Paul Holmes -
University
English Professor

Free Materials For ESL Teachers and Learners

Short Stories for Kids

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The Magical Marmalade

A little girl named Lily discovers a jar of magical marmalade that brings everything to life.

Try this story at a different level?

 

Once upon a time, there was a little girl named Lily who loved adventures. One day, while exploring her grandmother’s attic, she stumbled upon a dusty old jar of marmalade. As soon as she opened it, a puff of shimmering smoke appeared, and out popped a mischievous purple butterfly named Bubbles. Bubbles had a magical power; whenever he sprinkled marmalade on something, it would come to life!

Excitedly, Lily and Bubbles ventured into the garden, where they discovered a dull-looking rosebush. They decided to test the magical marmalade. Bubbles flapped his wings and sprinkled the rosebush with the marmalade, and to their amazement, the bush burst into a riot of radiant colors. Delighted, they went around the garden, spreading marmalade on everything they could find. The statues danced, the trees sang, and even the flowers told jokes!

However, as Lily and Bubbles continued their adventure, they encountered a grumpy gnome named Grumblebore. Grumblebore was not happy about his quiet garden being transformed into a rowdy circus. He chased after them, determined to stop their mischief. Little did they know that the magical marmalade had a time limit, and they only had until sundown before everything would return to its original state.

Panicking, Lily and Bubbles tried to fix everything, but they only made things worse. The flowers grew even taller, the statues became more animated, and worst of all, Grumblebore got covered in marmalade and started to float in the air! As they raced against time, Lily realized that the real magic of the marmalade was not in its ability to bring things to life, but in the joy it brought to everyone. She quickly shared this insight with Bubbles.

Understanding this lesson, Bubbles used his last bit of magic to sprinkle marmalade all around, creating a captivating sunset display. The vibrant colors and sweet scent of strawberries filled the air, mesmerizing everyone, including Grumblebore. Grumblebore, now enchanted by the magic, realized that a little fun and laughter could bring joy into his life too. From that day forward, he became Grumbly, the not-so-grumpy gnome.

Lily and Bubbles bid farewell to their newfound friends, as the magical marmalade wore off and the garden returned to normal. Back in her grandmother’s attic, Lily cherished the memories of their extraordinary adventure. She understood that while magic might bring temporary joy, it was the power of laughter, friendship, and finding joy in the simplest things that could create real magic in our lives. And so, with a twinkle in her eye, she eagerly awaited her next enchanting adventure.

🎧 Listen:

📖 Vocabulary:

1adventuresExciting and often risky activities or experiences
2mischievousPlayfully naughty or troublesome
3shimmeringSparkling or gleaming with a soft radiance
4amazementA feeling of great surprise or wonder
5riotA wild or disorderly outburst
6rowdyNoisy and difficult to control
7grumpyIn a bad mood, irritable or cranky
8determinedHaving a strong resolve or firmness of purpose
9mischiefPlayful or reckless behavior that can cause annoyance
10panickingExperiencing sudden intense distress or fear
11animatedFull of life or excitement; lively
12captivatingHolding one’s attention by being extremely interesting or delightful
13enchantedFilled with delight or wonder, often due to a magical influence
14cherishedHeld dear; felt great affection for
15extraordinaryBeyond what is usual, regular, or customary

🤔 Comprehension Questions:

1) What did Lily find in her grandmother’s attic?
2) What happened when Bubbles sprinkled the marmalade on the rosebush?
3) How did Grumblebore feel about the garden being transformed?
4) What happened when Lily and Bubbles tried to fix everything?
5) What did Lily realize was the real magic of the marmalade?
6) What did Bubbles do with his last bit of magic?
7) What happened to Grumblebore after he was enchanted by the magic?
8) What did Lily learn from her adventure with Bubbles?
Go to answers ⇩

🎧✍️ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

Once upon a time, there was a little girl named Lily who loved adventures. One day, while exploring her grandmother’s attic, she stumbled upon a dusty old jar of (1)______. As soon as she (2)______ it, a puff of (3)______ smoke appeared, and out popped a mischievous purple butterfly named (4)______. Bubbles had a magical power; whenever he sprinkled marmalade on something, it would come to life!

Excitedly, Lily and Bubbles ventured into the garden, where they discovered a dull-looking rosebush. They decided to test the magical marmalade. Bubbles flapped his wings and sprinkled the rosebush with the marmalade, and to their amazement, the bush burst into a riot of radiant colors. Delighted, they went around the garden, spreading marmalade on everything they could find. The statues danced, the trees sang, and even the flowers told jokes!

However, as Lily and Bubbles continued their adventure, they (5)______ a grumpy gnome named Grumblebore. Grumblebore was not happy about his quiet garden being (6)______ into a rowdy circus. He chased after them, determined to stop their mischief. Little did they know that the magical marmalade had a time (7)______, and they only had until sundown before everything would return to its original state.

(8)______, Lily and Bubbles tried to fix everything, but they only made things worse. The flowers grew even taller, the statues became more (9)______, and worst of all, Grumblebore got covered in marmalade and started to float in the air! As they (10)______ against time, Lily realized that the real (11)______ of the marmalade was not in its ability to bring things to life, but in the joy it brought to everyone. She quickly shared this insight with Bubbles.

Understanding this (12)______, Bubbles used his last bit of magic to sprinkle marmalade all around, creating a captivating sunset display. The vibrant colors and sweet scent of strawberries filled the air, mesmerizing everyone, including Grumblebore. Grumblebore, now enchanted by the magic, realized that a (13)______ fun and laughter could bring joy into his life too. From that day forward, he became Grumbly, the not-so-grumpy gnome.

Lily and Bubbles bid farewell to their newfound friends, as the magical marmalade wore off and the garden returned to normal. Back in her grandmother’s attic, Lily cherished the memories of their extraordinary adventure. She understood that while magic might bring temporary joy, it was the power of laughter, (14)______, and finding joy in the simplest things that could create real magic in our (15)______. And so, with a twinkle in her eye, she eagerly (16)______ her next enchanting adventure.
Go to answers ⇩

💬 Discussion Questions:

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

1. What is your favorite childhood adventure or memory?
2. How would you feel if you found a magical jar of marmalade? Why?
3. Do you believe in magic? Why or why not?
4. What do you think is the lesson that Lily learned from her adventure? Why?
5. Have you ever encountered a grumpy person like Grumblebore? How did you handle the situation?
6. Do you think it’s important to find joy in the simplest things? Why or why not?
7. How would you feel if everything you brought to life with the magical marmalade disappeared at sundown? Why?
8. What do you think is the significance of the magical marmalade only bringing temporary joy?
9. Have you ever had an experience where you made a mistake while trying to fix something? How did you handle it?
10. Do you think laughter and friendship can bring magic into our lives? Why or why not?
11. How do you typically find joy in your life? Why do you think it’s important?
12. What is something simple that brings you joy? Why?

📖💭 Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. adventures
2. mischievous
3. shimmering
4. amazement
5. riot
6. rowdy
7. grumpy
8. determined
9. mischief
10. panicking
11. animated
12. captivating
13. enchanted
14. cherished
15. extraordinary

Meanings:
(A) Noisy and difficult to control
(B) A wild or disorderly outburst
(C) Held dear; felt great affection for
(D) Exciting and often risky activities or experiences
(E) Filled with delight or wonder, often due to a magical influence
(F) A feeling of great surprise or wonder
(G) Having a strong resolve or firmness of purpose
(H) Beyond what is usual, regular, or customary
(I) Holding one’s attention by being extremely interesting or delightful
(J) Playfully naughty or troublesome
(K) In a bad mood, irritable or cranky
(L) Playful or reckless behavior that can cause annoyance
(M) Experiencing sudden intense distress or fear
(N) Full of life or excitement; lively
(O) Sparkling or gleaming with a soft radiance
Go to answers ⇩

🔡 Multiple Choice Questions:

1. What did Lily find in her grandmother’s attic?
(a) A jar of marmalade
(b) A dusty old book
(c) A purple butterfly
(d) A magical wand

2. What happened when Bubbles sprinkled marmalade on the rosebush?
(a) It wilted and died
(b) It grew taller and stronger
(c) It burst into radiant colors
(d) It turned into a pumpkin

3. Who was not happy about the garden being transformed into a rowdy circus?
(a) Lily’s grandmother
(b) Bubbles
(c) The statues
(d) Grumblebore

4. What happened to Grumblebore when he got covered in marmalade?
(a) He turned into a grumpy gnome
(b) He became invisible
(c) He began to sing and dance
(d) He started to float in the air

5. What did Lily realize was the real magic of the marmalade?
(a) The joy it brought to everyone
(b) Its ability to bring things to life
(c) Its delicious taste
(d) Its mesmerizing colors

6. What did Bubbles do with his last bit of magic?
(a) Turned into a human
(b) Disappeared into thin air
(c) Created a captivating sunset display
(d) Sprinkled marmalade on himself

7. What did Grumblebore become after being enchanted by the magic?
(a) A mischievous purple butterfly
(b) Grumbly, the not-so-grumpy gnome
(c) Lily’s best friend
(d) A statue in the garden

8. What did Lily learn from her adventure with Bubbles?
(a) The importance of staying out of trouble
(b) The power of laughter and friendship
(c) The dangers of magic
(d) The joy of exploring her grandmother’s attic

Go to answers ⇩

🕵️ True or False Questions:

1. Lily and Bubbles tried to fix the chaos but only made it worse.
2. The magic of the marmalade was in the joy it brought to everyone.
3. The magical marmalade turned statues, trees, and flowers into lifeless objects.
4. Grumblebore, now known as Grumbly, learned to find joy and laughter in his life.
5. Grumblebore, a grumpy gnome, was happy about the chaos caused by the magical marmalade.
6. Bubbles is a well-behaved purple butterfly without any magical powers.
7. When sprinkled with marmalade, the rosebush in the garden withered and lost its colors.
8. Lily discovered a jar of marmalade in her grandmother’s attic.
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 did Lily find in her grandmother’s attic?
Lily found a dusty old jar of marmalade.

2) What happened when Bubbles sprinkled the marmalade on the rosebush?
The rosebush burst into a riot of radiant colors.

3) How did Grumblebore feel about the garden being transformed?
Grumblebore was not happy about the garden being transformed and became grumpy.

4) What happened when Lily and Bubbles tried to fix everything?
They made things worse, with the flowers growing taller and the statues becoming more animated.

5) What did Lily realize was the real magic of the marmalade?
Lily realized that the real magic of the marmalade was not in its ability to bring things to life, but in the joy it brought to everyone.

6) What did Bubbles do with his last bit of magic?
Bubbles used his last bit of magic to create a captivating sunset display.

7) What happened to Grumblebore after he was enchanted by the magic?
Grumblebore became enchanted by the magic and transformed into Grumbly, the not-so-grumpy gnome.

8) What did Lily learn from her adventure with Bubbles?
Lily learned that while magic might bring temporary joy, it was the power of laughter, friendship, and finding joy in the simplest things that could create real magic in our lives.
Go back to questions ⇧

🎧✍️✅ Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) marmalade
(2) opened
(3) shimmering
(4) Bubbles
(5) encountered
(6) transformed
(7) limit
(8) Panicking
(9) animated
(10) raced
(11) magic
(12) lesson
(13) little
(14) friendship
(15) lives
(16) awaited
Go back to questions ⇧

📖💭✅ Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. adventures
Answer: (D) Exciting and often risky activities or experiences

2. mischievous
Answer: (J) Playfully naughty or troublesome

3. shimmering
Answer: (O) Sparkling or gleaming with a soft radiance

4. amazement
Answer: (F) A feeling of great surprise or wonder

5. riot
Answer: (B) A wild or disorderly outburst

6. rowdy
Answer: (A) Noisy and difficult to control

7. grumpy
Answer: (K) In a bad mood, irritable or cranky

8. determined
Answer: (G) Having a strong resolve or firmness of purpose

9. mischief
Answer: (L) Playful or reckless behavior that can cause annoyance

10. panicking
Answer: (M) Experiencing sudden intense distress or fear

11. animated
Answer: (N) Full of life or excitement; lively

12. captivating
Answer: (I) Holding one’s attention by being extremely interesting or delightful

13. enchanted
Answer: (E) Filled with delight or wonder, often due to a magical influence

14. cherished
Answer: (C) Held dear; felt great affection for

15. extraordinary
Answer: (H) Beyond what is usual, regular, or customary
Go back to questions ⇧

🔡✅ Multiple Choice Answers:

1. What did Lily find in her grandmother’s attic?
Answer: (a) A jar of marmalade

2. What happened when Bubbles sprinkled marmalade on the rosebush?
Answer: (c) It burst into radiant colors

3. Who was not happy about the garden being transformed into a rowdy circus?
Answer: (d) Grumblebore

4. What happened to Grumblebore when he got covered in marmalade?
Answer: (d) He started to float in the air

5. What did Lily realize was the real magic of the marmalade?
Answer: (a) The joy it brought to everyone

6. What did Bubbles do with his last bit of magic?
Answer: (c) Created a captivating sunset display

7. What did Grumblebore become after being enchanted by the magic?
Answer: (b) Grumbly, the not-so-grumpy gnome

8. What did Lily learn from her adventure with Bubbles?
Answer: (b) The power of laughter and friendship
Go back to questions ⇧

🕵️✅ True or False Answers:

1. Lily and Bubbles tried to fix the chaos but only made it worse. (Answer: True)
2. The magic of the marmalade was in the joy it brought to everyone. (Answer: True)
3. The magical marmalade turned statues, trees, and flowers into lifeless objects. (Answer: False)
4. Grumblebore, now known as Grumbly, learned to find joy and laughter in his life. (Answer: True)
5. Grumblebore, a grumpy gnome, was happy about the chaos caused by the magical marmalade. (Answer: False)
6. Bubbles is a well-behaved purple butterfly without any magical powers. (Answer: False)
7. When sprinkled with marmalade, the rosebush in the garden withered and lost its colors. (Answer: False)
8. Lily discovered a jar of marmalade in her grandmother’s attic. (Answer: True)
Go back to questions ⇧

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