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 Queen of Cats

Whiskers, the Queen of Cats, unites animals of all kinds and teaches them the power of compassion.

Try this story at a different level?

 

Once upon a time, there was a special cat named Whiskers. Whiskers was very pretty and all the other cats called her their queen. She loved to sleep in the sun on her big cat tree.

One day, Whiskers saw some mice trying to leave. She could have been mean, but instead, she was nice and let them go. Everyone started calling her “The Queen with a Heart.”

Soon, all animals heard about Whiskers being so kind. They decided to be friends with each other, just like how Whiskers was. Cats, dogs, rabbits, and birds all lived happily together.

Whiskers showed everyone that being nice is the best way. The animals stopped being mean to each other and became good friends. Whiskers will always be remembered as the kindest Queen of Cats.

🎧 Listen:

Slow

Normal

📖 Vocabulary:

1specialNot like others, very unique
2prettyVery nice to look at
3queenThe lady who is in charge, like in a castle
4sunThe big, bright thing in the sky during the day
5sleepWhen you close your eyes to rest
6kindWhen you are nice to others
7friendsPeople you like to play and spend time with
8rememberedWhen people think of you even when you’re not there
9animalsCreatures that move, like cats and dogs
10meanNot nice

🤔 Comprehension Questions:

1. Who was the special cat in the story?
2. What did the other cats call Whiskers?
3. Where did Whiskers like to sleep?
4. What did Whiskers see one day?
5. What did Whiskers decide to do when she saw the mice?
6. How did the animals start to act towards each other after Whiskers showed them how to be nice?
Go to answers ⇩

🎧✍️ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

Once upon a time, there was a special cat (1)______ Whiskers. Whiskers was very (2)______ and all the other cats called her their queen. She loved to sleep in the sun on her big cat tree.

One day, Whiskers saw some mice trying to leave. She could have been mean, but instead, she was nice and let them go. Everyone started calling her “The (3)______ with a (4)______.”

Soon, all animals heard about Whiskers being so kind. They decided to be friends with each other, just like how Whiskers was. Cats, dogs, rabbits, and (5)______ all (6)______ happily together.

Whiskers showed everyone that being nice is the best way. The animals (7)______ being mean to each other and became (8)______ friends. Whiskers will always be remembered as the kindest Queen of Cats.
Go to answers ⇩

💬 Discussion Questions:

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

1. What is a cat tree?
2. How would you feel if you saw some mice trying to leave?
3. Do you like animals being friends with each other? Why or why not?
4. What do you think is the best way to be? Kind or mean?
5. How do you think Whiskers felt when everyone started calling her “The Queen with a Heart”?
6. What other animals do you think lived happily together with the cats, dogs, rabbits, and birds?
7. Do you think it’s important to be nice to others? Why or why not?
8. Why do you think Whiskers will always be remembered as the kindest Queen of Cats?

📖💭 Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. special
2. pretty
3. queen
4. sun
5. sleep
6. kind
7. friends
8. remembered
9. animals
10. mean

Meanings:
(A) When you are nice to others
(B) Creatures that move, like cats and dogs
(C) When you close your eyes to rest
(D) When people think of you even when you’re not there
(E) The lady who is in charge, like in a castle
(F) Not like others, very unique
(G) People you like to play and spend time with
(H) Not nice
(I) The big, bright thing in the sky during the day
(J) Very nice to look at
Go to answers ⇩

🔡 Multiple Choice Questions:

1. Who is the main character of the story?
(a) Watson
(b) Robert
(c) Whiskers
(d) Jones

2. What did the other cats call Whiskers?
(a) Their king
(b) Their friend
(c) Their enemy
(d) Their queen

3. Where did Whiskers like to sleep?
(a) In a cave
(b) On a boat
(c) On her big cat tree
(d) In a castle

4. What did Whiskers see trying to leave?
(a) Mice
(b) Birds
(c) Dogs
(d) Rabbits

5. How did Whiskers treat the mice?
(a) She caught them
(b) She let them go
(c) She played with them
(d) She ate them

6. What did everyone start calling Whiskers?
(a) The Queen with a Crown
(b) The Queen with a Sword
(c) The Queen with a Hat
(d) The Queen with a Heart

7. Who decided to be friends with each other?
(a) All animals
(b) Only cats
(c) Only dogs
(d) Only birds

8. What did the animals stop doing to each other?
(a) Being nice
(b) Being mean
(c) Being silly
(d) Being loud

Go to answers ⇩

🕵️ True or False Questions:

1. The animals continued being mean to each other and didn’t become good friends because of Whiskers.
2. Whiskers saw some mice trying to leave and instead of being mean, she was nice and let them go.
3. Whiskers became known as “The Queen with No Heart” because she was so unkind.
4. Cats, dogs, rabbits, and birds all lived happily together because they were friends.
5. Whiskers dislikes sleeping in the sun on her big cat tree.
6. Not all the animals heard about Whiskers being nice and decided not to be friends with each other.
7. Whiskers is a very pretty cat that all the other cats love.
8. Whiskers showed everyone that being nice is the best way to be.
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 was the special cat in the story?
Whiskers was the special cat in the story.

2. What did the other cats call Whiskers?
The other cats called Whiskers their queen.

3. Where did Whiskers like to sleep?
Whiskers liked to sleep in the sun on her big cat tree.

4. What did Whiskers see one day?
Whiskers saw some mice trying to leave.

5. What did Whiskers decide to do when she saw the mice?
Whiskers decided to be nice and let the mice go.

6. How did the animals start to act towards each other after Whiskers showed them how to be nice?
The animals started to be nice to each other and became good friends.
Go back to questions ⇧

🎧✍️✅ Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) named
(2) pretty
(3) Queen
(4) Heart
(5) birds
(6) lived
(7) stopped
(8) good
Go back to questions ⇧

📖💭✅ Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. special
Answer: (F) Not like others, very unique

2. pretty
Answer: (J) Very nice to look at

3. queen
Answer: (E) The lady who is in charge, like in a castle

4. sun
Answer: (I) The big, bright thing in the sky during the day

5. sleep
Answer: (C) When you close your eyes to rest

6. kind
Answer: (A) When you are nice to others

7. friends
Answer: (G) People you like to play and spend time with

8. remembered
Answer: (D) When people think of you even when you’re not there

9. animals
Answer: (B) Creatures that move, like cats and dogs

10. mean
Answer: (H) Not nice
Go back to questions ⇧

🔡✅ Multiple Choice Answers:

1. Who is the main character of the story?
Answer: (c) Whiskers

2. What did the other cats call Whiskers?
Answer: (d) Their queen

3. Where did Whiskers like to sleep?
Answer: (c) On her big cat tree

4. What did Whiskers see trying to leave?
Answer: (a) Mice

5. How did Whiskers treat the mice?
Answer: (b) She let them go

6. What did everyone start calling Whiskers?
Answer: (d) The Queen with a Heart

7. Who decided to be friends with each other?
Answer: (a) All animals

8. What did the animals stop doing to each other?
Answer: (b) Being mean
Go back to questions ⇧

🕵️✅ True or False Answers:

1. The animals continued being mean to each other and didn’t become good friends because of Whiskers. (Answer: False)
2. Whiskers saw some mice trying to leave and instead of being mean, she was nice and let them go. (Answer: True)
3. Whiskers became known as “The Queen with No Heart” because she was so unkind. (Answer: False)
4. Cats, dogs, rabbits, and birds all lived happily together because they were friends. (Answer: True)
5. Whiskers dislikes sleeping in the sun on her big cat tree. (Answer: False)
6. Not all the animals heard about Whiskers being nice and decided not to be friends with each other. (Answer: False)
7. Whiskers is a very pretty cat that all the other cats love. (Answer: True)
8. Whiskers showed everyone that being nice is the best way to be. (Answer: True)
Go back to questions ⇧

📚 How about these other Level 1 stories?

A young boy's discovery of a mysterious fossil leads to a village's newfound fame and unity.

The Fantastic Fossil

Max finds a special bone, but decides it should stay in his village instead of going to a museum.

Lily and her animal friends explore a crystal cave, discovering magical powers and learning important lessons.

The Crystal Cave

Lily found a magical cave and made friends with animals who helped her find treasure.

George and his grape friends escape the vineyard, overcoming obstacles and finding a world full of adventures.

The Great Grape Escape

George the grape and his friends went on an exciting adventure, rolling through leaves, escaping a scarecrow, and even meeting a squirrel named Sammy!

Jack and Emma's lives are forever changed when they discover a tiny dinosaur in an enormous egg.

The Dinosaur Egg

Jack, Emma, and Biscuit the dinosaur had the best adventures and learned that friendship is amazing!

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.

Ruby, the mischievous red panda, embarks on a quest to find a golden tree and discovers the true treasure of friendship.

The Riddle of the Red Panda

Ruby the red panda loves playing games and goes on an adventure to find a special treasure with her new friends Ellie the elephant and Terrance the tortoise.

The Cloudy Day

Once upon a time there was a little girl named Sarah. She was determined to have a good day no

Feedback