Paul Holmes -
University
English Professor

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Short Stories for Kids

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The Land of Flying Pancakes

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Once upon a time, in a land far, far away, there existed a magical land known as Pancakeland. In this whimsical place, the most extraordinary thing was that the pancakes could fly! Yes, you heard that right – pancakes with wings! It was a pancake lover’s dream come true. Imagine waking up every morning to the sight of fluffy pancakes soaring through the sky.

In the heart of Pancakeland, there lived a young girl named Lily. She had always loved pancakes, and the idea of a land where they could fly made her giddy with excitement. One day, as she was exploring the land, she stumbled upon a hidden treasure map. It led to the legendary Pancake Mountain, rumored to be made entirely of chocolate chip pancakes.

With her trusty pancake compass in hand, Lily embarked on an adventure like no other. Along the way, she encountered mischievous syrup trolls who tried to sweet-talk her out of her map. But Lily was clever and kept a bottle of sticky honey in her bag. She used it to trap the trolls who couldn’t resist its tempting aroma. With a triumphant smile, she continued her journey.

As she reached the foot of Pancake Mountain, Lily noticed a giant pancake blocking her way. The pancake spoke, “To reach the top, you must solve the riddle I possess. Answer correctly, and you shall proceed.” Lily pondered for a moment, then replied, “What kind of pancakes can never fly?” The pancake grumbled, “Flatcakes!” and moved aside, allowing her to continue.

Finally, Lily reached the summit of Pancake Mountain and gasped in awe. It was a breathtaking sight – a mountain of luscious chocolate chip pancakes as far as the eye could see. Lily’s heart filled with gratitude for all the delectable pancakes in Pancakeland. She packed a few for her journey home and shared the rest with the villagers, teaching them the importance of sharing and gratitude.

And so, Lily returned to her village as a hero, spreading joy and laughter wherever she went. The land of Flying Pancakes was forever grateful for her bravery and wisdom. From that day on, every year, on Pancake Day, a great flying pancake feast was held in honor of Lily’s adventure. And every child in the land learned the value of perseverance, wit, and the joy of sharing pancakes with loved ones.

🎧 Listen:

📖 Vocabulary:

1extraordinaryBeyond what is ordinary or usual; remarkable
2whimsicalPlayfully quaint or fanciful, especially in an appealing and amusing way
3giddyFeeling excited to the point of disorientation
4legendaryDescribed in or based on legends
5compassAn instrument used for navigation and orientation
6mischievousPlayfully causing minor trouble or annoyance
7sweet-talkPersuade someone with flattery
8triumphantHaving achieved a victory; feeling victorious
9ponderedThought about something carefully before making a decision
10riddleA question or statement intentionally phrased to require ingenuity in ascertaining its answer
11summitThe highest point of a mountain or hill
12breathtakingSo impressive or beautiful as to cause astonishment
13lusciousExtremely delicious and richly flavored
14gratitudeA feeling of thankfulness and appreciation
15perseveranceSteadfastness in doing something despite difficulty or delay in achieving success

🤔 Comprehension Questions:

1. What made Pancakeland so extraordinary?
2. How did Lily feel when she found the hidden treasure map?
3. How did Lily outsmart the syrup trolls?
4. What did the pancake at the foot of Pancake Mountain say to Lily?
5. What did Lily find at the summit of Pancake Mountain?
6. What did Lily do with the pancakes she found at the summit?
7. How did Lily become a hero in her village?
8. What lesson did the villagers learn from Lily’s adventure?
Go to answers ⇩

🎧✍️ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

Once upon a time, in a land far, far away, there existed a magical land known as Pancakeland. In this (1)______ place, the most extraordinary thing was that the (2)______s could fly! Yes, you heard that right – pancakes with wings! It was a pancake lover’s dream come true. Imagine waking up every morning to the sight of (3)______ pancakes (4)______ through the sky.

In the heart of Pancakeland, there lived a young girl named Lily. She had always loved pancakes, and the idea of a land where they could fly made her giddy with excitement. One day, as she was exploring the land, she stumbled upon a hidden treasure map. It led to the legendary Pancake Mountain, rumored to be made entirely of chocolate chip pancakes.

With her (5)______ pancake compass in hand, Lily embarked on an adventure like no other. Along the way, she encountered mischievous (6)______ trolls who tried to sweet-talk her out of her map. But Lily was clever and kept a bottle of sticky (7)______ in her bag. She used it to trap the trolls who couldn’t resist its tempting aroma. With a (8)______ smile, she continued her journey.

As she reached the foot of Pancake Mountain, Lily noticed a giant pancake blocking her way. The pancake spoke, “To (9)______ the top, you must solve the riddle I possess. Answer correctly, and you shall proceed.” Lily pondered for a moment, then replied, “What kind of (10)______ can never fly?” The pancake grumbled, “Flatcakes!” and moved aside, allowing her to continue.

Finally, Lily reached the summit of Pancake Mountain and gasped in awe. It was a (11)______ sight – a (12)______ of luscious chocolate chip pancakes as far as the eye could see. Lily’s heart filled with gratitude for all the delectable pancakes in Pancakeland. She (13)______ a few for her journey home and shared the rest with the (14)______rs, teaching them the importance of (15)______ and gratitude.

And so, Lily returned to her village as a hero, spreading joy and (16)______ wherever she went. The land of Flying Pancakes was forever grateful for her bravery and wisdom. From that day on, every year, on Pancake Day, a great flying pancake feast was held in honor of Lily’s adventure. And every child in the land learned the value of perseverance, wit, and the joy of sharing pancakes with loved ones.
Go to answers ⇩

💬 Discussion Questions:

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

1. What is your favorite breakfast food, and why?
2. How would you feel if you could wake up every morning to the sight of flying pancakes?
3. Do you like the idea of a land made entirely of chocolate chip pancakes? Why or why not?
4. Do you think it would be fun to go on an adventure like Lily did? Why or why not?
5. What kind of food do you think could be as magical as flying pancakes? Why?
6. How do you think the syrup trolls felt when they were trapped by the sticky honey? Why?
7. Have you ever encountered a hidden treasure or found a secret map? If so, please share your experience.
8. If you were faced with a riddle like Lily, how would you go about solving it?
9. How do you think the villagers felt when Lily shared the pancakes with them? Why?
10. What do you think is the importance of sharing and gratitude in our lives?
11. If you were a hero like Lily, how would you spread joy and laughter in your community?
12. Do you celebrate any special feasts or holidays in your culture? If so, please describe them and their significance.

📖💭 Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. extraordinary
2. whimsical
3. giddy
4. legendary
5. compass
6. mischievous
7. sweet-talk
8. triumphant
9. pondered
10. riddle
11. summit
12. breathtaking
13. luscious
14. gratitude
15. perseverance

Meanings:
(A) Persuade someone with flattery
(B) The highest point of a mountain or hill
(C) Playfully causing minor trouble or annoyance
(D) Feeling excited to the point of disorientation
(E) Playfully quaint or fanciful, especially in an appealing and amusing way
(F) A question or statement intentionally phrased to require ingenuity in ascertaining its answer
(G) An instrument used for navigation and orientation
(H) Steadfastness in doing something despite difficulty or delay in achieving success
(I) Having achieved a victory; feeling victorious
(J) Extremely delicious and richly flavored
(K) So impressive or beautiful as to cause astonishment
(L) A feeling of thankfulness and appreciation
(M) Thought about something carefully before making a decision
(N) Beyond what is ordinary or usual; remarkable
(O) Described in or based on legends
Go to answers ⇩

🔡 Multiple Choice Questions:

1. What was the name of the magical land where the pancakes could fly?
(a) Syrupville
(b) Flapjack Kingdom
(c) Pancakeland
(d) Waffle World

2. What did Lily find while exploring Pancakeland?
(a) A magical pancake compass
(b) A hidden treasure map
(c) A talking pancake
(d) A recipe for pancake syrup

3. What did Lily use to trap the mischievous syrup trolls?
(a) Maple syrup
(b) Chocolate sauce
(c) Sticky honey
(d) Whipped cream

4. What did the pancake at the top of Pancake Mountain ask Lily to do?
(a) Eat a pancake
(b) Fly to the top
(c) Bring more syrup
(d) Solve a riddle

5. What was the correct answer to the pancake’s riddle?
(a) Flatcakes
(b) Fluffy pancakes
(c) Pancakes with wings
(d) Chocolate chip pancakes

6. What did Lily do with the pancakes she found on Pancake Mountain?
(a) Ate them all by herself
(b) Packed some for her journey home and shared the rest with the villagers
(c) Sold them to the highest bidder
(d) Threw them off the mountain

7. What did Lily become when she returned to her village?
(a) A hero
(b) A pancake chef
(c) A pancake queen
(d) A pancake eater

8. What was held every year in honor of Lily’s adventure?
(a) A pancake eating contest
(b) A pancake cooking competition
(c) A pancake parade
(d) A great flying pancake feast on Pancake Day

Go to answers ⇩

🕵️ True or False Questions:

1. Lily uses sticky honey to trap the syrup trolls.
2. Lily is an elderly woman who hates pancakes and lives in Pancakeland.
3. Along her journey, Lily encounters mischievous syrup trolls.
4. Lily returns to her village as a villain and teaches the importance of hoarding and ingratitude.
5. At the foot of Pancake Mountain, Lily encounters a giant pancake that blocks her way.
6. Lily finds a hidden trap map that leads to Pancake Mountain.
7. Lily solves a riddle posed by the giant pancake and is allowed to proceed.
8. Pancakeland is a mundane land where pancakes cannot fly.
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 made Pancakeland so extraordinary?
– The pancakes in Pancakeland could fly.

2. How did Lily feel when she found the hidden treasure map?
– Lily felt giddy with excitement.

3. How did Lily outsmart the syrup trolls?
– Lily used sticky honey to trap the syrup trolls.

4. What did the pancake at the foot of Pancake Mountain say to Lily?
– The pancake said, “Flatcakes!”

5. What did Lily find at the summit of Pancake Mountain?
– Lily found a mountain of luscious chocolate chip pancakes.

6. What did Lily do with the pancakes she found at the summit?
– Lily packed a few for her journey home and shared the rest with the villagers.

7. How did Lily become a hero in her village?
– Lily became a hero by spreading joy and laughter wherever she went.

8. What lesson did the villagers learn from Lily’s adventure?
– The villagers learned the importance of perseverance, wit, and the joy of sharing pancakes with loved ones.
Go back to questions ⇧

🎧✍️✅ Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) whimsical
(2) pancake
(3) fluffy
(4) soaring
(5) trusty
(6) syrup
(7) honey
(8) triumphant
(9) reach
(10) pancakes
(11) breathtaking
(12) mountain
(13) packed
(14) village
(15) sharing
(16) laughter
Go back to questions ⇧

📖💭✅ Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. extraordinary
Answer: (N) Beyond what is ordinary or usual; remarkable

2. whimsical
Answer: (E) Playfully quaint or fanciful, especially in an appealing and amusing way

3. giddy
Answer: (D) Feeling excited to the point of disorientation

4. legendary
Answer: (O) Described in or based on legends

5. compass
Answer: (G) An instrument used for navigation and orientation

6. mischievous
Answer: (C) Playfully causing minor trouble or annoyance

7. sweet-talk
Answer: (A) Persuade someone with flattery

8. triumphant
Answer: (I) Having achieved a victory; feeling victorious

9. pondered
Answer: (M) Thought about something carefully before making a decision

10. riddle
Answer: (F) A question or statement intentionally phrased to require ingenuity in ascertaining its answer

11. summit
Answer: (B) The highest point of a mountain or hill

12. breathtaking
Answer: (K) So impressive or beautiful as to cause astonishment

13. luscious
Answer: (J) Extremely delicious and richly flavored

14. gratitude
Answer: (L) A feeling of thankfulness and appreciation

15. perseverance
Answer: (H) Steadfastness in doing something despite difficulty or delay in achieving success
Go back to questions ⇧

🔡✅ Multiple Choice Answers:

1. What was the name of the magical land where the pancakes could fly?
Answer: (c) Pancakeland

2. What did Lily find while exploring Pancakeland?
Answer: (b) A hidden treasure map

3. What did Lily use to trap the mischievous syrup trolls?
Answer: (c) Sticky honey

4. What did the pancake at the top of Pancake Mountain ask Lily to do?
Answer: (d) Solve a riddle

5. What was the correct answer to the pancake’s riddle?
Answer: (a) Flatcakes

6. What did Lily do with the pancakes she found on Pancake Mountain?
Answer: (b) Packed some for her journey home and shared the rest with the villagers

7. What did Lily become when she returned to her village?
Answer: (a) A hero

8. What was held every year in honor of Lily’s adventure?
Answer: (d) A great flying pancake feast on Pancake Day
Go back to questions ⇧

🕵️✅ True or False Answers:

1. Lily uses sticky honey to trap the syrup trolls. (Answer: True)
2. Lily is an elderly woman who hates pancakes and lives in Pancakeland. (Answer: False)
3. Along her journey, Lily encounters mischievous syrup trolls. (Answer: True)
4. Lily returns to her village as a villain and teaches the importance of hoarding and ingratitude. (Answer: False)
5. At the foot of Pancake Mountain, Lily encounters a giant pancake that blocks her way. (Answer: True)
6. Lily finds a hidden trap map that leads to Pancake Mountain. (Answer: False)
7. Lily solves a riddle posed by the giant pancake and is allowed to proceed. (Answer: True)
8. Pancakeland is a mundane land where pancakes cannot fly. (Answer: False)
Go back to questions ⇧

📚 How about these other Level 4 stories?

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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.

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The Giant’s Garden

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

The Llama Farmer

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

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