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 Curious Case of the Crooked Crown

A young princess named Isabella embarks on a quest, armed with a magical crown and a talking parrot, to find an enchanted crystal and discovers that true strength lies within herself.

Try this story at a different level?

 

In a fun place called Bumbleshire, there was a young girl named Isabella who liked to play and find new things. One day, while playing with her cousin Oliver, she found a hidden door behind a wall picture. She walked in and saw a room full of old treasures.

She saw a sparkly crown and put it on her head. The crown changed shape and showed her a map to a secret treasure. Isabella wanted to find it, thinking her crown was magic.

Isabella met a talking bird named Pablo. They went on an adventure and met a tricky gnome named Grumblewort who wanted the treasure too. Grumblewort was smart but Isabella and Pablo were brave and kind, and they worked together to move past his tricks.

Isabella learned that being brave and nice was better than any treasure. She and Pablo found a special crystal and a box full of happiness. They shared their happiness with everyone, and Isabella’s crown became a sign of her courage and love for adventure.

🎧 Listen:

Slow

Normal

📖 Vocabulary:

1treasuresSpecial things that are very old and can be worth a lot of money
2sparklyShiny and bright like little stars
3crownA fancy circle that you wear on your head like a king or queen
4adventureA fun trip where you do exciting things
5braveNot being scared to do something
6trickyWhen something is not easy to understand or someone is not easy to catch
7gnomeA tiny, make-believe person with a pointy hat
8crystalA shiny rock that looks like ice
9happinessFeeling really good and smiling a lot
10courageBeing strong inside and not giving up

🤔 Comprehension Questions:

1. What did Isabella find behind the wall picture?
2. What did Isabella put on her head that changed shape?
3. Who did Isabella meet on her adventure?
4. What did the gnome named Grumblewort want?
5. What did Isabella learn was more important than treasure?
6. What did Isabella and Pablo find in the end?
Go to answers ⇩

🎧✍️ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

In a fun place called Bumbleshire, there was a young girl named Isabella who liked to play and find new things. One day, while playing with her (1)______ Oliver, she found a hidden door behind a wall picture. She walked in and saw a (2)______ full of old (3)______s.

She saw a sparkly crown and put it on her head. The crown changed shape and showed her a map to a secret treasure. Isabella wanted to find it, thinking her crown was (4)______.

Isabella met a talking bird named Pablo. They went on an adventure and met a tricky (5)______ named Grumblewort who wanted the treasure too. Grumblewort was smart but Isabella and Pablo were brave and kind, and they worked together to (6)______ past his tricks.

Isabella learned that being (7)______ and nice was better than any treasure. She and Pablo found a special crystal and a box full of happiness. They shared their happiness with everyone, and Isabella’s crown became a sign of her (8)______ and love for adventure.
Go to answers ⇩

💬 Discussion Questions:

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

1. What is a treasure? Why do you think Isabella wanted to find it?
2. How would you feel if you found a hidden door and went inside? Why?
3. Do you like adventures? Why or why not?
4. What is a gnome? Have you ever seen one before?
5. How would you feel if someone tried to trick you? Why?
6. Do you think being brave and kind is important? Why or why not?
7. What is happiness? How do you think Isabella and Pablo shared their happiness?
8. How would you feel if you had a special crown that showed you a secret treasure? Why?

📖💭 Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. treasures
2. sparkly
3. crown
4. adventure
5. brave
6. tricky
7. gnome
8. crystal
9. happiness
10. courage

Meanings:
(A) When something is not easy to understand or someone is not easy to catch
(B) A tiny, make-believe person with a pointy hat
(C) Shiny and bright like little stars
(D) A fancy circle that you wear on your head like a king or queen
(E) Being strong inside and not giving up
(F) Not being scared to do something
(G) A fun trip where you do exciting things
(H) Special things that are very old and can be worth a lot of money
(I) A shiny rock that looks like ice
(J) Feeling really good and smiling a lot
Go to answers ⇩

🔡 Multiple Choice Questions:

1. What did Isabella find behind the wall picture?
(a) A secret key
(b) A magic wand
(c) A hidden door
(d) A talking bird

2. What did Isabella put on her head?
(a) A sparkly crown
(b) A shiny necklace
(c) A colorful hat
(d) A big bow

3. What did the crown show Isabella?
(a) A picture of her family
(b) A map to a secret treasure
(c) A recipe for cookies
(d) A story about a princess

4. Who did Isabella meet on her adventure?
(a) A talking bird named Pablo
(b) A tricky gnome named Grumblewort
(c) A friendly dragon named Sparkle
(d) A magical unicorn named Rainbow

5. What did Grumblewort want?
(a) Isabella’s crown
(b) A magic spell
(c) The treasure
(d) A new friend

6. How did Isabella and Pablo defeat Grumblewort?
(a) By using magic powers
(b) By running away
(c) By hiding in a cave
(d) By being brave and kind

7. What did Isabella and Pablo find?
(a) A box full of happiness
(b) A special crystal
(c) A secret code
(d) A magical potion

8. What did Isabella’s crown become?
(a) A shiny necklace
(b) A magical wand
(c) A treasure map
(d) A sign of her courage and love for adventure

Go to answers ⇩

🕵️ True or False Questions:

1. Isabella did not meet a talking bird named Pablo.
2. Isabella did not find a hidden door behind a picture on the wall.
3. Isabella’s crown became a symbol of her courage and love for adventure.
4. Isabella and Pablo went on an adventure together.
5. Isabella did not put on a sparkly crown and it did not show her a map.
6. Isabella did not learn that being brave and nice is important.
7. They met a tricky gnome named Grumblewort.
8. Isabella and Pablo were brave and kind.
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 Isabella find behind the wall picture?
Isabella found a hidden door behind the wall picture.

2. What did Isabella put on her head that changed shape?
Isabella put on a sparkly crown that changed shape.

3. Who did Isabella meet on her adventure?
Isabella met a talking bird named Pablo on her adventure.

4. What did the gnome named Grumblewort want?
The gnome named Grumblewort wanted the secret treasure.

5. What did Isabella learn was more important than treasure?
Isabella learned that being brave and nice was more important than treasure.

6. What did Isabella and Pablo find in the end?
In the end, Isabella and Pablo found a special crystal and a box full of happiness.
Go back to questions ⇧

🎧✍️✅ Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) cousin
(2) room
(3) treasure
(4) magic
(5) gnome
(6) move
(7) brave
(8) courage
Go back to questions ⇧

📖💭✅ Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. treasures
Answer: (H) Special things that are very old and can be worth a lot of money

2. sparkly
Answer: (C) Shiny and bright like little stars

3. crown
Answer: (D) A fancy circle that you wear on your head like a king or queen

4. adventure
Answer: (G) A fun trip where you do exciting things

5. brave
Answer: (F) Not being scared to do something

6. tricky
Answer: (A) When something is not easy to understand or someone is not easy to catch

7. gnome
Answer: (B) A tiny, make-believe person with a pointy hat

8. crystal
Answer: (I) A shiny rock that looks like ice

9. happiness
Answer: (J) Feeling really good and smiling a lot

10. courage
Answer: (E) Being strong inside and not giving up
Go back to questions ⇧

🔡✅ Multiple Choice Answers:

1. What did Isabella find behind the wall picture?
Answer: (c) A hidden door

2. What did Isabella put on her head?
Answer: (a) A sparkly crown

3. What did the crown show Isabella?
Answer: (b) A map to a secret treasure

4. Who did Isabella meet on her adventure?
Answer: (a) A talking bird named Pablo

5. What did Grumblewort want?
Answer: (c) The treasure

6. How did Isabella and Pablo defeat Grumblewort?
Answer: (d) By being brave and kind

7. What did Isabella and Pablo find?
Answer: (b) A special crystal

8. What did Isabella’s crown become?
Answer: (d) A sign of her courage and love for adventure
Go back to questions ⇧

🕵️✅ True or False Answers:

1. Isabella did not meet a talking bird named Pablo. (Answer: False)
2. Isabella did not find a hidden door behind a picture on the wall. (Answer: False)
3. Isabella’s crown became a symbol of her courage and love for adventure. (Answer: True)
4. Isabella and Pablo went on an adventure together. (Answer: True)
5. Isabella did not put on a sparkly crown and it did not show her a map. (Answer: False)
6. Isabella did not learn that being brave and nice is important. (Answer: False)
7. They met a tricky gnome named Grumblewort. (Answer: True)
8. Isabella and Pablo were brave and kind. (Answer: True)
Go back to questions ⇧

📚 How about these other Level 1 stories?

The Golden Egg Hunt in Fantasia turns into a heartwarming display of unity and selflessness.

The Golden Egg Hunt

Once upon a time, there was a magical egg hunt where people found special eggs and made wishes.

The Clever Flower

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

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

The Carnival of Colors

In Rainbowland, everyone had a big fun day with colors, parades, and tasty snacks. Timmy’s costume flew away, but his friends helped him fix it and win a prize.

In a small village nestled deep in a magical forest, a little girl named Lily discovers a talking teapot with the power to grant wishes.

The Talking Teapot

Lily found a talking teapot that could make wishes come true, and together they helped the village have lots of food and defeated a bad witch.

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