Paul Holmes -
University
English Professor

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Short Stories for Kids

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Amy and the Magic Book

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Once upon a time, in a small village, lived a little girl named Amy. Amy was known for her love for books, and she was always on the lookout for new adventures. One sunny afternoon, while exploring the local library, she stumbled upon an old, dusty book hidden away on a shelf. Its title read, “The Magic Book of Wonders.”

Curiosity getting the better of her, Amy opened the book and suddenly found herself transported into a magical world filled with talking animals and friendly giants. The book had indeed come to life, and Amy could not believe her eyes! She quickly realized that in this enchanted land, she had the power to create and change anything with just the turn of a page.

Excited by her newfound abilities, Amy began creating all sorts of wild and wacky things. She conjured up a chocolate river, a sky full of cotton candy clouds, and even a talking unicorn who loved to tell jokes. Everywhere she went, laughter and joy followed, and the once dreary village became a place filled with happiness and wonder.

But as Amy spent more time in this magical world, she started to notice something unsettling. The laughter and happiness she had spread was beginning to fade away. People started taking things for granted and stopped appreciating the ordinary wonders of the world. Realizing the consequences of her actions, Amy knew she had to do something to bring back the joy.

With a heavy heart, Amy returned to the library and found the book once again. As she turned the pages, she came across a spell that could reverse the effects of her creations. She recited the words and watched as the chocolate river receded and the cotton candy clouds dissolved. Soon, the village returned to its normal state, but this time, people had learned the importance of appreciating the simple wonders around them.

From that day forward, Amy became known as the girl who had the power to create magic but chose to spread joy, laughter, and appreciation instead. She used her experiences as a lesson to teach others about the beauty of the world we live in and the importance of finding happiness in the smallest of things. And as for the Magic Book of Wonders, it remained in the library, waiting for the next adventurous soul to discover its incredible secrets.

🎧 Listen:

📖 Vocabulary:

1transportedMoved or carried from one place to another
2conjuredSummoned as if by magic
3recededMoved back or retreated
4drearyDull, bleak, or lifeless
5unsettlingCausing discomfort or worry
6consequencesResults or effects of actions or events
7appreciationRecognition of the value or quality of something
8recitedSpoke or read aloud words from a text
9dissolvedDisappeared or vanished into a liquid
10joyFeeling or expression of great happiness
11laughterAmusement and lighthearted pleasure
12enchantedFilled with wonder and delight
13adventuresExciting and risky experiences or activities
14wackySilly or unusual in an amusing way
15ordinaryCommon or regular; not special

🤔 Comprehension Questions:

1. What was Amy known for in the village?
2. What did Amy find in the library?
3. What happened when Amy opened the book?
4. What could Amy do in the enchanted land?
5. What did Amy create with her newfound abilities?
6. What happened to the village as Amy spent more time in the magical world?
7. What did Amy do to bring back the joy?
8. What did Amy become known for after her experiences in the magical world?
Go to answers ⇩

🎧✍️ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

Once upon a time, in a small (1)______, (2)______ a little girl named Amy. Amy was known for her love for books, and she was always on the lookout for new adventures. One sunny afternoon, while exploring the local library, she stumbled upon an old, dusty book hidden away on a shelf. Its title read, “The (3)______ Book of Wonders.”

Curiosity getting the better of her, Amy opened the book and suddenly found herself transported into a magical world (4)______ with talking animals and friendly giants. The book had indeed come to life, and Amy could not believe her eyes! She quickly realized that in this enchanted land, she had the power to create and change anything with just the turn of a page.

Excited by her newfound (5)______, Amy began creating all sorts of wild and wacky things. She conjured up a chocolate river, a sky full of cotton candy (6)______, and even a talking unicorn who loved to tell jokes. Everywhere she went, laughter and joy followed, and the once dreary village became a place filled with happiness and (7)______.

But as Amy (8)______ more time in this magical world, she started to notice something unsettling. The laughter and happiness she had spread was beginning to fade away. People started taking things for granted and stopped (9)______ the ordinary wonders of the world. Realizing the (10)______ of her actions, Amy knew she had to do something to bring back the joy.

With a heavy heart, Amy returned to the (11)______ and found the book once again. As she turned the pages, she came across a spell that could reverse the effects of her creations. She recited the words and watched as the chocolate river receded and the cotton candy clouds (12)______. Soon, the village returned to its normal state, but this time, (13)______ had learned the (14)______ of appreciating the (15)______ wonders around them.

From that day forward, Amy became known as the girl who had the power to create magic but chose to spread joy, laughter, and appreciation instead. She used her experiences as a (16)______ to teach others about the beauty of the world we live in and the importance of finding happiness in the smallest of things. And as for the Magic Book of Wonders, it remained in the library, waiting for the next adventurous soul to discover its incredible secrets.
Go to answers ⇩

💬 Discussion Questions:

Students can ask a partner these questions, or discuss them as a group.

1. What do you think it means to appreciate the ordinary wonders of the world?
2. How do you think Amy felt when she first discovered the magical world in the book?
3. If you had the power to create and change anything with just the turn of a page, what would you create?
4. How would you feel if you were in Amy’s position and had to reverse the effects of your creations?
5. Do you think it’s important to spread joy and laughter? Why or why not?
6. Have you ever experienced a situation where people started taking things for granted? How did it make you feel?
7. What do you think the lesson is that Amy learned from her experiences in the magical world?
8. How do you think the people in the village felt when they realized the importance of appreciating the simple wonders around them?
9. What is something ordinary that you appreciate in your everyday life?
10. Do you believe that magic exists in the world? Why or why not?
11. How do you think Amy used her experiences to teach others about the beauty of the world?
12. If you were the next adventurous soul to discover the Magic Book of Wonders, what would you do with its incredible secrets?

📖💭 Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. transported
2. conjured
3. receded
4. dreary
5. unsettling
6. consequences
7. appreciation
8. recited
9. dissolved
10. joy
11. laughter
12. enchanted
13. adventures
14. wacky
15. ordinary

Meanings:
(A) Common or regular; not special
(B) Results or effects of actions or events
(C) Recognition of the value or quality of something
(D) Moved or carried from one place to another
(E) Summoned as if by magic
(F) Causing discomfort or worry
(G) Dull, bleak, or lifeless
(H) Disappeared or vanished into a liquid
(I) Spoke or read aloud words from a text
(J) Exciting and risky experiences or activities
(K) Moved back or retreated
(L) Amusement and lighthearted pleasure
(M) Feeling or expression of great happiness
(N) Silly or unusual in an amusing way
(O) Filled with wonder and delight
Go to answers ⇩

🔡 Multiple Choice Questions:

1. What did Amy find in the library?
(a) An old, dusty book
(b) A talking unicorn
(c) A chocolate river
(d) A sky full of cotton candy clouds

2. What happened when Amy opened the book?
(a) She found a hidden treasure
(b) She was transported into a magical world
(c) She met a friendly giant
(d) She discovered a secret passage

3. What could Amy do in the enchanted land?
(a) Fly like a bird
(b) Swim in the chocolate river
(c) Ride the talking unicorn
(d) Create and change anything with just the turn of a page

4. What did Amy create in the magical world?
(a) A castle made of candy
(b) A rainbow that never disappeared
(c) A garden full of talking flowers
(d) A chocolate river, cotton candy clouds, and a talking unicorn

5. What happened to the village when Amy created all sorts of wild and wacky things?
(a) It became a place filled with happiness and wonder
(b) It became a place filled with sadness and despair
(c) It disappeared completely
(d) It was taken over by talking animals

6. Why did Amy decide to reverse the effects of her creations?
(a) She wanted to create even more wild and wacky things
(b) She was tired of the magical world and wanted to go back to the village
(c) People started taking things for granted and stopped appreciating the ordinary wonders of the world
(d) The talking unicorn told her to do so

7. What did Amy find in the book that could reverse the effects of her creations?
(a) A map to a hidden treasure
(b) A recipe for a magical potion
(c) A spell
(d) A secret code

8. What did Amy become known for?
(a) Creating magic
(b) Spreading joy, laughter, and appreciation
(c) Teaching others about the beauty of the world
(d) Finding hidden treasures in the library

Go to answers ⇩

🕵️ True or False Questions:

1. The village becomes a place filled with sorrow and monotony due to Amy’s creations.
2. Amy realizes that people are taking her creations for granted and not appreciating the ordinary wonders of the world.
3. Amy is an older woman who despises books and adventures.
4. Amy discovers an old, dusty book titled “The Magic Book of Wonders” in the local library.
5. Amy creates dull and boring things like a cheese river, broccoli clouds, and a silent unicorn.
6. Amy finds a spell in the book that can reverse the effects of her creations and uses it to bring back joy and appreciation to the village.
7. When Amy opens the book, she is transported into a mundane world with mute animals and hostile giants.
8. In this enchanted land, Amy has the power to create and change anything by turning the pages of the book.
Go to answers ⇩

📝 Write a Summary:

Write a summary of this story in two sentences. Here are some hints:
Who are the main characters?
What happens in the story?

Answers

🤔✅ Comprehension Question Answers:

1. What was Amy known for in the village?
Amy was known for her love for books.

2. What did Amy find in the library?
Amy found an old, dusty book titled “The Magic Book of Wonders.”

3. What happened when Amy opened the book?
Amy found herself transported into a magical world filled with talking animals and friendly giants.

4. What could Amy do in the enchanted land?
In the enchanted land, Amy had the power to create and change anything with just the turn of a page.

5. What did Amy create with her newfound abilities?
Amy created a chocolate river, a sky full of cotton candy clouds, and even a talking unicorn who loved to tell jokes.

6. What happened to the village as Amy spent more time in the magical world?
The laughter and happiness that Amy had spread started to fade away, and people began taking things for granted and stopped appreciating the ordinary wonders of the world.

7. What did Amy do to bring back the joy?
Amy returned to the library and found a spell in the book that could reverse the effects of her creations. She recited the spell and watched as the magical creations disappeared.

8. What did Amy become known for after her experiences in the magical world?
Amy became known as the girl who had the power to create magic but chose to spread joy, laughter, and appreciation instead.
Go back to questions ⇧

🎧✍️✅ Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) village
(2) lived
(3) Magic
(4) filled
(5) abilities
(6) clouds
(7) wonder
(8) spent
(9) appreciating
(10) consequences
(11) library
(12) dissolved
(13) people
(14) importance
(15) simple
(16) lesson
Go back to questions ⇧

📖💭✅ Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. transported
Answer: (D) Moved or carried from one place to another

2. conjured
Answer: (E) Summoned as if by magic

3. receded
Answer: (K) Moved back or retreated

4. dreary
Answer: (G) Dull, bleak, or lifeless

5. unsettling
Answer: (F) Causing discomfort or worry

6. consequences
Answer: (B) Results or effects of actions or events

7. appreciation
Answer: (C) Recognition of the value or quality of something

8. recited
Answer: (I) Spoke or read aloud words from a text

9. dissolved
Answer: (H) Disappeared or vanished into a liquid

10. joy
Answer: (M) Feeling or expression of great happiness

11. laughter
Answer: (L) Amusement and lighthearted pleasure

12. enchanted
Answer: (O) Filled with wonder and delight

13. adventures
Answer: (J) Exciting and risky experiences or activities

14. wacky
Answer: (N) Silly or unusual in an amusing way

15. ordinary
Answer: (A) Common or regular; not special
Go back to questions ⇧

🔡✅ Multiple Choice Answers:

1. What did Amy find in the library?
Answer: (a) An old, dusty book

2. What happened when Amy opened the book?
Answer: (b) She was transported into a magical world

3. What could Amy do in the enchanted land?
Answer: (d) Create and change anything with just the turn of a page

4. What did Amy create in the magical world?
Answer: (d) A chocolate river, cotton candy clouds, and a talking unicorn

5. What happened to the village when Amy created all sorts of wild and wacky things?
Answer: (a) It became a place filled with happiness and wonder

6. Why did Amy decide to reverse the effects of her creations?
Answer: (c) People started taking things for granted and stopped appreciating the ordinary wonders of the world

7. What did Amy find in the book that could reverse the effects of her creations?
Answer: (c) A spell

8. What did Amy become known for?
Answer: (b) Spreading joy, laughter, and appreciation
Go back to questions ⇧

🕵️✅ True or False Answers:

1. The village becomes a place filled with sorrow and monotony due to Amy’s creations. (Answer: False)
2. Amy realizes that people are taking her creations for granted and not appreciating the ordinary wonders of the world. (Answer: True)
3. Amy is an older woman who despises books and adventures. (Answer: False)
4. Amy discovers an old, dusty book titled “The Magic Book of Wonders” in the local library. (Answer: True)
5. Amy creates dull and boring things like a cheese river, broccoli clouds, and a silent unicorn. (Answer: False)
6. Amy finds a spell in the book that can reverse the effects of her creations and uses it to bring back joy and appreciation to the village. (Answer: True)
7. When Amy opens the book, she is transported into a mundane world with mute animals and hostile giants. (Answer: False)
8. In this enchanted land, Amy has the power to create and change anything by turning the pages of the book. (Answer: True)
Go back to questions ⇧

📚 How about these other Level 4 stories?

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The Baffling Banana Blizzard

Milo the mischievous monkey discovers a hidden portal to a land of sour bananas and embarks on a quest to find kindness crystals and restore sweetness to the land.

The Giant’s Garden

A giant named Greg and his mischievous kitten, Whiskers, team up to outsmart jealous goblins and restore the magic to their garden.

A llama farmer builds an obstacle course to keep his mischievous llamas entertained and happy.

The Llama Farmer

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Lily conquers the Marshmallow Mountains, learns the secret recipe, and shares everlasting marshmallows with the world.

The Marshmallow Mountains

Lily conquers the Marshmallow Mountains, learns the secret recipe, and shares everlasting marshmallows with the world.

A dragon overcomes the challenge of losing his voice by using enchanted invitations for his birthday party.

The Dragon’s Birthday

A dragon overcomes the challenge of losing his voice by using enchanted invitations for his birthday party.

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