"The Goat with three kids" is a kid's tale written in 1875 by one of the best romanian writers: Ion Creanga.
What is peculiar about this story is that it is so gory and bloody that, in the western world, people wouldn't ever read it to kids. But in Romania, kids everywhere read it and enjoy it, unphased by all the blood and violence. Easter European blood, maybe?
I know that nobody ever heard of it so that's why I'm writing this post. It's an amazing story that deserves to have a wider audience. I think that if it had, we would have seen movie adaptations and probably a Tim Burton animation based on it! As it is, it's virtually unknown. So here's a short version for Steemit!
The illustrations are 100% original, made by 
for this post, exclusively for Steemit.
Once upon a time, there was a widowed Goat. She had three kids: the older ones were nasty and always looking for trouble but the little one was hardworking and always listened to his mother. One day, the mother goat had to go out in the woods to get food. She instructs her children to never open the door unless they hear her sing this song:
Three kids, little kids
Open the door to your mommy
Mommy’ s bringing to you all:
Leaves on her lips,
Milk in her teats,
A ball of salt
On her back,
Cornmeal
On her heel,
A tuft of flowers
In her armpits."
"Do you kids understand?" she asked and the kids all agreed. She left to get the goodies and the kids were left alone, to play and do what kids do. Meanwhile, a wolf, having listened on the conversation, came to the door and sang the song, hoping to trick the kids.
Three kids, little kids / Open the door to your mommy....
The first two were ready to unlock the door but the little one said:
"NO! mommy's voice is not that harsh!"
They did not open the door. But the wolf didn't let go so easily, he went to the blacksmith and asked him to "sharpen his tongue" so he can sing better and then came back.
Three kids, little kids/ Open the door to your mommy/ Mommy’ s bringing to you all:
Leaves on her lips
Milk in her teats,
A ball of salt
On her back...
"Now this is surely mother!" the older ones said and ran to open the door. As soon a she opened it, the wolf was at this throat, eating him. When he was done he looked around and found the second kid hidden under blanket and gulped him down as well.
He looked for more but try as he might, could not find the third kid, hidden in the fireplace. Unsatisfied, he stains the walls with the kids' blood and places their heads at the windows, so from a distance they look like they're smiling.
Finally the mother comes home. She's happy to see her kids at the window, waiting, smiling for her. She sings the song and the little one, recognizing her, opens the door and start crying telling her everything. The mother is devastated but swears revenge.
Initially she goes into the wood and meets the wolf, telling him she knows what he did but he is now forgiven and invites him at the memorial service. She cooks a big meal and awaits for the wolf to arrive...
In secret, she fills a large pit with burning embers and places a wax stool over it.
When the wolf comes, he take the wax stools and he eats greedily portion after portion. The wax melts slowly, he gets heavier and eventually he falls into the pit underneath and burns to death.
As he yells for help the mother goat says that this her following the bible:
"a death for a death [and] a burn for a burn".
And then..they dance around the burning wolf!!
THE END.
So this is it! I hope you found this read...suitable for children. If you liked it, liked the illustrations, I'll bring you more romanian folklore in the upcoming posts.