Paul Holmes -
University
English Professor

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Short Stories for Kids

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The Peculiar Pineapple Parade

The Peculiar Pineapple Parade brings joy and unity to the magical land of Fruitopia.

Try this story at a different level?

 

In a place called Fruitopia, some special pineapples could talk to animals. The pineapples, Perry, Polly, and Peter, wanted to have a big parade.

Animals got ready for the parade. Monkeys climbed, elephants made music, and flamingos danced. Everyone in Fruitopia was happy and couldn’t wait for the parade to start.

On parade day, the sky got dark and it started to rain hard. The pineapples and animals made a big leaf umbrella to stay dry. The parade was fun even with the rain.

After the parade, people said thank you to the pineapples and animals. They decided to have a parade every year. The pineapples showed everyone that when problems happen, friends can help.

🎧 Listen:

Slow

Normal

📖 Vocabulary:

1FruitopiaA make-believe place where the story happens
2pineapplesA yummy, spiky fruit that is sweet inside
3paradeA big, fun walk with music and dancing
4climbedWent up, like going up a ladder
5elephantsBig, gray animals with long noses
6flamingosPink birds that stand on one leg
7umbrellaSomething you use to keep dry when water falls from the sky
8rainWater drops that come from the clouds in the sky
9decidedMade up their minds or chose something
10problemsThings that are hard or not easy to fix

🤔 Comprehension Questions:

1. What could the special pineapples do in Fruitopia?
2. What did the monkeys do to get ready for the parade?
3. What did the elephants do to make music?
4. What did the flamingos do at the parade?
5. What did the pineapples and animals make to stay dry in the rain?
6. What did the people decide to do after the parade?
Go to answers ⇩

🎧✍️ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

In a place called Fruitopia, some special (1)______ could talk to animals. The pineapples, Perry, Polly, and Peter, wanted to have a big parade.

Animals got (2)______ for the parade. Monkeys climbed, elephants (3)______ (4)______, and flamingos danced. Everyone in Fruitopia was happy and couldn’t wait for the parade to start.

On parade day, the sky got dark and it started to (5)______ hard. The pineapples and animals made a big (6)______ umbrella to stay dry. The parade was fun even with the rain.

After the parade, people said thank you to the pineapples and (7)______. They decided to have a parade every year. The pineapples (8)______ everyone that when problems happen, friends can help.
Go to answers ⇩

💬 Discussion Questions:

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

1. What is Fruitopia?
2. How would you feel if you could talk to animals?
3. Do you like parades? Why or why not?
4. What do you think the animals did to get ready for the parade?
5. How did the pineapples and animals stay dry in the rain?
6. Do you think it’s important to say thank you to friends? Why or why not?
7. What do you think the pineapples showed everyone in the story?
8. Have you ever had a problem that your friends helped you with? What did they do to help you?

📖💭 Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. Fruitopia
2. pineapples
3. parade
4. climbed
5. elephants
6. flamingos
7. umbrella
8. rain
9. decided
10. problems

Meanings:
(A) A make-believe place where the story happens
(B) Something you use to keep dry when water falls from the sky
(C) A yummy, spiky fruit that is sweet inside
(D) Made up their minds or chose something
(E) Water drops that come from the clouds in the sky
(F) A big, fun walk with music and dancing
(G) Went up, like going up a ladder
(H) Things that are hard or not easy to fix
(I) Pink birds that stand on one leg
(J) Big, gray animals with long noses
Go to answers ⇩

🔡 Multiple Choice Questions:

1. Who could talk to animals in Fruitopia?
(a) Bananas
(b) Oranges
(c) Apples
(d) Pineapples

2. What were the names of the talking pineapples?
(a) Larry, Lucy, and Liam
(b) Perry, Polly, and Peter
(c) Sammy, Sally, and Simon
(d) Benny, Betty, and Bob

3. What did the monkeys do for the parade?
(a) Swam
(b) Flew
(c) Climbed
(d) Danced

4. What did the elephants do for the parade?
(a) Painted pictures
(b) Made music
(c) Told jokes
(d) Played soccer

5. What did the flamingos do for the parade?
(a) Danced
(b) Sang
(c) Jumped
(d) Slept

6. What did the pineapples and animals make to stay dry?
(a) A big leaf umbrella
(b) A small rock
(c) A big tree
(d) A tiny flower

7. What happened on parade day?
(a) It got very hot
(b) It snowed
(c) The sun shone brightly
(d) It started to rain hard

8. What did the people in Fruitopia decide to do after the parade?
(a) Have a party every month
(b) Have a race every week
(c) Have a parade every year
(d) Have a picnic every day

Go to answers ⇩

🕵️ True or False Questions:

1. On the day of the parade, it started to rain hard and the sky got dark.
2. The pineapples and animals made a small leaf umbrella to stay wet during the parade.
3. Everyone in Fruitopia was happy and excited for the parade to start.
4. The pineapples and animals wanted to have a big parade in Fruitopia.
5. The pineapples’ names were Perry, Polly, and Peter.
6. Even with the rain, the parade was still boring and nobody had a good time.
7. Monkeys climbed, elephants made silence, and flamingos stood still to get ready for the parade.
8. In a place called Fruitopia, there were no special pineapples that could talk to animals.
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 could the special pineapples do in Fruitopia?
The special pineapples in Fruitopia could talk to animals.

2. What did the monkeys do to get ready for the parade?
The monkeys climbed to get ready for the parade.

3. What did the elephants do to make music?
The elephants made music for the parade.

4. What did the flamingos do at the parade?
The flamingos danced at the parade.

5. What did the pineapples and animals make to stay dry in the rain?
The pineapples and animals made a big leaf umbrella to stay dry in the rain.

6. What did the people decide to do after the parade?
The people decided to have a parade every year after the parade.
Go back to questions ⇧

🎧✍️✅ Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) pineapples
(2) ready
(3) made
(4) music
(5) rain
(6) leaf
(7) animals
(8) showed
Go back to questions ⇧

📖💭✅ Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. Fruitopia
Answer: (A) A make-believe place where the story happens

2. pineapples
Answer: (C) A yummy, spiky fruit that is sweet inside

3. parade
Answer: (F) A big, fun walk with music and dancing

4. climbed
Answer: (G) Went up, like going up a ladder

5. elephants
Answer: (J) Big, gray animals with long noses

6. flamingos
Answer: (I) Pink birds that stand on one leg

7. umbrella
Answer: (B) Something you use to keep dry when water falls from the sky

8. rain
Answer: (E) Water drops that come from the clouds in the sky

9. decided
Answer: (D) Made up their minds or chose something

10. problems
Answer: (H) Things that are hard or not easy to fix
Go back to questions ⇧

🔡✅ Multiple Choice Answers:

1. Who could talk to animals in Fruitopia?
Answer: (d) Pineapples

2. What were the names of the talking pineapples?
Answer: (b) Perry, Polly, and Peter

3. What did the monkeys do for the parade?
Answer: (c) Climbed

4. What did the elephants do for the parade?
Answer: (b) Made music

5. What did the flamingos do for the parade?
Answer: (a) Danced

6. What did the pineapples and animals make to stay dry?
Answer: (a) A big leaf umbrella

7. What happened on parade day?
Answer: (d) It started to rain hard

8. What did the people in Fruitopia decide to do after the parade?
Answer: (c) Have a parade every year
Go back to questions ⇧

🕵️✅ True or False Answers:

1. On the day of the parade, it started to rain hard and the sky got dark. (Answer: True)
2. The pineapples and animals made a small leaf umbrella to stay wet during the parade. (Answer: False)
3. Everyone in Fruitopia was happy and excited for the parade to start. (Answer: True)
4. The pineapples and animals wanted to have a big parade in Fruitopia. (Answer: True)
5. The pineapples’ names were Perry, Polly, and Peter. (Answer: True)
6. Even with the rain, the parade was still boring and nobody had a good time. (Answer: False)
7. Monkeys climbed, elephants made silence, and flamingos stood still to get ready for the parade. (Answer: False)
8. In a place called Fruitopia, there were no special pineapples that could talk to animals. (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 Brave Knight

Once upon a time, there was a brave knight named Sir Richard. He lived in a castle with his family,

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.

Polly's determination pays off when she finds her lost puppy safe and sound.

Polly’s New Puppy

Polly really wanted a puppy, so she worked hard and her mom and dad surprised her with one named Buttercup.

A princess falls in love with a humble peasant who brings her a plain potato.

The Princess and the Potato

Once upon a time, there was a princess named Penelope who loved potatoes more than anything. She said she would marry whoever gave her the best potato. Even though a fancy man brought a big potato, Penelope chose a boy named Peter with a small potato made with love. They got married and became happy together.

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