Paul Holmes -
University
English Professor

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Short Stories for Kids

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The Chocolate Waterfall

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Once upon a time in a small village lived a boy named Tommy. Tommy was known for his insatiable love for chocolates. One sunny day, a rumor spread like wildfire in the village that a secret chocolate waterfall had been discovered in the nearby forest. The villagers were excited, and so was Tommy. Determined to see and taste the chocolate waterfall, he embarked on a thrilling adventure.

Tommy packed a bag full of his favorite candy bars and set off towards the forest. As he ventured deeper into the woods, the sound of rushing water led him to a magnificent sight. There it was, a gigantic waterfall flowing with rich, velvety chocolate. Tommy’s eyes sparkled with excitement and he couldn’t help but dive right in.

As Tommy got closer, he realized that the chocolate was not normal. It bubbled and danced, swirling in hues of pink and purple. Curiosity took over his senses and he decided to take a sip. To his surprise, the chocolate was not only delicious but also magical. Each sip gave him the ability to fly. Tommy giggled and zoomed through the air, leaving a trail of laughter.

Just as Tommy was thoroughly enjoying himself, he heard a loud thud behind him. Turning around, he saw a mischievous squirrel gulping down the chocolate. “Stop! That’s not for you!” Tommy yelled, but it was too late. The squirrel began to grow rapidly and transformed into a giant, chocolate-covered beast. Tommy knew he had to find a way to calm the creature down before it wreaked havoc on the village.

Thinking quickly, Tommy flew over to a nearby tree and grabbed some honey. He realized that animals loved the sweet taste of honey, so he enticed the chocolate beast with it. The beast’s eyes turned from fury to delight as it devoured the honey, slowly returning back to its normal size. Tommy had saved the day!

With the chocolate beast tamed, Tommy showed it the way back to the forest. The grateful creature gave him a warm chocolate hug before disappearing into the trees. Tommy felt proud of his bravery and quick thinking. He realized that sometimes the things we love can cause trouble if we don’t use them responsibly.

As he began his journey back home, Tommy took a final sip from the magical chocolate waterfall. With each sip, he grew gentler and kinder. He learned that through bravery and kindness, one can overcome any challenge. Tommy returned to the village, wiser and determined to share the positive power of chocolate with everyone. From that day on, Tommy became the village’s Sweet Ambassador, spreading joy, laughter, and delicious chocolate to all.

🎧 Listen:

📖 Vocabulary:

1insatiableIncapable of being satisfied or appeased
2venturedWent into an area that might be dangerous
3magnificentImpressively beautiful or grand
4velvetySoft and smooth in texture
5curiosityA strong desire to know or learn something
6mischievousPlayfully naughty or troublesome
7gulpingSwallowing food or drink quickly or in large amounts
8transformedChanged completely in form or nature
9havocGreat confusion and disorder
10enticedAttracted or tempted by offering something desirable
11devouredEaten greedily or quickly
12gratitudeThe feeling of being thankful
13braveryCourageous behavior or character
14responsibleHaving an obligation to do something as part of a job or role
15ambassadorA representative or promoter of a specified activity

🤔 Comprehension Questions:

1. What rumor spread through the village that excited Tommy?
2. What did Tommy pack in his bag before heading to the forest?
3. How did Tommy feel when he saw the chocolate waterfall?
4. What happened when Tommy took a sip of the magical chocolate?
5. What caused the squirrel to transform into a giant, chocolate-covered beast?
6. How did Tommy calm down the chocolate beast?
7. What did the chocolate beast do to show its gratitude to Tommy?
8. What did Tommy learn from his adventure with the chocolate waterfall?
Go to answers ⇩

🎧✍️ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

Once upon a time in a small village lived a boy named Tommy. Tommy was (1)______ for his insatiable love for chocolates. One sunny day, a rumor spread like wildfire in the village that a (2)______ chocolate waterfall had been discovered in the nearby forest. The villagers were excited, and so was Tommy. Determined to see and taste the chocolate waterfall, he embarked on a thrilling adventure.

Tommy packed a bag full of his favorite candy bars and set off towards the forest. As he ventured deeper into the woods, the sound of rushing water led him to a magnificent sight. There it was, a gigantic waterfall (3)______ with rich, (4)______ chocolate. Tommy’s eyes sparkled with excitement and he couldn’t help but dive right in.

As Tommy got (5)______, he realized that the chocolate was not normal. It bubbled and danced, swirling in hues of pink and purple. (6)______ took over his senses and he decided to take a sip. To his surprise, the chocolate was not only delicious but also magical. Each sip gave him the ability to fly. Tommy giggled and zoomed through the air, leaving a trail of laughter.

Just as Tommy was thoroughly (7)______ himself, he (8)______ a loud thud behind him. Turning around, he saw a mischievous squirrel gulping down the chocolate. “Stop! That’s not for you!” Tommy yelled, but it was too late. The squirrel began to grow rapidly and transformed into a (9)______, chocolate-covered beast. Tommy knew he had to find a way to calm the creature down before it wreaked havoc on the village.

Thinking quickly, Tommy flew over to a nearby tree and (10)______ some (11)______. He realized that animals loved the sweet taste of honey, so he enticed the chocolate beast with it. The beast’s eyes turned from fury to delight as it devoured the honey, slowly returning back to its (12)______ size. Tommy had saved the day!

With the chocolate beast tamed, Tommy showed it the way back to the forest. The grateful creature gave him a warm chocolate hug before disappearing into the (13)______. (14)______ felt proud of his bravery and quick thinking. He realized that sometimes the things we love can cause trouble if we don’t use them responsibly.

As he (15)______ his journey back home, Tommy took a final sip from the magical chocolate waterfall. With each sip, he grew gentler and kinder. He learned that through bravery and kindness, one can overcome any challenge. Tommy returned to the village, wiser and determined to share the positive power of chocolate with everyone. From that day on, Tommy became the village’s (16)______ Ambassador, spreading joy, laughter, and delicious chocolate to all.
Go to answers ⇩

💬 Discussion Questions:

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

1. What is your favorite type of chocolate and why?
2. How would you feel if you discovered a secret chocolate waterfall in your town?
3. Do you like adventurous activities like Tommy? Why or why not?
4. Do you think it’s important to share things you love with others? Why or why not?
5. How do you think the village would have reacted if Tommy hadn’t saved them from the chocolate beast?
6. Have you ever had an experience where something you loved caused trouble? What happened?
7. What do you think Tommy learned from his adventure with the chocolate waterfall?
8. How do you think Tommy’s life changed after becoming the Sweet Ambassador?
9. Do you believe that bravery and kindness can help overcome challenges? Why or why not?
10. What other magical powers do you think the chocolate from the waterfall could have given Tommy?
11. How do you think the villagers felt when Tommy returned and became their Sweet Ambassador?
12. Would you like to have a magical chocolate waterfall in your town? Why or why not?

📖💭 Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. insatiable
2. ventured
3. magnificent
4. velvety
5. curiosity
6. mischievous
7. gulping
8. transformed
9. havoc
10. enticed
11. devoured
12. gratitude
13. bravery
14. responsible
15. ambassador

Meanings:
(A) Playfully naughty or troublesome
(B) Swallowing food or drink quickly or in large amounts
(C) Changed completely in form or nature
(D) Eaten greedily or quickly
(E) Went into an area that might be dangerous
(F) A strong desire to know or learn something
(G) Incapable of being satisfied or appeased
(H) Having an obligation to do something as part of a job or role
(I) Great confusion and disorder
(J) Attracted or tempted by offering something desirable
(K) Courageous behavior or character
(L) The feeling of being thankful
(M) Impressively beautiful or grand
(N) A representative or promoter of a specified activity
(O) Soft and smooth in texture
Go to answers ⇩

🔡 Multiple Choice Questions:

1. What was Tommy known for in the village?
(a) His love for chocolates
(b) His bravery
(c) His kindness
(d) His intelligence

2. Where did Tommy go to find the chocolate waterfall?
(a) The village square
(b) The nearby forest
(c) The mountains
(d) The beach

3. What happened when Tommy took a sip of the chocolate from the waterfall?
(a) He turned into a chocolate-covered beast
(b) He became invisible
(c) He gained the ability to fly
(d) He fell into a deep sleep

4. How did the squirrel transform into a chocolate-covered beast?
(a) By eating too many candy bars
(b) By drinking the magical chocolate
(c) By falling into the chocolate waterfall
(d) By getting splashed with chocolate

5. What did Tommy use to calm down the chocolate-covered beast?
(a) Honey
(b) Water
(c) Milk
(d) Lemonade

6. What did Tommy learn from his adventure with the chocolate-covered beast?
(a) The power of honey to calm down animals
(b) The dangers of eating too much chocolate
(c) The joy of flying through the air
(d) The importance of using chocolate responsibly

7. What did Tommy become after his adventure?
(a) The village’s Chocolate King
(b) The village’s Chocolate Hunter
(c) The village’s Chocolate Expert
(d) The village’s Sweet Ambassador

8. How did Tommy plan to share the positive power of chocolate?
(a) By opening a chocolate factory in the village
(b) By organizing a chocolate festival in the village
(c) By spreading joy, laughter, and delicious chocolate to all
(d) By teaching others how to make chocolate

Go to answers ⇩

🕵️ True or False Questions:

1. Tommy is known for his love for chocolates.
2. Tommy becomes the village’s Sour Ambassador, spreading misery and chocolate to all.
3. Tommy agitates the chocolate beast by enticing it with honey.
4. A rumor spreads in the village about a secret chocolate waterfall in the nearby forest.
5. The chocolate in the waterfall is not normal and has magical properties.
6. The chocolate beast is wild and returns to the forest.
7. Tommy encounters a mischievous squirrel that transforms into a giant, chocolate-covered beast.
8. Tommy packs a bag full of his least favorite candy bars and sets off towards the forest.
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 rumor spread through the village that excited Tommy?
A secret chocolate waterfall had been discovered in the nearby forest.

2. What did Tommy pack in his bag before heading to the forest?
Tommy packed a bag full of his favorite candy bars.

3. How did Tommy feel when he saw the chocolate waterfall?
Tommy felt excited and his eyes sparkled with excitement.

4. What happened when Tommy took a sip of the magical chocolate?
Each sip gave him the ability to fly.

5. What caused the squirrel to transform into a giant, chocolate-covered beast?
The squirrel gulped down the magical chocolate from the waterfall.

6. How did Tommy calm down the chocolate beast?
Tommy enticed the chocolate beast with honey, which it loved, and it slowly returned back to its normal size.

7. What did the chocolate beast do to show its gratitude to Tommy?
The chocolate beast gave Tommy a warm chocolate hug before disappearing into the trees.

8. What did Tommy learn from his adventure with the chocolate waterfall?
Tommy learned that sometimes the things we love can cause trouble if we don’t use them responsibly. He also learned the power of bravery and kindness in overcoming challenges.
Go back to questions ⇧

🎧✍️✅ Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) known
(2) secret
(3) flowing
(4) velvety
(5) closer
(6) Curiosity
(7) enjoying
(8) heard
(9) giant
(10) grabbed
(11) honey
(12) normal
(13) trees
(14) Tommy
(15) began
(16) Sweet
Go back to questions ⇧

📖💭✅ Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. insatiable
Answer: (G) Incapable of being satisfied or appeased

2. ventured
Answer: (E) Went into an area that might be dangerous

3. magnificent
Answer: (M) Impressively beautiful or grand

4. velvety
Answer: (O) Soft and smooth in texture

5. curiosity
Answer: (F) A strong desire to know or learn something

6. mischievous
Answer: (A) Playfully naughty or troublesome

7. gulping
Answer: (B) Swallowing food or drink quickly or in large amounts

8. transformed
Answer: (C) Changed completely in form or nature

9. havoc
Answer: (I) Great confusion and disorder

10. enticed
Answer: (J) Attracted or tempted by offering something desirable

11. devoured
Answer: (D) Eaten greedily or quickly

12. gratitude
Answer: (L) The feeling of being thankful

13. bravery
Answer: (K) Courageous behavior or character

14. responsible
Answer: (H) Having an obligation to do something as part of a job or role

15. ambassador
Answer: (N) A representative or promoter of a specified activity
Go back to questions ⇧

🔡✅ Multiple Choice Answers:

1. What was Tommy known for in the village?
Answer: (a) His love for chocolates

2. Where did Tommy go to find the chocolate waterfall?
Answer: (b) The nearby forest

3. What happened when Tommy took a sip of the chocolate from the waterfall?
Answer: (c) He gained the ability to fly

4. How did the squirrel transform into a chocolate-covered beast?
Answer: (b) By drinking the magical chocolate

5. What did Tommy use to calm down the chocolate-covered beast?
Answer: (a) Honey

6. What did Tommy learn from his adventure with the chocolate-covered beast?
Answer: (d) The importance of using chocolate responsibly

7. What did Tommy become after his adventure?
Answer: (d) The village’s Sweet Ambassador

8. How did Tommy plan to share the positive power of chocolate?
Answer: (c) By spreading joy, laughter, and delicious chocolate to all
Go back to questions ⇧

🕵️✅ True or False Answers:

1. Tommy is known for his love for chocolates. (Answer: True)
2. Tommy becomes the village’s Sour Ambassador, spreading misery and chocolate to all. (Answer: False)
3. Tommy agitates the chocolate beast by enticing it with honey. (Answer: False)
4. A rumor spreads in the village about a secret chocolate waterfall in the nearby forest. (Answer: True)
5. The chocolate in the waterfall is not normal and has magical properties. (Answer: True)
6. The chocolate beast is wild and returns to the forest. (Answer: False)
7. Tommy encounters a mischievous squirrel that transforms into a giant, chocolate-covered beast. (Answer: True)
8. Tommy packs a bag full of his least favorite candy bars and sets off towards the forest. (Answer: False)
Go back to questions ⇧

📚 How about these other Level 4 stories?

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A unique tiger with tangerine stripes leads his animal friends on a quest for a magical fruit, only to discover that true magic lies in friendship and laughter.

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

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.

Captain Pete, the Polka-Dot Pirate, embarks on a treasure hunt and discovers the true meaning of sharing.

The Polka-Dot Pirate

Captain Pete, the Polka-Dot Pirate, embarks on a treasure hunt and discovers the true meaning of sharing.

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