, they will love:
- The Hare and the Tortoise – A story about patience and persistence.
- Airmail – A Sooper Books series - A determined delivery pig making smart choices.
- Goldilocks and the Three Bears – A classic about choices and consequences.