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 Midnight Train to Starland

A little boy named Tommy embarks on a magical journey aboard the Midnight Train to Starland.

Try this story at a different level?

 

In a small green hill town, there was a boy named Tommy. At night, from his bed, he saw a twinkly train. It was the Midnight Train to Starland.

Tommy put on his shoes and ran outside to the train. On the train, he met talking animals and fairies. They all smiled as the train went up into the sky.

But suddenly, the train stopped because of Sparkle the imp. Sparkle said, “Answer my puzzle to go on.” Tommy thought hard and said, “Laughter!” Sparkle let them go.

In the morning, they saw Starland. Tommy was sad to leave but happy too. A wise owl said, “Starland magic is always in your heart.” Tommy went home and kept the magic with him.

🎧 Listen:

Slow

Normal

📖 Vocabulary:

1twinklyLittle lights that shine like stars
2fairiesTiny people with wings that you see in stories
3impA small, tricky creature from tales
4puzzleA game where you have to think to find the answer
5laughterThe sound you make when something is funny
6magicSpecial powers that make amazing things happen
7heartThe place inside you where you feel love
8wiseSomeone who knows a lot and gives good advice
9trainA long thing with wheels that goes on tracks
10hillA small mountain with a round top

🤔 Comprehension Questions:

1. Who is the main character in the story?
2. What did Tommy see from his bed at night?
3. What did Tommy do when he saw the twinkly train?
4. Who did Tommy meet on the train?
5. Why did the train stop?
6. What did the wise owl say about Starland magic?
Go to answers ⇩

🎧✍️ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

In a small (1)______ hill town, there was a boy (2)______ Tommy. At night, from his bed, he saw a twinkly train. It was the Midnight Train to Starland.

Tommy put on his shoes and ran outside to the train. On the train, he met talking (3)______ and fairies. They all (4)______ as the train went up into the sky.

But suddenly, the train stopped because of Sparkle the imp. Sparkle (5)______, “Answer my puzzle to go on.” Tommy (6)______ hard and said, “Laughter!” Sparkle let them go.

In the morning, they saw Starland. Tommy was sad to leave but happy too. A wise owl said, “Starland magic is always in your (7)______.” Tommy went home and (8)______ the magic with him.
Go to answers ⇩

💬 Discussion Questions:

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

1. What is Starland?
2. How would you feel if you saw a twinkly train outside your window at night?
3. Do you like talking animals and fairies? Why or why not?
4. What do you think Sparkle the imp’s puzzle was?
5. How would you feel if you had to solve a puzzle to continue on the train?
6. Do you think Tommy was sad or happy to leave Starland? Why?
7. What do you think the wise owl meant by “Starland magic is always in your heart”?
8. How would you feel if you could keep magic with you? Why?

📖💭 Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. twinkly
2. fairies
3. imp
4. puzzle
5. laughter
6. magic
7. heart
8. wise
9. train
10. hill

Meanings:
(A) A long thing with wheels that goes on tracks
(B) Tiny people with wings that you see in stories
(C) Little lights that shine like stars
(D) A small, tricky creature from tales
(E) Special powers that make amazing things happen
(F) The place inside you where you feel love
(G) A small mountain with a round top
(H) The sound you make when something is funny
(I) A game where you have to think to find the answer
(J) Someone who knows a lot and gives good advice
Go to answers ⇩

🔡 Multiple Choice Questions:

1. What did Tommy see from his bed at night?
(a) A big boat
(b) A twinkly train
(c) A flying car
(d) A jumping kangaroo

2. Where did Tommy go when he saw the twinkly train?
(a) To the park
(b) To the beach
(c) On the train
(d) To his friend’s house

3. What did Tommy meet on the train?
(a) Talking animals and fairies
(b) Robots and aliens
(c) Superheroes and princesses
(d) Monsters and ghosts

4. Why did the train stop?
(a) Because of a broken engine
(b) Because of a storm
(c) Because of a traffic jam
(d) Because of Sparkle the imp

5. What did Sparkle the imp want Tommy to do?
(a) Answer a puzzle
(b) Sing a song
(c) Dance a dance
(d) Tell a joke

6. What was Tommy’s answer to Sparkle’s puzzle?
(a) Sunshine
(b) Rainbows
(c) Laughter
(d) Friendship

7. What did Tommy see in the morning?
(a) Candyland
(b) Dreamland
(c) Wonderland
(d) Starland

8. What did the wise owl say about Starland magic?
(a) It is always in the sky
(b) It is always in your heart
(c) It is always in your pocket
(d) It is always in a book

Go to answers ⇩

🕵️ True or False Questions:

1. Tommy met talking animals and fairies on the train.
2. Tommy felt both sad and happy about leaving Starland.
3. Sparkle challenged Tommy with a riddle, and Tommy answered incorrectly.
4. Tommy put on his shoes and went outside to the train.
5. The train stopped because of a mischievous imp named Sparkle.
6. A foolish owl told Tommy that the magic of Starland would never be in his heart.
7. Tommy saw a dull train from his bed at night.
8. In the evening, they arrived at a place called Moonland.
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 in the story?
Tommy.

2. What did Tommy see from his bed at night?
Tommy saw a twinkly train.

3. What did Tommy do when he saw the twinkly train?
Tommy put on his shoes and ran outside to the train.

4. Who did Tommy meet on the train?
Tommy met talking animals and fairies on the train.

5. Why did the train stop?
The train stopped because of Sparkle the imp.

6. What did the wise owl say about Starland magic?
The wise owl said that Starland magic is always in your heart.
Go back to questions ⇧

🎧✍️✅ Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) green
(2) named
(3) animals
(4) smiled
(5) said
(6) thought
(7) heart
(8) kept
Go back to questions ⇧

📖💭✅ Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. twinkly
Answer: (C) Little lights that shine like stars

2. fairies
Answer: (B) Tiny people with wings that you see in stories

3. imp
Answer: (D) A small, tricky creature from tales

4. puzzle
Answer: (I) A game where you have to think to find the answer

5. laughter
Answer: (H) The sound you make when something is funny

6. magic
Answer: (E) Special powers that make amazing things happen

7. heart
Answer: (F) The place inside you where you feel love

8. wise
Answer: (J) Someone who knows a lot and gives good advice

9. train
Answer: (A) A long thing with wheels that goes on tracks

10. hill
Answer: (G) A small mountain with a round top
Go back to questions ⇧

🔡✅ Multiple Choice Answers:

1. What did Tommy see from his bed at night?
Answer: (b) A twinkly train

2. Where did Tommy go when he saw the twinkly train?
Answer: (c) On the train

3. What did Tommy meet on the train?
Answer: (a) Talking animals and fairies

4. Why did the train stop?
Answer: (d) Because of Sparkle the imp

5. What did Sparkle the imp want Tommy to do?
Answer: (a) Answer a puzzle

6. What was Tommy’s answer to Sparkle’s puzzle?
Answer: (c) Laughter

7. What did Tommy see in the morning?
Answer: (d) Starland

8. What did the wise owl say about Starland magic?
Answer: (b) It is always in your heart
Go back to questions ⇧

🕵️✅ True or False Answers:

1. Tommy met talking animals and fairies on the train. (Answer: True)
2. Tommy felt both sad and happy about leaving Starland. (Answer: True)
3. Sparkle challenged Tommy with a riddle, and Tommy answered incorrectly. (Answer: False)
4. Tommy put on his shoes and went outside to the train. (Answer: True)
5. The train stopped because of a mischievous imp named Sparkle. (Answer: True)
6. A foolish owl told Tommy that the magic of Starland would never be in his heart. (Answer: False)
7. Tommy saw a dull train from his bed at night. (Answer: False)
8. In the evening, they arrived at a place called Moonland. (Answer: False)
Go back to questions ⇧

📚 How about these other Level 1 stories?

A sleepy snowman named Frosty embarks on a quest to find his missing carrot nose.

The Sleepy Snowman

Frosty the snowman takes a nap, but when his carrot nose goes missing, he goes on an adventure to find it with his animal friends.

The Ice Cream Island

Once upon a time, there was a special island called Ice Cream Island. It had yummy ice cream and happy friends.

Four friends embark on a magical adventure, only to discover that the real treasure is their friendship.

The Four Leaf Clover Quest

Four friends named Lily, Max, Oliver, and Sophie went on an adventure to find a magic clover, but they learned that friendship is the best treasure of all.

Peter the mischievous penguin learns the importance of bringing joy to others through a grand party.

The Playful Penguin’s Party

Peter the penguin wanted to have a big party, but he forgot the music, so he asked his friend Sammy the seal for help and they made a happy song for everyone to dance to.

The Castle in the Clouds

Lily climbed a big mountain and found a magical castle where she helped a friendly man find his lost key with the help of talking animals.

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