Louie and the Animal Cup
The forest animals hold a football cup, but nobody can agree on the rules!
The forest was buzzing. At last, the animals were holding their very own football cup, and the winner would get a giant honey cake! Louie the little bird was in goal... Er, was ready to play.
But there was a problem. Jonah the zebra was so big that the little ones kept bouncing off him. ‘That’s not fair!’ squeaked Freddie the snail. ‘Maybe we have to change the rules!’
They all talked at once. Jonah wanted one rule. Freddie wanted another. The ball sat in the middle looking very bored. Then Louie had a better idea.
‘What if Jonah plays with a soft ball and the little ones get a head start?’ said Louie. ‘And everyone takes turns in goal!’ The animals thought about it. ‘Yes!’ they cheered.
The match began. Jonah gently tapped the ball. Freddie zipped round like a rocket. Louie passed and passed. It was the funniest, fairest football the forest had ever seen.
In the end, nobody could say who had won. ‘Let’s all share a giant honey cake,’ said Louie. So they did. And they cut it into the right number of pieces so that every animal got one.
As the stars came out, the animals went home, tired and full of happiness. Next year, they would hold the cup again. And this time, everyone knew the rules.
The little lesson
When we listen to each other, we can make rules that are fair for everybody.
Let’s talk about it
- What makes a game fair?
- Which animal would you like to play football with?
Finish stories to collect Louie as a sticker in your Sticker Book.
More Football stories
Deep Breath, Omar
The cup final comes down to penalties, and Omar is the very last kicker.
Where Is Flo’s Boot?
It’s match day, but Flo can only find one boot. Where could it be?
We Want to Play! Said Hana
The big kids always use the pitch. So Hana and friends make a team of their own.
You might also like
The Tortoise, Toby and the Hill
A proud runner mocks a slow friend and learns that steady effort beats a quick start.
Ravi and the Magic Stone Soup
Ravi makes soup from a stone, and the whole village adds one thing at a time.
Sam the Parrot Can’t Keep a Secret
Sam the parrot repeats everything he hears, including the secret surprise party!