Paul Holmes -
University
English Professor

Free Materials For ESL Teachers and Learners

Short Stories for Kids

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The Peacock Parade

Freddie the squirrel learns a valuable lesson about the true meaning of happiness and unity.

Try this story at a different level?

 

In the magic forest, there was a special day when all the peacocks showed their pretty colors. Freddie the squirrel wanted to see it very much, so he ran off to find the peacocks.

But some naughty monkeys played a trick on Freddie. They said he needed to find a secret feather first. Freddie looked everywhere for the feather because he believed the monkeys.

Then Freddie met a smart old owl named Oliver. Freddie told him about the secret feather. Oliver said there was no secret feather and the monkeys were just playing a trick.

Freddie learned that being together and having fun is more important than finding things. He joined the animals watching the beautiful peacock colors and was very happy.

🎧 Listen:

Slow

Normal

📖 Vocabulary:

1specialSomething that is not like other things, it’s extra nice or not usual
2peacocksBig birds with lots of colors and big, fan-shaped tails
3naughtyNot behaving well, doing things they should not do
4trickSomething you do to fool someone, to make them believe something that is not true
5secretSomething that is not supposed to be seen or known by everyone
6everywhereIn all places, all around
7smartSomeone who knows a lot and understands things well
8importantSomething that matters a lot, it’s very special or needed
9togetherWith someone else, not alone
10beautifulVery pretty to look at

🤔 Comprehension Questions:

1. What did Freddie want to see in the magic forest?
2. Who played a trick on Freddie?
3. What did the monkeys say Freddie needed to find?
4. Who did Freddie meet that told him there was no secret feather?
5. What did Freddie learn is more important than finding things?
6. How did Freddie feel when he watched the peacock colors with the other animals?
Go to answers ⇩

🎧✍️ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

In the magic forest, there was a special day when all the peacocks showed their pretty colors. Freddie the squirrel (1)______ to see it very much, so he ran off to (2)______ the peacocks.

But some naughty monkeys played a trick on Freddie. They said he needed to find a (3)______ feather first. Freddie (4)______ everywhere for the feather because he believed the monkeys.

Then Freddie met a smart old owl named Oliver. Freddie told him about the secret (5)______. Oliver (6)______ there was no secret feather and the monkeys were just playing a trick.

Freddie learned that being together and having fun is more important than finding things. He joined the animals watching the beautiful (7)______ colors and was very (8)______.
Go to answers ⇩

💬 Discussion Questions:

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

1. What is a peacock?
2. How would you feel if someone played a trick on you?
3. Do you like playing tricks on other people? Why or why not?
4. What is a feather?
5. How do you think Freddie felt when he couldn’t find the secret feather?
6. Do you think it’s more important to find things or to have fun with friends? Why or why not?
7. Have you ever seen a peacock before? What did it look like?
8. What other animals do you think would be fun to watch together in the magic forest? Why?

📖💭 Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. special
2. peacocks
3. naughty
4. trick
5. secret
6. everywhere
7. smart
8. important
9. together
10. beautiful

Meanings:
(A) With someone else, not alone
(B) Not behaving well, doing things they should not do
(C) Something that is not like other things, it’s extra nice or not usual
(D) Someone who knows a lot and understands things well
(E) Big birds with lots of colors and big, fan-shaped tails
(F) Very pretty to look at
(G) Something you do to fool someone, to make them believe something that is not true
(H) Something that matters a lot, it’s very special or needed
(I) In all places, all around
(J) Something that is not supposed to be seen or known by everyone
Go to answers ⇩

🔡 Multiple Choice Questions:

1. Who wanted to see the pretty colors of the peacocks?
(a) Oliver the owl
(b) Freddie the squirrel
(c) The naughty monkeys
(d) The other animals

2. What did the monkeys tell Freddie he needed to find?
(a) A secret feather
(b) A magic wand
(c) A shiny rock
(d) A golden crown

3. Who told Freddie that there was no secret feather?
(a) The naughty monkeys
(b) The other animals
(c) Oliver the owl
(d) Freddie’s mom

4. What did Freddie learn was more important than finding things?
(a) Finding the secret feather
(b) Playing tricks on others
(c) Being together and having fun
(d) Talking to Oliver the owl

5. What did Freddie do when he realized there was no secret feather?
(a) He went home and cried
(b) He scolded the naughty monkeys
(c) He searched even harder for the feather
(d) He joined the animals watching the peacock colors

6. Who played a trick on Freddie?
(a) The naughty monkeys
(b) Oliver the owl
(c) The other animals
(d) Freddie’s mom

7. What did Freddie want to see in the magic forest?
(a) The secret feather
(b) The pretty colors of the peacocks
(c) The naughty monkeys
(d) The smart old owl

8. How did Freddie feel when he joined the animals watching the peacock colors?
(a) Very sad
(b) Very angry
(c) Very scared
(d) Very happy

Go to answers ⇩

🕵️ True or False Questions:

1. Freddie the squirrel didn’t want to see the pretty peacock colors, so he stayed away to avoid finding them.
2. Freddie met a wise old owl named Oliver who told him there was a hidden feather and the monkeys were just playing a prank.
3. Some naughty monkeys tricked Freddie into thinking he needed to find a secret feather.
4. Freddie searched nowhere for the secret feather because he believed the monkeys.
5. Freddie learned that being alone and serious is more important than finding things.
6. In the magic forest, there was a special day when the peacocks showed their pretty colors.
7. Freddie joined the other animals and watched the beautiful peacock colors.
8. Freddie was very happy after seeing the pretty peacock colors.
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 Freddie want to see in the magic forest?
Freddie wanted to see the pretty colors of the peacocks.

2. Who played a trick on Freddie?
The naughty monkeys played a trick on Freddie.

3. What did the monkeys say Freddie needed to find?
The monkeys said Freddie needed to find a secret feather.

4. Who did Freddie meet that told him there was no secret feather?
Freddie met a smart old owl named Oliver who told him there was no secret feather.

5. What did Freddie learn is more important than finding things?
Freddie learned that being together and having fun is more important than finding things.

6. How did Freddie feel when he watched the peacock colors with the other animals?
Freddie felt very happy when he watched the peacock colors with the other animals.
Go back to questions ⇧

🎧✍️✅ Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) wanted
(2) find
(3) secret
(4) looked
(5) feather
(6) said
(7) peacock
(8) happy
Go back to questions ⇧

📖💭✅ Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. special
Answer: (C) Something that is not like other things, it’s extra nice or not usual

2. peacocks
Answer: (E) Big birds with lots of colors and big, fan-shaped tails

3. naughty
Answer: (B) Not behaving well, doing things they should not do

4. trick
Answer: (G) Something you do to fool someone, to make them believe something that is not true

5. secret
Answer: (J) Something that is not supposed to be seen or known by everyone

6. everywhere
Answer: (I) In all places, all around

7. smart
Answer: (D) Someone who knows a lot and understands things well

8. important
Answer: (H) Something that matters a lot, it’s very special or needed

9. together
Answer: (A) With someone else, not alone

10. beautiful
Answer: (F) Very pretty to look at
Go back to questions ⇧

🔡✅ Multiple Choice Answers:

1. Who wanted to see the pretty colors of the peacocks?
Answer: (b) Freddie the squirrel

2. What did the monkeys tell Freddie he needed to find?
Answer: (a) A secret feather

3. Who told Freddie that there was no secret feather?
Answer: (c) Oliver the owl

4. What did Freddie learn was more important than finding things?
Answer: (c) Being together and having fun

5. What did Freddie do when he realized there was no secret feather?
Answer: (d) He joined the animals watching the peacock colors

6. Who played a trick on Freddie?
Answer: (a) The naughty monkeys

7. What did Freddie want to see in the magic forest?
Answer: (b) The pretty colors of the peacocks

8. How did Freddie feel when he joined the animals watching the peacock colors?
Answer: (d) Very happy
Go back to questions ⇧

🕵️✅ True or False Answers:

1. Freddie the squirrel didn’t want to see the pretty peacock colors, so he stayed away to avoid finding them. (Answer: False)
2. Freddie met a wise old owl named Oliver who told him there was a hidden feather and the monkeys were just playing a prank. (Answer: False)
3. Some naughty monkeys tricked Freddie into thinking he needed to find a secret feather. (Answer: True)
4. Freddie searched nowhere for the secret feather because he believed the monkeys. (Answer: False)
5. Freddie learned that being alone and serious is more important than finding things. (Answer: False)
6. In the magic forest, there was a special day when the peacocks showed their pretty colors. (Answer: True)
7. Freddie joined the other animals and watched the beautiful peacock colors. (Answer: True)
8. Freddie was very happy after seeing the pretty peacock colors. (Answer: True)
Go back to questions ⇧

📚 How about these other Level 1 stories?

The Magical Mountain

Once upon a time, there was a magical mountain in the middle of a vast forest. The mountain was filled

A dragon and a squirrel team up to find an enchanted treasure, but the squirrel has a secret plan.

The Dragon’s Dream

Dillon the dragon had special dreams that showed him exciting adventures, like finding a shiny treasure!

Whiskers, the Queen of Cats, unites animals of all kinds and teaches them the power of compassion.

The Queen of Cats

Whiskers the cat was so kind that all the animals became friends and lived happily together.

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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