Paul Holmes -
University
English Professor

Free Materials For ESL Teachers and Learners

Short Stories for Kids

Complete lesson plans, including stories, listening, classroom activities, quiz questions and more!

The Island of Lost Toys

A little girl named Lily discovers the magical Island of Lost Toys and helps them find new owners.

Try this story at a different level?

 

There was a place called Toy Island where forgotten toys lived. These toys had magic that made people smile.

A girl named Lily found a map to Toy Island and went on a boat to find it. She took snacks and things she might need.

When Lily got to Toy Island, she played with the toys. They had fun running, riding trains, and flying with a doll. But soon, Lily missed her home and family.

Lily and the toys left the island to find children who would love them. The toys made new friends and were happy. Lily helped more lost toys find homes and felt good about it.

🎧 Listen:

Slow

Normal

📖 Vocabulary:

1forgottenThings that no one remembers anymore
2magicSpecial powers that can do amazing things
3smileWhen your face looks happy because you’re happy
4islandA piece of land with water all around it
5snacksTasty little bits of food you eat between meals
6runningMoving your legs fast so you can go quickly
7trainsBig machines that move on tracks and take people places
8flyingMoving through the air, like birds or planes do
9friendsPeople you like to play with and who like to play with you
10homesPlaces where you live, like your house or apartment

🤔 Comprehension Questions:

1. What was the name of the special place where forgotten toys lived?
2. How did Lily get to Toy Island?
3. What did Lily do when she got to Toy Island?
4. What did the toys do with Lily on the island?
5. Why did Lily and the toys leave Toy Island?
6. What did Lily do to help the lost toys?
Go to answers ⇩

🎧✍️ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

There was a place (1)______ Toy Island where forgotten toys lived. These toys had magic that made people smile.

A girl named (2)______ found a map to Toy (3)______ and went on a boat to find it. She (4)______ snacks and things she might need.

When Lily got to Toy Island, she played with the toys. They had fun running, riding trains, and flying with a doll. But soon, Lily missed her (5)______ and (6)______.

Lily and the toys left the island to find (7)______ who would love them. The toys made new friends and were happy. Lily helped more lost toys find homes and (8)______ good about it.
Go to answers ⇩

💬 Discussion Questions:

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

1. What is Toy Island?
2. How would you feel if you found a map to Toy Island?
3. Do you like playing with toys? Why or why not?
4. What do you think the toys on Toy Island did for fun?
5. How do you think Lily felt when she missed her home and family?
6. Do you think it was a good idea for Lily and the toys to find children who would love them? Why or why not?
7. Have you ever helped someone find a home for something? How did it make you feel?
8. Why do you think the toys on Toy Island were happy when they made new friends?

📖💭 Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. forgotten
2. magic
3. smile
4. island
5. snacks
6. running
7. trains
8. flying
9. friends
10. homes

Meanings:
(A) People you like to play with and who like to play with you
(B) Moving through the air, like birds or planes do
(C) Places where you live, like your house or apartment
(D) When your face looks happy because you’re happy
(E) Moving your legs fast so you can go quickly
(F) Tasty little bits of food you eat between meals
(G) Special powers that can do amazing things
(H) Things that no one remembers anymore
(I) Big machines that move on tracks and take people places
(J) A piece of land with water all around it
Go to answers ⇩

🔡 Multiple Choice Questions:

1. What is the name of the place where forgotten toys live?
(a) Magic Island
(b) Smile Island
(c) Toy Island
(d) Fun Island

2. How did Lily get to Toy Island?
(a) On a boat
(b) On a train
(c) On a plane
(d) On a bike

3. What did Lily bring with her to Toy Island?
(a) Clothes and toys
(b) Books and puzzles
(c) Money and a map
(d) Snacks and things she might need

4. What did Lily do with the toys on Toy Island?
(a) Played with them
(b) Gave them away
(c) Sold them
(d) Hid them

5. What did the toys do with Lily on Toy Island?
(a) They stayed still and did nothing
(b) They had fun running, riding trains, and flying with a doll
(c) They cried and were sad
(d) They fought with each other

6. Why did Lily leave Toy Island?
(a) She didn’t like the toys
(b) She missed her home and family
(c) She was scared of the island
(d) She wanted to stay and live there

7. What did Lily do after leaving Toy Island?
(a) Went back to Toy Island
(b) Forgot about the toys
(c) Helped more lost toys find homes
(d) Cried and was sad

8. How did the toys feel after leaving Toy Island?
(a) Angry
(b) Scared
(c) Sad
(d) Happy

Go to answers ⇩

🕵️ True or False Questions:

1. The toys on Toy Island lacked magic that made people smile.
2. A girl named Lily found a map that showed her how to get to Toy Island.
3. Lily and the toys decided to stay on Toy Island and find children who would love them.
4. There was a special place called Toy Island where toys that were forgotten by people lived.
5. When Lily arrived at Toy Island, she observed and had fun with the toys there.
6. Lily packed snacks and things she might need for her adventure to Toy Island.
7. The toys on Toy Island liked to run, ride trains, and fly with a doll.
8. After a while, Lily started to enjoy her home and family.
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 the name of the special place where forgotten toys lived?
Toy Island.

2. How did Lily get to Toy Island?
Lily went on a boat to get to Toy Island.

3. What did Lily do when she got to Toy Island?
Lily played with the toys when she got to Toy Island.

4. What did the toys do with Lily on the island?
The toys had fun running, riding trains, and flying with a doll.

5. Why did Lily and the toys leave Toy Island?
Lily missed her home and family, so they left Toy Island.

6. What did Lily do to help the lost toys?
Lily helped the lost toys find homes.
Go back to questions ⇧

🎧✍️✅ Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) called
(2) Lily
(3) Island
(4) took
(5) home
(6) family
(7) children
(8) felt
Go back to questions ⇧

📖💭✅ Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. forgotten
Answer: (H) Things that no one remembers anymore

2. magic
Answer: (G) Special powers that can do amazing things

3. smile
Answer: (D) When your face looks happy because you’re happy

4. island
Answer: (J) A piece of land with water all around it

5. snacks
Answer: (F) Tasty little bits of food you eat between meals

6. running
Answer: (E) Moving your legs fast so you can go quickly

7. trains
Answer: (I) Big machines that move on tracks and take people places

8. flying
Answer: (B) Moving through the air, like birds or planes do

9. friends
Answer: (A) People you like to play with and who like to play with you

10. homes
Answer: (C) Places where you live, like your house or apartment
Go back to questions ⇧

🔡✅ Multiple Choice Answers:

1. What is the name of the place where forgotten toys live?
Answer: (c) Toy Island

2. How did Lily get to Toy Island?
Answer: (a) On a boat

3. What did Lily bring with her to Toy Island?
Answer: (d) Snacks and things she might need

4. What did Lily do with the toys on Toy Island?
Answer: (a) Played with them

5. What did the toys do with Lily on Toy Island?
Answer: (b) They had fun running, riding trains, and flying with a doll

6. Why did Lily leave Toy Island?
Answer: (b) She missed her home and family

7. What did Lily do after leaving Toy Island?
Answer: (c) Helped more lost toys find homes

8. How did the toys feel after leaving Toy Island?
Answer: (d) Happy
Go back to questions ⇧

🕵️✅ True or False Answers:

1. The toys on Toy Island lacked magic that made people smile. (Answer: False)
2. A girl named Lily found a map that showed her how to get to Toy Island. (Answer: True)
3. Lily and the toys decided to stay on Toy Island and find children who would love them. (Answer: False)
4. There was a special place called Toy Island where toys that were forgotten by people lived. (Answer: True)
5. When Lily arrived at Toy Island, she observed and had fun with the toys there. (Answer: False)
6. Lily packed snacks and things she might need for her adventure to Toy Island. (Answer: True)
7. The toys on Toy Island liked to run, ride trains, and fly with a doll. (Answer: True)
8. After a while, Lily started to enjoy her home and family. (Answer: False)
Go back to questions ⇧

📚 How about these other Level 1 stories?

A young girl named Lily embarks on a daring adventure to find a hidden harbor and discovers that true treasure lies in the simple pleasures of life.

The Hidden Harbor

Lily found a secret harbor and learned that the best treasure is having fun with friends.

A little girl named Lily saves her town from darkness by convincing mischievous squirrels to return stolen sunflowers.

The Day the Sun Forgot to Rise

Once upon a time, there was a town that got scared when the sun didn’t come up. A brave girl named Lily found squirrels taking sunflowers, and she told them to put them back. The people in the town planted the flowers again and sang to make the sun come back. They learned that being hopeful is important, and the sun always came up after that day.

Embarking on a magical adventure in Vegetable Land, Max discovers that vegetables are superheroes in disguise.

The Voyage to Vegetable Land

Max didn’t like eating vegetables, but one day he went on an adventure to Vegetable Land and discovered that veggies can be fun and yummy!

disaster into a triumph, creating a beautiful and unforgettable moment for everyone involved.

The Carnival of Colors

In Rainbowland, everyone had a big fun day with colors, parades, and tasty snacks. Timmy’s costume flew away, but his friends helped him fix it and win a prize.

Lily discovers a hidden door in the enchanted forest and befriends a sparkling fairy named Hazel.

The Fairy’s Secret

Lily found a secret door in the woods and met a fairy named Hazel. They danced with fairies and made the woods pretty again.

🎉 Coming Soon ⏳

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