The Old Woman and Her Pig Flannel Story

This is an English fairy tale about an old woman who can't get her new pig to go over a stile. It's getting late, she's in a rush to get home before dark and asks the other animals for help. The way she asks for help is by getting each animal or object to be unkind to the other. For example, she wants the stick to beat the dog because the dog won't bite the pig to make him go over the stile. 

It gets to the point where she wants the cat to get the rat because rat won't gnaw the rope. Rope won't lasso the farmer and the farmer won't punish Ox. She wants Ox to drink water because the water won't quench the fire. Fire won't burn the stick and stick won't beat the dog, who won't bite the pig. In the end, the cat asks her to do a favor and it all works out. 

Originally I found this story on Project Gutenberg in a book called "Boys and Girls Bookshelf" published in 1920. It's full of old rhymes, stories and songs. 

Click HERE for my pdf. It includes the original text from the "Boys and Girls Bookshelf" and my rewrite. 

Click HERE for the pdf of my characters. These were pulled off google images for the most part. The stile and stick were free-handed so no template on those. 

Here's my giant disclaimer: This has been my first flannel story to create from scratch. The characters were made with construction paper, laminated and felt was glued to the backs so they would attach to the flannel board.

They're a little heavy though and don't hold very securely to the board. I'm sure there's a better way to do them with paper, but I don't know what that is. 

Happy storytelling!  

💚💛💜 

 

Edit: I have been informed this type of story is more commonly referred to as a cumulative story, not a chain story 😁