Paul Holmes -
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English Professor

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Short Stories for Kids

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

The Mysterious Mango

Maya's wish for endless laughter brings joy and unity to her village, making her the laughter ambassador.

Try this story at a different level?

 

Once there was a girl named Maya who lived in a little town. She liked going on adventures. One day, she saw a shiny mango at the market and wanted to know more about it.

The old man selling fruit told Maya this mango was special. If she could answer a tricky question, the mango would give her a wish. The question was about something with a heart that doesn’t beat. Maya thought hard and said, “Cards!” The man gave her the mango.

When Maya bit the mango, it shook and out came a tiny sprite that liked to play tricks. The sprite said, “You can wish for something, but be careful what you wish for!” Maya wished for everyone to always have laughter.

From then on, Maya made everyone laugh wherever she went. The village was happier because everyone was laughing together. Maya learned that laughter is a super special thing to share. She always remembered the fun mango and kept making people laugh.

🎧 Listen:

Slow

Normal

📖 Vocabulary:

1adventuresGoing to new places and having fun
2shinyBright and sparkly like a little star
3marketA place where people sell things like food and clothes
4trickyHard to understand or do
5spriteA tiny fairy that can do magic
6laughterThe sound you make when something is funny
7villageA place where people live and have homes close together
8specialVery different and not like other things
9rememberedTo keep something in your mind so you don’t forget
10shareTo let someone else have or use some of what you have

🤔 Comprehension Questions:

1. Who is the main character in the story?
2. What did Maya see at the market?
3. What did the old man say Maya could have if she answered his question?
4. What did Maya say was something with a heart that doesn’t beat?
5. What happened when Maya bit the mango?
6. What did Maya wish for?
Go to answers ⇩

🎧✍️ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

Once there was a girl named Maya who lived in a little town. She liked (1)______ on adventures. One day, she saw a shiny mango at the market and wanted to know more about it.

The old man selling (2)______ told Maya this mango was special. If she could answer a tricky question, the (3)______ would give her a wish. The question was about something with a (4)______ that doesn’t beat. Maya thought hard and said, “Cards!” The man gave her the mango.

When Maya bit the mango, it shook and out came a tiny (5)______ that liked to play tricks. The sprite said, “You can wish for something, but be careful what you wish for!” Maya (6)______ for everyone to always have laughter.

From then on, Maya made everyone laugh wherever she (7)______. The village was happier because everyone was laughing together. Maya learned that laughter is a super special thing to share. She always remembered the fun mango and kept (8)______ people laugh.
Go to answers ⇩

💬 Discussion Questions:

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

1. What is an adventure?
2. How would you feel if you found a shiny mango?
3. Do you like playing tricks?
4. Do you think laughter is important? Why or why not?
5. What is something with a heart that doesn’t beat?
6. How would you feel if you could make everyone laugh?
7. What is something super special to share?
8. Have you ever made someone laugh? How did it make you feel?

📖💭 Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. adventures
2. shiny
3. market
4. tricky
5. sprite
6. laughter
7. village
8. special
9. remembered
10. share

Meanings:
(A) Going to new places and having fun
(B) Hard to understand or do
(C) To let someone else have or use some of what you have
(D) The sound you make when something is funny
(E) A place where people live and have homes close together
(F) Very different and not like other things
(G) A tiny fairy that can do magic
(H) Bright and sparkly like a little star
(I) To keep something in your mind so you don’t forget
(J) A place where people sell things like food and clothes
Go to answers ⇩

🔡 Multiple Choice Questions:

1. What is the name of the girl in the story?
(a) Lily
(b) Emma
(c) Maya
(d) Sophia

2. What did Maya see at the market?
(a) A shiny mango
(b) A red apple
(c) A yellow banana
(d) A juicy orange

3. What did the old man selling fruit tell Maya about the mango?
(a) It was delicious
(b) It was big
(c) It was expensive
(d) It was special

4. What did Maya have to do to get a wish from the mango?
(a) Sing a song
(b) Answer a tricky question
(c) Dance a dance
(d) Jump high

5. What did Maya say was something with a heart that doesn’t beat?
(a) Apples
(b) Bananas
(c) Oranges
(d) Cards

6. What happened when Maya bit the mango?
(a) The mango turned into a bird
(b) The mango disappeared
(c) A tiny sprite came out
(d) Maya turned into a sprite

7. What did Maya wish for?
(a) Everyone to always have money
(b) Everyone to always have laughter
(c) Everyone to always have food
(d) Everyone to always have toys

8. What did Maya learn about laughter?
(a) It is a super special thing to share
(b) It is a scary thing
(c) It is a sad thing
(d) It is a boring thing

Go to answers ⇩

🕵️ True or False Questions:

1. The sprite encouraged Maya to be reckless with her wish, so she wished for everyone to always have sorrow.
2. Maya rarely remembered the fun mango and continued to make people laugh.
3. Maya thought hard and answered the question correctly, so the man gave her the mango.
4. Maya lived in a big city and hated going on adventures.
5. When Maya bit into the mango, a tiny sprite came out and liked to play tricks.
6. Maya saw a shiny mango at the market and wanted to learn more about it.
7. Maya made everyone cry wherever she went, and the village became sadder because of it.
8. The old man selling fruit told Maya that the mango was special and could grant her a wish if she answered a tricky question.
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. Who is the main character in the story?
Maya is the main character in the story.

2. What did Maya see at the market?
Maya saw a shiny mango at the market.

3. What did the old man say Maya could have if she answered his question?
The old man said Maya could have a wish if she answered his question.

4. What did Maya say was something with a heart that doesn’t beat?
Maya said cards are something with a heart that doesn’t beat.

5. What happened when Maya bit the mango?
When Maya bit the mango, a tiny sprite came out.

6. What did Maya wish for?
Maya wished for everyone to always have laughter.
Go back to questions ⇧

🎧✍️✅ Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) going
(2) fruit
(3) mango
(4) heart
(5) sprite
(6) wished
(7) went
(8) making
Go back to questions ⇧

📖💭✅ Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. adventures
Answer: (A) Going to new places and having fun

2. shiny
Answer: (H) Bright and sparkly like a little star

3. market
Answer: (J) A place where people sell things like food and clothes

4. tricky
Answer: (B) Hard to understand or do

5. sprite
Answer: (G) A tiny fairy that can do magic

6. laughter
Answer: (D) The sound you make when something is funny

7. village
Answer: (E) A place where people live and have homes close together

8. special
Answer: (F) Very different and not like other things

9. remembered
Answer: (I) To keep something in your mind so you don’t forget

10. share
Answer: (C) To let someone else have or use some of what you have
Go back to questions ⇧

🔡✅ Multiple Choice Answers:

1. What is the name of the girl in the story?
Answer: (c) Maya

2. What did Maya see at the market?
Answer: (a) A shiny mango

3. What did the old man selling fruit tell Maya about the mango?
Answer: (d) It was special

4. What did Maya have to do to get a wish from the mango?
Answer: (b) Answer a tricky question

5. What did Maya say was something with a heart that doesn’t beat?
Answer: (d) Cards

6. What happened when Maya bit the mango?
Answer: (c) A tiny sprite came out

7. What did Maya wish for?
Answer: (b) Everyone to always have laughter

8. What did Maya learn about laughter?
Answer: (a) It is a super special thing to share
Go back to questions ⇧

🕵️✅ True or False Answers:

1. The sprite encouraged Maya to be reckless with her wish, so she wished for everyone to always have sorrow. (Answer: False)
2. Maya rarely remembered the fun mango and continued to make people laugh. (Answer: False)
3. Maya thought hard and answered the question correctly, so the man gave her the mango. (Answer: True)
4. Maya lived in a big city and hated going on adventures. (Answer: False)
5. When Maya bit into the mango, a tiny sprite came out and liked to play tricks. (Answer: True)
6. Maya saw a shiny mango at the market and wanted to learn more about it. (Answer: True)
7. Maya made everyone cry wherever she went, and the village became sadder because of it. (Answer: False)
8. The old man selling fruit told Maya that the mango was special and could grant her a wish if she answered a tricky question. (Answer: True)
Go back to questions ⇧

📚 How about these other Level 1 stories?

Peter the mischievous penguin learns the importance of bringing joy to others through a grand party.

The Playful Penguin’s Party

Peter the penguin wanted to have a big party, but he forgot the music, so he asked his friend Sammy the seal for help and they made a happy song for everyone to dance to.

A mischievous squirrel with the power to fly becomes the forest's superhero and saves the day.

The Superhero Squirrel

Sammy the flying squirrel saves his friend Billy from a tree and stops a sneaky fox from taking acorns.

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

The Llama Farmer

Mr. Thompson’s llamas loved to play on the fun course he made, and everyone in the village liked watching them.

The Island of Cats

Once upon a time, there was a small island in the middle of the ocean. It was a magical place

Three children embark on a thrilling adventure to outsmart a mischievous genie and discover the true meaning of happiness.

The Wishing Well Mystery

Once upon a time, three friends found a special well that could make wishes come true. They solved tricky riddles and met a funny genie who played tricks. But they learned that making others happy is more important than just getting what you wish for.

A young girl named Emily discovers a tree that produces rainbow-colored raspberries, bringing joy to her village.

The Remarkable Raspberry Rain

Emily found a magical tree with colorful raspberries that made it rain fruit, but the colors started to fade until she discovered that laughter could bring the magic back.

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