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 Journey to the Jade Jungle

Bobo the mischievous monkey and Toots the colorful toucan befriend a group of squirrels and discover a magical singing waterfall in the Jade Jungle, ultimately learning the power of friendship and laughter.

Try this story at a different level?

 

Bobo was a little monkey who lived in a small village. He dreamed of seeing the big, green Jade Jungle. One sunny day, he took his sandwich and went to the jungle for an adventure.

In the jungle, Bobo met a colorful bird named Toots. Toots joined Bobo, and they both wanted to find a special raccoon with rainbow colors.

Along the way, they played a fun game with Sammy the Squirrel and his friends. After that, they found a waterfall that could make wishes come true. Bobo wished for everyone to be happy.

Finally, they met the rainbow raccoon who asked them tricky questions. They answered with laughs and learned that being friends and laughing are very important. They went back home to share their story and kept visiting the jungle for more fun.

🎧 Listen:

Slow

Normal

📖 Vocabulary:

1adventureGoing on a fun trip where you see and do new things
2colorfulHaving lots of different bright colors
3jungleA big place with lots of trees, plants, and animals
4sandwichFood made with bread and something yummy in the middle
5waterfallWater that falls down from high rocks
6wishesThings you hope will happen because they would make you happy
7friendsPeople who play and have fun with you
8trickyHard to understand or figure out
9laughingMaking sounds with your mouth when something is funny
10visitingGoing to see a place or a person

🤔 Comprehension Questions:

1. Who is the main character of the story?
2. What did Bobo want to see in the jungle?
3. Who did Bobo meet in the jungle?
4. What did Bobo wish for at the waterfall?
5. What did Bobo and Toots learn from the rainbow raccoon?
6. What did Bobo and Toots do after they went back home?
Go to answers ⇩

🎧✍️ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

Bobo was a little monkey who lived in a small village. He dreamed of seeing the big, (1)______ Jade Jungle. One sunny day, he took his sandwich and (2)______ to the jungle for an adventure.

In the jungle, Bobo met a colorful (3)______ named Toots. Toots (4)______ Bobo, and they both wanted to find a special raccoon with rainbow colors.

Along the way, they played a fun game with Sammy the Squirrel and his friends. After that, they (5)______ a waterfall that could make wishes come true. (6)______ wished for everyone to be happy.

Finally, they met the rainbow raccoon who asked them tricky questions. They answered with laughs and learned that being friends and laughing are very (7)______. They went back home to share their story and kept visiting the (8)______ for more fun.
Go to answers ⇩

💬 Discussion Questions:

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

1. What is a monkey?
2. How would you feel if you saw a big, green jungle?
3. Do you like playing games with your friends? Why or why not?
4. What is a waterfall?
5. Do you think it’s important to make wishes? Why or why not?
6. How would you feel if you met a raccoon with rainbow colors?
7. Do you like laughing with your friends? Why or why not?
8. Have you ever had an adventure? What was it like?

📖💭 Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. adventure
2. colorful
3. jungle
4. sandwich
5. waterfall
6. wishes
7. friends
8. tricky
9. laughing
10. visiting

Meanings:
(A) Having lots of different bright colors
(B) A big place with lots of trees, plants, and animals
(C) Making sounds with your mouth when something is funny
(D) Things you hope will happen because they would make you happy
(E) People who play and have fun with you
(F) Hard to understand or figure out
(G) Going to see a place or a person
(H) Food made with bread and something yummy in the middle
(I) Going on a fun trip where you see and do new things
(J) Water that falls down from high rocks
Go to answers ⇩

🔡 Multiple Choice Questions:

1. Who is Bobo’s new friend in the jungle?
(a) Sammy the squirrel
(b) Toots the bird
(c) Rainbow raccoon
(d) None of the above

2. What did Bobo and Toots want to find in the jungle?
(a) A special raccoon with rainbow colors
(b) A big, green Jade Jungle
(c) A waterfall that could make wishes come true
(d) None of the above

3. What did Bobo wish for at the waterfall?
(a) For a big, green Jade Jungle
(b) For a sandwich
(c) None of the above
(d) For everyone to be happy

4. Who did Bobo and Toots play a fun game with?
(a) The rainbow raccoon
(b) Toots the bird
(c) None of the above
(d) Sammy the squirrel and his friends

5. What did Bobo and Toots learn from the rainbow raccoon?
(a) The jungle is full of adventures
(b) Bobo should eat his sandwich
(c) Being friends and laughing are very important
(d) None of the above

6. Where did Bobo and Toots meet the rainbow raccoon?
(a) At the waterfall
(b) In the small village
(c) In the big, green Jade Jungle
(d) None of the above

7. What did Bobo take with him to the jungle?
(a) A sandwich
(b) A colorful bird named Toots
(c) A special raccoon with rainbow colors
(d) None of the above

8. What did Bobo and Toots do after they met the rainbow raccoon?
(a) They went to the waterfall to make more wishes
(b) They went back home to share their story
(c) They played a fun game with Sammy the squirrel and his friends
(d) None of the above

Go to answers ⇩

🕵️ True or False Questions:

1. During their journey, Bobo and Toots engaged in a mundane activity with Sammy the Squirrel and his companions.
2. Bobo wants to see the big, green Jade Jungle.
3. Bobo and Toots encountered the rainbow raccoon, solved its challenging riddles, and discovered the significance of solitude and seriousness.
4. They found a magical waterfall that grants wishes, and Bobo wished for everyone to be happy.
5. In the rainforest, Bobo encountered a vibrant bird named Toots.
6. Toots joined Bobo in searching for a special raccoon with rainbow colors.
7. Bobo is a small monkey who resides in a bustling city.
8. Bobo took his sandwich and went to the jungle for an adventure.
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. Who is the main character of the story?
The main character of the story is Bobo, the little monkey.

2. What did Bobo want to see in the jungle?
Bobo wanted to see the big, green Jade Jungle.

3. Who did Bobo meet in the jungle?
Bobo met a colorful bird named Toots in the jungle.

4. What did Bobo wish for at the waterfall?
Bobo wished for everyone to be happy at the waterfall.

5. What did Bobo and Toots learn from the rainbow raccoon?
Bobo and Toots learned that being friends and laughing are very important from the rainbow raccoon.

6. What did Bobo and Toots do after they went back home?
After they went back home, Bobo and Toots shared their story and kept visiting the jungle for more fun.
Go back to questions ⇧

🎧✍️✅ Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) green
(2) went
(3) bird
(4) joined
(5) found
(6) Bobo
(7) important
(8) jungle
Go back to questions ⇧

📖💭✅ Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. adventure
Answer: (I) Going on a fun trip where you see and do new things

2. colorful
Answer: (A) Having lots of different bright colors

3. jungle
Answer: (B) A big place with lots of trees, plants, and animals

4. sandwich
Answer: (H) Food made with bread and something yummy in the middle

5. waterfall
Answer: (J) Water that falls down from high rocks

6. wishes
Answer: (D) Things you hope will happen because they would make you happy

7. friends
Answer: (E) People who play and have fun with you

8. tricky
Answer: (F) Hard to understand or figure out

9. laughing
Answer: (C) Making sounds with your mouth when something is funny

10. visiting
Answer: (G) Going to see a place or a person
Go back to questions ⇧

🔡✅ Multiple Choice Answers:

1. Who is Bobo’s new friend in the jungle?
Answer: (b) Toots the bird

2. What did Bobo and Toots want to find in the jungle?
Answer: (a) A special raccoon with rainbow colors

3. What did Bobo wish for at the waterfall?
Answer: (d) For everyone to be happy

4. Who did Bobo and Toots play a fun game with?
Answer: (d) Sammy the squirrel and his friends

5. What did Bobo and Toots learn from the rainbow raccoon?
Answer: (c) Being friends and laughing are very important

6. Where did Bobo and Toots meet the rainbow raccoon?
Answer: (c) In the big, green Jade Jungle

7. What did Bobo take with him to the jungle?
Answer: (a) A sandwich

8. What did Bobo and Toots do after they met the rainbow raccoon?
Answer: (b) They went back home to share their story
Go back to questions ⇧

🕵️✅ True or False Answers:

1. During their journey, Bobo and Toots engaged in a mundane activity with Sammy the Squirrel and his companions. (Answer: False)
2. Bobo wants to see the big, green Jade Jungle. (Answer: True)
3. Bobo and Toots encountered the rainbow raccoon, solved its challenging riddles, and discovered the significance of solitude and seriousness. (Answer: False)
4. They found a magical waterfall that grants wishes, and Bobo wished for everyone to be happy. (Answer: True)
5. In the rainforest, Bobo encountered a vibrant bird named Toots. (Answer: False)
6. Toots joined Bobo in searching for a special raccoon with rainbow colors. (Answer: True)
7. Bobo is a small monkey who resides in a bustling city. (Answer: False)
8. Bobo took his sandwich and went to the jungle for an adventure. (Answer: True)
Go back to questions ⇧

📚 How about these other Level 1 stories?

A mischievous squirrel with the power to fly becomes the forest's superhero and saves the day.

The Superhero Squirrel

Sammy the flying squirrel saves his friend Billy from a tree and stops a sneaky fox from taking acorns.

The Busy Bee

Once upon a time, in a beautiful meadow filled with flowers, there lived a busy little bee named Buzz. Buzz

A magical swan named Saffron and a brave boy named Milo embark on a journey to defeat an evil sorcerer and teach a lesson about friendship.

The Saffron Swan

A shiny swan named Saffron and a brave boy named Milo became friends and stopped a bad man together.

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