The Candy Pig

Summary


"The Candy Pig" is a short children's story about Kaisa, a cheerful girl who receives a wonderfully pink, delightfully big candy pig as a Christmas gift in Sweden. Convinced it is the finest candy pig ever made, she vows to keep it forever — until temptation wins out, one nibble at a time. First the ears, then the legs, then the rest. What follows is a tummy ache that turns her sweetest treasure into her greatest regret.

Listen to audio



Read Online

Once upon a time, during a magical Christmas, lived a cheerful little girl named Kaisa. She received a most extraordinary gift that year – a captivating candy pig. Kaisa thought it was the most beautiful candy pig she had ever seen. It was wonderfully pink and delightfully big.

“Oh, it’s the loveliest candy pig in all of Sweden!” Kaisa exclaimed. The shop that made it couldn’t possibly have made a finer one. She decided to cherish this candy pig all her life, no matter how old she grew.

However, as time passed, a mischievous thought slipped into Kaisa’s mind. She found herself staring at the pig’s ears, contemplating. “Why would a candy pig need ears?” she pondered. And before she knew it, she bit into the sweet ears. To her delight, they were delicious.

Not long after, Kaisa picked up the candy pig and considered its legs. “You don’t need legs, dear pig. After all, I’m always carrying you wherever we go,” she reasoned. The candy legs were temptingly sweet. A tantalizing thought flashed across her mind, “Why not eat all the rest?”

And that’s exactly what she did. Despite the candy pig’s considerable size, Kaisa nibbled away at it. She ate and ate, until she had devoured the entire charming candy pig.

But alas, after her sweet feast, something felt wrong. A terrible pain began to twist in her tummy. She cried out, “Oh, Mother, help! I’m in such pain. I never, ever want to see a candy pig again.”

And that’s the story of Kaisa and her candy pig. She learned the hard way that while candies are delightful, moderation is key.


Credits

Emilie Poulsson was an American author and educator, born in 1853, best known for her warm and gently moral stories and finger plays aimed at young children. "The Candy Pig" reflects her signature style — a simple, playful scenario that carries a quietly instructive sting in its tail.