In this humorous folktale, “The Monkeys and the Hats”, we follow a hardworking grandfather and his curious grandson, Nick, as they discover the clever tricks of a group of mischievous monkeys living deep in the forest. When hats mysteriously disappear from their baskets, both characters must rely on creativity, patience, and quick thinking to solve their unusual problem.
“The Monkeys and the Hats” teaches that wisdom can be learned across generations—and sometimes even from playful little animals who love to imitate everything they see!
CHARACTERS:
GRANDFATHER
NICK
MONKEY 1
MONKEY 2
MONKEY 3
MONKEY 4
SCRIPT:
Scene I – At The Hat Store
(Nick and his grandfather are in the hat store. Nick’s grandfather puts some hats in a basket.)
GRANDFATHER: Tell your mother I’ll be back at 6.
NICK: Ok… Grandpa, why did you decide to go there? You’ve never been to that part of the forest.
GRANDFATHER: Well, you know sales haven’t been great lately.
NICK: I know that business isn’t going very well, but I’m worried about you.
GRANDFATHER: Why?
NICK: It’s the forest! I think I should go instead, and you should stay.
GRANDFATHER: Ha, ha, ha, ha! There’s nothing to be afraid of… come on, Nick!
NICK: Yes, there is! Please, Grandpa, don’t go.
GRANDFATHER: Listen, you and your mother are in charge of the store while I’m gone. So, see you tonight.
(Nick’s grandfather opens the door and starts to walk away, but he forgets the basket and his own hat. Nick sees the basket.)
NICK: Grandpa!
(Nick’s grandfather turns around.)
GRANDFATHER: I told you, Nick…
NICK: You forgot the basket… and your hat.
GRANDFATHER: Oh.
(Nick’s grandfather takes the basket, puts on his hat, and leaves. Nick waves goodbye.)
Scene II – In The Forest
(Nick’s grandfather walks in the forest.)
GRANDFATHER: I’m so tired. I think I’ll take a nap under one of those trees.
(He sits on the ground and leaves the basket by his side. He falls asleep. Monkeys 1, 2, 3, and 4 approach him, take the hats from the basket, and climb up the tree. He wakes up, sees that several hats in the basket have disappeared, and stands up.)
GRANDFATHER: Where are my hats?
(He hears a noise, looks up, and sees all the monkeys wearing a hat.)
GRANDFATHER: Oh no, you took my hats! You clever little things!
(He sits on the ground and keeps looking up at the tree. He scratches his head. All the monkeys scratch their heads. He takes off his own hat. The monkeys take off their hats. He stands up.)
GRANDFATHER: That’s it!
(He takes his hat and throws it on the ground. All the monkeys throw their hats on the ground. He picks up all the hats and puts them in the basket.)
GRANDFATHER: Thank you! Have a nice day, and say hello to your family!
(He leaves the stage.)
Scene III – In The Forest
(Nick walks in the forest. He wears a hat and carries a basket full of hats.)
NICK: This is the same path my grandfather followed a few years ago… Oh, I still remember that day…. Ha, ha, ha… when he told me that silly monkey story… ha, ha, ha. Oh, grandfather, I miss you so much!… I’m so tired. I think I’ll take a nap under that tree.
(He sits on the ground and leaves the basket by his side. He falls asleep. Monkeys 1, 2, 3, and 4 approach him. They take the hats from the basket and climb up the tree. Nick wakes up and sees that some of the hats from the basket have disappeared. He stands up.)
NICK: Oh, no! Where are my hats?
(He hears a noise, looks up, and sees all the monkeys wearing a hat.)
NICK: My grandfather was right! How could I not believe his story? What should I do now? Hmm… I bet I can fool these monkeys, too.
(He scratches his head. The monkeys scratch their heads. He dances. The monkeys dance. He raises his hands. The monkeys raise their hands. Nick throws his hat on the ground. The monkeys don’t throw their hats on the floor. Nick looks surprised. One of the monkeys climbs down the tree, grabs the hat on the floor, and hits Nick on the shoulder.)
NICK: What’s the matter with you?!
MONKEY 1: You think you’re the only one with a grandfather?
MONKEYS 2, 3, and 4: Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha.
(Nick takes the empty basket and leaves the stage.)
As the story of “The Monkeys and the Hats” comes to a close, we realize that every challenge can become a lesson when we open our eyes to the world around us. The grandfather’s clever solution helps him retrieve his hats, but years later, the monkeys prove that they, too, have learned from the past! Nick discovers that wisdom isn’t only passed down in families—it also travels through experience, memory, and observation. In the end, this delightful tale reminds us to stay humble, stay creative, and always expect the unexpected.
The End
Author: Anonymous Folktale
Adapted by: K I D S I N C O
Moral of the story: Cleverness isn’t just about copying others—it’s about thinking for yourself.
Moral Values:
- Wisdom: Experience teaches valuable lessons that can guide future actions.
- Humility: Even when we think we know everything, there’s always more to learn.
- Creativity: Thinking outside the box can solve even the most surprising problems.
- Respect for Others: Animals—just like people—observe and learn from what they see.
- Patience: Staying calm allows us to understand a situation before reacting.
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👉 External Resources:
- Monkey – Kids / Britannica
- What is a Folktale? – Twinkl
- World of Folk and Fairy Tales – World of Tales
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