This is my version based on a retelling of an Appalachian Mountain Folktale  - the version I developed this from is by Ruth Manning Saunders found in ‘Tortoise Tales.’

I have kept to the structure of the story but have changed details, the rhymes and the actions

I have told it many times in schools and museums and it has slowly evolved into its own story. It's at its best as an oral telling rather than on the page - especially when you have a hall full of children howling!

Rabbit woke up with a stretch and a yawn. He opened his eyes to see the sun shining brightly through the window. He jumped out of bed.

It was a day to be outside

It was a day to be visiting friends.

‘I know,’ said Rabbit, ‘I’ll go and visit Hedgehog’

Rabbit opened the door.  

And with a hop, a skip and a jump Rabbit was running out of the house, and across the fields, along the path to the wood where Hedgehog lived.

It was such a lovely day he felt like singing.

Toodle- oodle- oo his song floated on the breeze around him

Toodle- oodle- oo his song was racing along the path ahead of him.

Toodle- oodle- oo his song was chasing through the wood.

Toodle- oodle- oo his song was tickling a pair of ears!

A pair of pointed ears

A pair of pointed furry ears

The pointed furry ears of a WOLF!

Well actually there wasn’t just one wolf! Oh no!

In fact there were

1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-Wolves!

Ten hungry wolves

Ten hungry wolves looking for DINNER!

And when they felt that song tickling their ears they all jumped up and followed it back along the path until they saw Rabbit

And what did Rabbit see?

He saw 10 hungry wolves looking for  DINNER!

‘What? Who? Me?  Nooooo You must be joking, I’ve got a much better idea’ said rabbit (quickly making up a plan to help him escape) ‘I wouldn’t even be a single mouthful for the ten of you, so why don’t we have a competition and the WINNER gets to eat me. All by himself. No sharing!’

The wolves looked at rabbit and they looked at each other. A competition? And the winner got to eat Rabbit. All by himself! No sharing!

‘OK,’ they all said, (for each wolf just knew they would be the winner!)

‘But what sort of competition?’

‘Ah,’ smiled rabbit ‘I thought we could have a dancing competition. Do you like dancing?              

‘Like it?’ they cried, ‘We LOVE it- at least we would if we knew how’  

Oh it’s easy I’ll teach you, smiled Rabbit. ‘First of all I stand at tree number 1 and you must all dance away clapping your hands until you hear me give a little cough like this… uhuh Then you must all come ruuuunnnnning back and I’ll teach you the next bit.’

‘Sounds easy enough,’ agreed the wolves.

‘Then what are you waiting for?’ said Rabbit who immediately started to sing

(sing to tune of Frère Jacques whilst clapping hands)

Dance away wolves, dance away wolves

Twirl and spin, twirl and spin

Leaping and jumping, careful now no bumping

Dance away, dance away

Rabbit gave a little cough…uhuh and all the wolves came ruuuunnnnning back.

‘That was very good,’ admired rabbit, ‘So now I’ll stand at tree number 2 and this time you clap your hands and then click your fingers. Off you go,’ said Rabbit before the wolves had chance to think about it.

(sing to tune of Frère Jacques , clap hands and click fingers)

Dance away wolves, dance away wolves

Twirl and spin, twirl and spin

Leaping and jumping, careful now no bumping

Dance away, dance away

Rabbit gave a little cough…uhuh and all the wolves came ruuuunnnnning back

‘Impressive,’ said Rabbit, ‘so now I’ll stand at tree…

‘Number 3?’ interrupted one of the wolves.

“ Yes tree number 3! Brains as well!’ said Rabbit, ‘ What talent.’

‘Well I try,’ replied the wolf, bashfully.

‘Get on with it,’ said all the other wolves impatiently

‘Of course,’ said Rabbit. ‘This time you have to clap your hands, click your fingers and then pat your head-

Clap click, pat! As easy as 123. Are you ready?

( sing to tune of Frère Jacques , clap hands, click fingers and pat head)

Dance away wolves, dance away wolves

Twirl and spin, twirl and spin

Leaping and jumping, careful now no bumping

Dance away, dance away

Rabbit gave a little cough…uhuh and all the wolves came ruuuunnnnning back some of them … a little…out…of… breath! ‘Don’t tell us… it’s tree number… 4’

‘How did you guess?’ said Rabbit as he walked along the path to the next tree. ‘Well now the dance does get a little more complicated – but nothing such experts like you can’t manage.So this time it’s -Clap your hands, click your fingers, pat your head and rub your tum.’

All the wolves immediately rubbed their tums, ‘this is more like it,’ they grinned, ‘we’re getting near to eating you aren’t we?’

‘Well yes nearly! But not quite yet, so off you go…’

(sing to tune of Frère Jacques , clap hands, click fingers, pat head and  rub tum)

Dance away wolves, dance away wolves

Twirl and spin, twirl and spin

Leaping and jumping, careful now no bumping

Dance away, dance away

Rabbit gave a little cough…uhuh and all the wolves came ruuuunnnnning back

still rubbing their tummies and some licking their lips. ‘All this dancing is making us really hungry!’ they cried.

‘That’s good,’ said Rabbit, ‘cos this next time it’s the last part of the dance and first one back get’s to …’

‘EAT YOU !’ cried all the wolves together. ‘So go and stand at tree number 5.’

‘Very well,’ sighed Rabbit. ‘If you insist.’

(Now you have probably noticed that Rabbit has been moving along from tree number 12345, but what you probably and the wolves certainly don’t know is that tree number 5 is hedgehog’s house and that this time when the wolves dance away Rabbit is going to escape inside. But SSHH don’t tell the wolves).

Now this really is the best bit,’ announced rabbit smiling from ear to ear,

‘You clap your hands,

click your fingers,

pat your head

Rub your tummy…

and HOWL !!!

And remember first one back get’s to EAT me’

(sing to tune of Frère Jacques, clap hands, click fingers pat head, rub tum and howl)

Dance away wolves, dance away wolves

Twirl and spin, twirl and spin

Leaping and jumping, careful now no bumping

Dance away, dance away

Rabbit watched as the wolves danced away. Then he opened the door to hedgehog’s house, gave a little cough…uhuh and shut the door behind him.

And  all the wolves came ruuuunnnnning back

But where was rabbit?

The wolves looked to their left

The wolves looked to their right

The wolves they looked up

The wolves they looked down

He’d gone!

And so had their dinner...

All the wolves could do was to dance sadly (and hungrily) away but as they did they were sure they could hear a little voice singing

Dance away wolves, dance away wolves

Twirl and spin, twirl and spin

Leaping and jumping, careful now no bumping

Dance away, dance away

Snip snap snout

That tale’s told out

Hooooowwwwwwwllllllll!