Paul Holmes -
University
English Professor

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Short Stories for Kids

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The Cupcake Castle Caper

In the magical land of Sprinkleville, a mischievous gnome named Minty Mischief plots to steal all the cupcakes from the famous cupcake castle, but a young girl named Ella is determined to stop him and save the town from chaos.

Try this story at a different level?

 

In a magic place called Sprinkleville, there was a castle made of cupcakes. They were colorful and had sprinkles on top. A little gnome named Minty wanted those cupcakes. He loved sweets so much!

Minty dressed up like the cupcake chef and made salty cupcakes. The people of Sprinkleville didn’t like them. They were confused and didn’t know Minty had done this.

A girl named Ella could smell very well. She found Minty hiding under a peppermint bush. Ella was brave and wanted to stop Minty.

Ella threw cold water on Minty and his costume fell off. Everyone saw Minty and knew what happened. They were surprised but happy to know. Minty said sorry and made more good cupcakes with Ella. The people were happy, and the town was sweet again.

🎧 Listen:

Slow

Normal

📖 Vocabulary:

1magicSpecial things that can’t really happen but are fun to imagine
2castleA big house where a king or queen might live
3gnomeA tiny person from stories who often lives in the forest
4sweetsYummy things like candy or cookies
5dressedPut on clothes
6confusedWhen your brain can’t understand something
7smellUsing your nose to notice how things are like flowers or cookies
8braveBeing strong and not scared
9costumeClothes you wear to look like someone else
10surprisedWhen something happens that you didn’t think would happen

🤔 Comprehension Questions:

1. What was the castle made of in Sprinkleville?
2. What did Minty dress up as?
3. Why didn’t the people of Sprinkleville like Minty’s cupcakes?
4. Who found Minty hiding under a bush?
5. What did Ella do to Minty?
6. What happened after Minty made more good cupcakes with Ella?
Go to answers ⇩

🎧✍️ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

In a magic place called Sprinkleville, there was a (1)______ made of cupcakes. They were (2)______ and had sprinkles on top. A little gnome named Minty wanted those cupcakes. He loved sweets so (3)______!

Minty dressed up like the cupcake chef and made (4)______ cupcakes. The people of Sprinkleville didn’t like them. They were confused and didn’t know Minty had done this.

A girl named Ella could smell very well. She found Minty hiding under a peppermint (5)______. Ella was brave and wanted to (6)______ Minty.

Ella threw cold water on Minty and his costume fell off. Everyone saw Minty and knew what happened. They were surprised but happy to know. Minty said (7)______ and (8)______ more good cupcakes with Ella. The people were happy, and the town was sweet again.
Go to answers ⇩

💬 Discussion Questions:

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

1. What is a cupcake? Why do you think Minty liked them?
2. How would you feel if someone made salty cupcakes instead of sweet ones?
3. Do you like sweets? Why or why not?
4. What do you think Minty should have done instead of making salty cupcakes?
5. How do you think the people of Sprinkleville felt when they found out Minty made the salty cupcakes?
6. Have you ever dressed up in a costume? What did you dress up as?
7. If you found someone hiding, what would you do?
8. Do you think it’s important to say sorry when you make a mistake? Why or why not?

📖💭 Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. magic
2. castle
3. gnome
4. sweets
5. dressed
6. confused
7. smell
8. brave
9. costume
10. surprised

Meanings:
(A) Yummy things like candy or cookies
(B) A big house where a king or queen might live
(C) Special things that can’t really happen but are fun to imagine
(D) Using your nose to notice how things are like flowers or cookies
(E) When something happens that you didn’t think would happen
(F) Being strong and not scared
(G) Put on clothes
(H) A tiny person from stories who often lives in the forest
(I) Clothes you wear to look like someone else
(J) When your brain can’t understand something
Go to answers ⇩

🔡 Multiple Choice Questions:

1. What was the castle made of in Sprinkleville?
(a) Ice cream
(b) Pizza
(c) Cupcakes
(d) Chocolate

2. What did Minty dress up as?
(a) The cupcake chef
(b) The king
(c) The princess
(d) The dragon

3. What did Minty make that the people of Sprinkleville didn’t like?
(a) Sweet cupcakes
(b) Chocolate cupcakes
(c) Vanilla cupcakes
(d) Salty cupcakes

4. Who found Minty hiding under a peppermint bush?
(a) Ella
(b) Jack
(c) Lily
(d) Max

5. What did Ella throw on Minty to reveal his true identity?
(a) Hot chocolate
(b) Cold water
(c) Lemonade
(d) Orange juice

6. How did the people of Sprinkleville feel when they saw Minty?
(a) Angry
(b) Sad
(c) Happy
(d) Surprised

7. What did Minty do to make up for his mistake?
(a) Ran away
(b) Hid in a tree
(c) Made more good cupcakes
(d) Cried

8. How did the people of Sprinkleville feel after Minty made more good cupcakes?
(a) Angry
(b) Happy
(c) Scared
(d) Sad

Go to answers ⇩

🕵️ True or False Questions:

1. Ella threw cold water on Minty, and his costume fell off, revealing that he was the one who made the salty cupcakes.
2. Minty apologized and made more delicious cupcakes with Ella, making the people of Sprinkleville happy again.
3. Ella, a girl with a weak sense of smell, found Minty hiding under a peppermint bush.
4. Ella was cowardly and wanted to encourage Minty to make more salty cupcakes.
5. There was a magical place called Sprinkleville with a castle made of cupcakes that had colorful sprinkles on top.
6. The people were well aware that Minty was the one who made the salty cupcakes.
7. Minty dressed up like the cupcake chef and made delightful cupcakes, and the people of Sprinkleville loved them.
8. Minty, a little gnome who loved sweets, wanted those cupcakes very much.
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 was the castle made of in Sprinkleville?
The castle was made of cupcakes.

2. What did Minty dress up as?
Minty dressed up as the cupcake chef.

3. Why didn’t the people of Sprinkleville like Minty’s cupcakes?
The people didn’t like Minty’s cupcakes because they were salty instead of sweet.

4. Who found Minty hiding under a bush?
Ella found Minty hiding under a peppermint bush.

5. What did Ella do to Minty?
Ella threw cold water on Minty.

6. What happened after Minty made more good cupcakes with Ella?
After Minty made more good cupcakes with Ella, the people were happy and the town became sweet again.
Go back to questions ⇧

🎧✍️✅ Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) castle
(2) colorful
(3) much
(4) salty
(5) bush
(6) stop
(7) sorry
(8) made
Go back to questions ⇧

📖💭✅ Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. magic
Answer: (C) Special things that can’t really happen but are fun to imagine

2. castle
Answer: (B) A big house where a king or queen might live

3. gnome
Answer: (H) A tiny person from stories who often lives in the forest

4. sweets
Answer: (A) Yummy things like candy or cookies

5. dressed
Answer: (G) Put on clothes

6. confused
Answer: (J) When your brain can’t understand something

7. smell
Answer: (D) Using your nose to notice how things are like flowers or cookies

8. brave
Answer: (F) Being strong and not scared

9. costume
Answer: (I) Clothes you wear to look like someone else

10. surprised
Answer: (E) When something happens that you didn’t think would happen
Go back to questions ⇧

🔡✅ Multiple Choice Answers:

1. What was the castle made of in Sprinkleville?
Answer: (c) Cupcakes

2. What did Minty dress up as?
Answer: (a) The cupcake chef

3. What did Minty make that the people of Sprinkleville didn’t like?
Answer: (d) Salty cupcakes

4. Who found Minty hiding under a peppermint bush?
Answer: (a) Ella

5. What did Ella throw on Minty to reveal his true identity?
Answer: (b) Cold water

6. How did the people of Sprinkleville feel when they saw Minty?
Answer: (d) Surprised

7. What did Minty do to make up for his mistake?
Answer: (c) Made more good cupcakes

8. How did the people of Sprinkleville feel after Minty made more good cupcakes?
Answer: (b) Happy
Go back to questions ⇧

🕵️✅ True or False Answers:

1. Ella threw cold water on Minty, and his costume fell off, revealing that he was the one who made the salty cupcakes. (Answer: True)
2. Minty apologized and made more delicious cupcakes with Ella, making the people of Sprinkleville happy again. (Answer: True)
3. Ella, a girl with a weak sense of smell, found Minty hiding under a peppermint bush. (Answer: False)
4. Ella was cowardly and wanted to encourage Minty to make more salty cupcakes. (Answer: False)
5. There was a magical place called Sprinkleville with a castle made of cupcakes that had colorful sprinkles on top. (Answer: True)
6. The people were well aware that Minty was the one who made the salty cupcakes. (Answer: False)
7. Minty dressed up like the cupcake chef and made delightful cupcakes, and the people of Sprinkleville loved them. (Answer: False)
8. Minty, a little gnome who loved sweets, wanted those cupcakes very much. (Answer: True)
Go back to questions ⇧

📚 How about these other Level 1 stories?

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The Mysterious Mango

Maya found a magical mango that granted her a wish, and she wished for laughter for everyone!

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.

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