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 Carnival of Colors

disaster into a triumph, creating a beautiful and unforgettable moment for everyone involved.

Try this story at a different level?

 

In a place called Rainbowland, there was a big fun day where everyone celebrated with colors. People from everywhere came to play, laugh, and eat tasty snacks. They all wore bright clothes and were very happy.

One morning, the fun day began, and everyone was excited. There was a big parade where people showed off their cool, colorful outfits. The best one would win a prize. Timmy, a little boy who loved to draw and paint, made a costume like a big, rainbow bird.

While Timmy was walking to the fun day, the wind took his costume away! Timmy was very sad because he couldn’t be in the parade. But then, Polly, a naughty parrot, grabbed the costume and flew away with it.

Polly wanted to play a trick, but when she saw that everyone loved Timmy’s costume, she felt bad. So, she showed them where it was. The people in the village helped Timmy fix it, and it looked even better! Timmy won the prize and learned that when friends work together, amazing things can happen.

🎧 Listen:

Slow

Normal

📖 Vocabulary:

1RainbowlandA make-believe place with lots of colors
2celebratedHad a party
3paradeA line of people walking in the street for a special day
4outfitsClothes you wear
5costumeDress-up clothes for playing pretend
6paintColor you use to make pictures
7naughtyNot listening and doing things you shouldn’t
8trickA joke or something to fool someone
9villageA small town
10amazingReally, really great and cool

🤔 Comprehension Questions:

1. Where did the fun day take place?
2. What did people do at the fun day?
3. What did Timmy make for the parade?
4. What happened to Timmy’s costume on the way to the fun day?
5. Why did Polly feel bad?
6. What did Timmy learn at the end of the story?
Go to answers ⇩

🎧✍️ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

In a place called Rainbowland, there was a big fun day where everyone celebrated with colors. People from everywhere came to play, laugh, and eat tasty snacks. They all (1)______ bright clothes and were very happy.

One (2)______, the fun day began, and everyone was excited. There was a big parade where people showed off their cool, colorful (3)______. The best one would win a prize. Timmy, a little boy who (4)______ to draw and paint, made a costume like a big, rainbow bird.

While Timmy was walking to the fun day, the wind took his costume away! Timmy was very sad because he couldn’t be in the parade. But then, Polly, a naughty parrot, grabbed the costume and (5)______ away with it.

Polly wanted to (6)______ a trick, but when she saw that everyone loved Timmy’s costume, she felt bad. So, she showed them where it was. The people in the village helped Timmy fix it, and it (7)______ even better! Timmy won the prize and learned that when friends work together, (8)______ things can happen.
Go to answers ⇩

💬 Discussion Questions:

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

1. What do you think a fun day is?
2. How would you feel if your costume flew away?
3. Do you like drawing and painting? Why or why not?
4. What do you think Polly the parrot wanted to do with the costume?
5. How do you think Timmy felt when he won the prize?
6. Have you ever been to a parade? What did you see there?
7. Do you think it’s important to help your friends? Why or why not?
8. What would you do if your costume got ruined before a big event?

📖💭 Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. Rainbowland
2. celebrated
3. parade
4. outfits
5. costume
6. paint
7. naughty
8. trick
9. village
10. amazing

Meanings:
(A) A make-believe place with lots of colors
(B) Color you use to make pictures
(C) Really, really great and cool
(D) Not listening and doing things you shouldn’t
(E) Had a party
(F) Clothes you wear
(G) A joke or something to fool someone
(H) A small town
(I) A line of people walking in the street for a special day
(J) Dress-up clothes for playing pretend
Go to answers ⇩

🔡 Multiple Choice Questions:

1. Where does the story take place?
(a) Rainbowland
(b) Candyland
(c) Fairyland
(d) Wonderland

2. What were people celebrating in Rainbowland?
(a) Birthday
(b) Fun day
(c) Halloween
(d) Christmas

3. What did Timmy make for the parade?
(a) A princess costume
(b) A superhero costume
(c) A dinosaur costume
(d) A big, rainbow bird costume

4. What happened to Timmy’s costume?
(a) Timmy lost it
(b) Timmy gave it to Polly
(c) The wind took it away
(d) Timmy’s mom took it

5. Who took Timmy’s costume?
(a) Polly the parrot
(b) Timmy’s friend
(c) Timmy’s mom
(d) The wind

6. Why did Polly feel bad?
(a) She wanted to keep the costume for herself
(b) She saw that everyone loved Timmy’s costume
(c) She didn’t like Timmy
(d) She wanted to play a trick

7. Who helped Timmy fix his costume?
(a) Polly the parrot
(b) Timmy’s mom
(c) The people in the village
(d) Timmy’s friend

8. What did Timmy learn from the experience?
(a) Timmy doesn’t like parrots
(b) Timmy is the best at making costumes
(c) Timmy should never participate in parades
(d) When friends work together, amazing things can happen

Go to answers ⇩

🕵️ True or False Questions:

1. There was a big celebration in a place called Rainbowland where people played, laughed, and ate yummy snacks.
2. Polly felt good when she saw how much everyone loved Timmy’s costume, so she hid it from them.
3. There was a small parade where people presented their dull, monochromatic outfits.
4. A naughty parrot named Polly took Timmy’s costume and flew away with it.
5. Everyone wore bright clothes and was very happy during the fun day.
6. Timmy, a little boy who hated to draw and paint, made a costume like a small, black bird.
7. Timmy’s costume got stuck because of the wind, and he felt happy because he couldn’t be in the parade.
8. With the help of the people in the village, Timmy fixed his costume and won the prize.
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. Where did the fun day take place?
The fun day took place in Rainbowland.

2. What did people do at the fun day?
People played, laughed, and ate tasty snacks at the fun day.

3. What did Timmy make for the parade?
Timmy made a costume like a big, rainbow bird for the parade.

4. What happened to Timmy’s costume on the way to the fun day?
The wind took Timmy’s costume away on the way to the fun day.

5. Why did Polly feel bad?
Polly felt bad because she realized that everyone loved Timmy’s costume and she had taken it.

6. What did Timmy learn at the end of the story?
Timmy learned that when friends work together, amazing things can happen.
Go back to questions ⇧

🎧✍️✅ Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) wore
(2) morning
(3) outfits
(4) loved
(5) flew
(6) play
(7) looked
(8) amazing
Go back to questions ⇧

📖💭✅ Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. Rainbowland
Answer: (A) A make-believe place with lots of colors

2. celebrated
Answer: (E) Had a party

3. parade
Answer: (I) A line of people walking in the street for a special day

4. outfits
Answer: (F) Clothes you wear

5. costume
Answer: (J) Dress-up clothes for playing pretend

6. paint
Answer: (B) Color you use to make pictures

7. naughty
Answer: (D) Not listening and doing things you shouldn’t

8. trick
Answer: (G) A joke or something to fool someone

9. village
Answer: (H) A small town

10. amazing
Answer: (C) Really, really great and cool
Go back to questions ⇧

🔡✅ Multiple Choice Answers:

1. Where does the story take place?
Answer: (a) Rainbowland

2. What were people celebrating in Rainbowland?
Answer: (b) Fun day

3. What did Timmy make for the parade?
Answer: (d) A big, rainbow bird costume

4. What happened to Timmy’s costume?
Answer: (c) The wind took it away

5. Who took Timmy’s costume?
Answer: (a) Polly the parrot

6. Why did Polly feel bad?
Answer: (b) She saw that everyone loved Timmy’s costume

7. Who helped Timmy fix his costume?
Answer: (c) The people in the village

8. What did Timmy learn from the experience?
Answer: (d) When friends work together, amazing things can happen
Go back to questions ⇧

🕵️✅ True or False Answers:

1. There was a big celebration in a place called Rainbowland where people played, laughed, and ate yummy snacks. (Answer: True)
2. Polly felt good when she saw how much everyone loved Timmy’s costume, so she hid it from them. (Answer: False)
3. There was a small parade where people presented their dull, monochromatic outfits. (Answer: False)
4. A naughty parrot named Polly took Timmy’s costume and flew away with it. (Answer: True)
5. Everyone wore bright clothes and was very happy during the fun day. (Answer: True)
6. Timmy, a little boy who hated to draw and paint, made a costume like a small, black bird. (Answer: False)
7. Timmy’s costume got stuck because of the wind, and he felt happy because he couldn’t be in the parade. (Answer: False)
8. With the help of the people in the village, Timmy fixed his costume and won the prize. (Answer: True)
Go back to questions ⇧

📚 How about these other Level 1 stories?

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Duncan, The Cheeky Monkey

Once upon a time, deep in the lush jungle of the Amazon rainforest, there lived a mischievous little monkey named

The Clever Flower

Once upon a time, in a beautiful garden, there was a little flower named Daisy. Daisy was very clever and

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