Dino Kids
The Gunniwolf
A little girl picks flowers too far into the jungle, and her sweet song keeps lulling the Gunniwolf to sleep.
Once upon a time, a little girl lived with her mother in a house near a big, thick jungle. Every day, her mother said, “Never go into the jungle, or the Gunniwolf might get you!” And every day, Little Girl promised that she would never, ever go near it.
One day, her mother had to go out for a while. “Remember, stay far away from the jungle,” she said. “I will,” said Little Girl.
But soon after her mother left, Little Girl saw some pretty white flowers at the edge of the jungle. “I will pick just a few,” she said to herself. So she picked the white flowers, and she sang a happy little song. “Kum-kwa, khi-wa, kum-kwa, khi-wa!”
A little farther in, she saw some yellow flowers. So she skipped a little farther, and she picked the yellow flowers too. “Kum-kwa, khi-wa, kum-kwa, khi-wa!”
Then, right in the middle of the jungle, she saw some purple flowers. “These will make a lovely bunch for my mother,” she said. So she picked the purple flowers, singing all the while. “Kum-kwa, khi-wa, kum-kwa, khi-wa!”
Suddenly, up jumped the Gunniwolf! “Little Girl, why did you move?” he growled. “I didn’t move,” said Little Girl, standing very still. “Then sing me that sweet song again,” said the Gunniwolf. So Little Girl sang, “Kum-kwa, khi-wa, kum-kwa, khi-wa.” The old Gunniwolf’s eyes grew heavy, his head nodded, and he fell fast asleep.
Away ran Little Girl as fast as she could. Pit-pat, pit-pat, pit-pat, pit-pat! But soon the Gunniwolf woke up, and away he ran after her. Hunker-cha, hunker-cha, hunker-cha! He caught up with her and said, “Little Girl, why did you move?” “I didn’t move,” said Little Girl. “Then sing me that sweet song again,” said the Gunniwolf. So she sang, “Kum-kwa, khi-wa, kum-kwa, khi-wa,” and once again the Gunniwolf nodded off to sleep.
Away ran Little Girl again. Pit-pat, pit-pat, pit-pat, pit-pat, all the way out of the jungle! Pit-pat, pit-pat, pitty-pat, all the way to her very own front door! She ran inside with her flowers, safe and sound. And from that day on, Little Girl never, ever went into the jungle again.
A traditional tale, retold for young children by Dino Kids (CC0).
Hear this story read aloud
In the Dino Kids app, “The Gunniwolf” is read aloud, the sentence being read lights up, and there are three reading speeds for little ears. Parents can also record it in their own voice. Free, no ads, no in-app purchases.
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