Paul Holmes -
University
English Professor

Free Materials For ESL Teachers and Learners

Short Stories for Kids

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The Pirate Princess

Penelope, the brave pirate princess, embarks on daring adventures, outsmarting sea monsters, cunning pirates, and even making a wish with a magical Golden Mermaid.

Try this story at a different level?

 

Once upon a time, there was a pirate princess named Penelope. She loved adventures and sailed on her ship, the Jolly Seahorse. She wanted to find treasure and be smarter than other pirates.

One day, Penelope saw a big sea monster. Her friends were scared, but she was brave. She threw seashells into the water and the monster swam away. Her friends were happy because Penelope was smart and brave.

Next, Penelope found an island with caves full of diamonds. Bad pirates guarded it. She dressed up like a person who sells fruit and tricked the bad pirates. They left to find another treasure, but Penelope took all the diamonds from the caves.

Finally, Penelope wanted to find the Golden Mermaid for a wish. A big storm hit their ship, but she wished for them to be safe. The storm stopped, and a pretty angel showed them the way home. They all learned that having each other was the best treasure. Penelope kept sailing as a kind and brave princess.

🎧 Listen:

Slow

Normal

📖 Vocabulary:

1adventuresFun trips where you discover new things
2sailedMoved over water in a ship or boat
3treasureShiny, valuable things that people like to find and keep
4braveNot afraid of anything
5seashellsHard, pretty pieces from the ocean that come from inside of sea animals
6trickedMade someone believe something that was not true
7diamondsVery hard, shiny rocks that can be clear or have colors
8stormVery bad weather with lots of wind and rain
9angelA very good being from stories that can fly and helps people
10sailingMoving on water in a ship or boat

🤔 Comprehension Questions:

1. Who is the main character in the story?
2. What did Penelope do when she saw the sea monster?
3. How did Penelope trick the bad pirates?
4. What did Penelope wish for during the storm?
5. Who showed Penelope and her friends the way home?
6. What did Penelope learn at the end of the story?
Go to answers ⇩

🎧✍️ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

Once upon a time, there was a (1)______ (2)______ named Penelope. She loved adventures and sailed on her ship, the Jolly Seahorse. She wanted to find treasure and be smarter than other pirates.

One day, Penelope saw a big sea monster. Her friends were scared, but she was brave. She threw seashells into the water and the monster (3)______ away. Her friends were happy because Penelope was smart and brave.

Next, Penelope found an (4)______ with caves full of diamonds. Bad pirates guarded it. She dressed up like a (5)______ who sells fruit and tricked the bad pirates. They left to find another treasure, but Penelope (6)______ all the diamonds from the caves.

Finally, Penelope wanted to find the Golden Mermaid for a wish. A big storm hit their ship, but she wished for them to be safe. The storm stopped, and a pretty angel showed them the way home. They all learned that having each other was the best (7)______. (8)______ kept sailing as a kind and brave princess.
Go to answers ⇩

💬 Discussion Questions:

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

1. What is a pirate princess?
2. How would you feel if you saw a big sea monster?
3. Do you like adventures? Why or why not?
4. Do you think Penelope was smart and brave? Why or why not?
5. What is a treasure?
6. How would you feel if you found an island with caves full of diamonds?
7. Do you think having each other is the best treasure? Why or why not?
8. Would you want to be a kind and brave princess like Penelope? Why or why not?

📖💭 Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. adventures
2. sailed
3. treasure
4. brave
5. seashells
6. tricked
7. diamonds
8. storm
9. angel
10. sailing

Meanings:
(A) Very bad weather with lots of wind and rain
(B) A very good being from stories that can fly and helps people
(C) Fun trips where you discover new things
(D) Hard, pretty pieces from the ocean that come from inside of sea animals
(E) Very hard, shiny rocks that can be clear or have colors
(F) Not afraid of anything
(G) Moved over water in a ship or boat
(H) Moving on water in a ship or boat
(I) Shiny, valuable things that people like to find and keep
(J) Made someone believe something that was not true
Go to answers ⇩

🔡 Multiple Choice Questions:

1. What is the name of the pirate princess?
(a) Emma
(b) Olivia
(c) Penelope
(d) Sophia

2. What is the name of the pirate princess’s ship?
(a) Brave Lion
(b) Jolly Seahorse
(c) Happy Dolphin
(d) Funny Monkey

3. What did the pirate princess throw at the sea monster?
(a) Seashells
(b) Apples
(c) Books
(d) Toys

4. How did the pirate princess trick the bad pirates?
(a) She dressed up like a princess
(b) She dressed up like a pirate
(c) She dressed up like a mermaid
(d) She dressed up like a person who sells fruit

5. What did the pirate princess find in the caves?
(a) Gold
(b) Silver
(c) Pearls
(d) Diamonds

6. What did the pirate princess wish for during the storm?
(a) To be safe
(b) To find more treasure
(c) To see a rainbow
(d) To meet a mermaid

7. Who showed the pirate princess and her friends the way home?
(a) A friendly pirate
(b) A pretty angel
(c) A talking parrot
(d) A magical wizard

8. What did the pirate princess learn was the best treasure?
(a) Finding diamonds
(b) Sailing on a ship
(c) Having each other
(d) Meeting a mermaid

Go to answers ⇩

🕵️ True or False Questions:

1. Penelope cleverly dressed up like a fruit seller and tricked the bad pirates into leaving, so she could take all the diamonds from the caves.
2. Penelope did not want to find the Golden Mermaid for a wish, but a big storm hit their ship.
3. Penelope found an island with caves full of diamonds, but bad pirates were guarding it.
4. Penelope and her friends learned that the best treasure was having each other, and Penelope continued sailing as a kind and brave princess.
5. Penelope made a wish for them not to be safe, and the storm stopped. A hideous angel showed them the way home.
6. One day, Penelope and her friends saw a big sea monster, but Penelope was brave and scared it away by throwing seashells into the water.
7. Penelope did not want to be smarter than other pirates and find lots of treasure.
8. There was no pirate princess named Penelope who loved going on adventures and sailing on her ship, the Jolly Seahorse.
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?
Penelope is the main character in the story.

2. What did Penelope do when she saw the sea monster?
When Penelope saw the sea monster, she threw seashells into the water and the monster swam away.

3. How did Penelope trick the bad pirates?
Penelope dressed up like a person who sells fruit and tricked the bad pirates.

4. What did Penelope wish for during the storm?
During the storm, Penelope wished for them to be safe.

5. Who showed Penelope and her friends the way home?
A pretty angel showed Penelope and her friends the way home.

6. What did Penelope learn at the end of the story?
At the end of the story, Penelope learned that having each other was the best treasure.
Go back to questions ⇧

🎧✍️✅ Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) pirate
(2) princess
(3) swam
(4) island
(5) person
(6) took
(7) treasure
(8) Penelope
Go back to questions ⇧

📖💭✅ Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. adventures
Answer: (C) Fun trips where you discover new things

2. sailed
Answer: (G) Moved over water in a ship or boat

3. treasure
Answer: (I) Shiny, valuable things that people like to find and keep

4. brave
Answer: (F) Not afraid of anything

5. seashells
Answer: (D) Hard, pretty pieces from the ocean that come from inside of sea animals

6. tricked
Answer: (J) Made someone believe something that was not true

7. diamonds
Answer: (E) Very hard, shiny rocks that can be clear or have colors

8. storm
Answer: (A) Very bad weather with lots of wind and rain

9. angel
Answer: (B) A very good being from stories that can fly and helps people

10. sailing
Answer: (H) Moving on water in a ship or boat
Go back to questions ⇧

🔡✅ Multiple Choice Answers:

1. What is the name of the pirate princess?
Answer: (c) Penelope

2. What is the name of the pirate princess’s ship?
Answer: (b) Jolly Seahorse

3. What did the pirate princess throw at the sea monster?
Answer: (a) Seashells

4. How did the pirate princess trick the bad pirates?
Answer: (d) She dressed up like a person who sells fruit

5. What did the pirate princess find in the caves?
Answer: (d) Diamonds

6. What did the pirate princess wish for during the storm?
Answer: (a) To be safe

7. Who showed the pirate princess and her friends the way home?
Answer: (b) A pretty angel

8. What did the pirate princess learn was the best treasure?
Answer: (c) Having each other
Go back to questions ⇧

🕵️✅ True or False Answers:

1. Penelope cleverly dressed up like a fruit seller and tricked the bad pirates into leaving, so she could take all the diamonds from the caves. (Answer: True)
2. Penelope did not want to find the Golden Mermaid for a wish, but a big storm hit their ship. (Answer: False)
3. Penelope found an island with caves full of diamonds, but bad pirates were guarding it. (Answer: True)
4. Penelope and her friends learned that the best treasure was having each other, and Penelope continued sailing as a kind and brave princess. (Answer: True)
5. Penelope made a wish for them not to be safe, and the storm stopped. A hideous angel showed them the way home. (Answer: False)
6. One day, Penelope and her friends saw a big sea monster, but Penelope was brave and scared it away by throwing seashells into the water. (Answer: True)
7. Penelope did not want to be smarter than other pirates and find lots of treasure. (Answer: False)
8. There was no pirate princess named Penelope who loved going on adventures and sailing on her ship, the Jolly Seahorse. (Answer: False)
Go back to questions ⇧

📚 How about these other Level 1 stories?

Maya's wish for endless laughter brings joy and unity to her village, making her the laughter ambassador.

The Mysterious Mango

Maya found a magical mango that granted her a wish, and she wished for laughter for everyone!

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The Three Friendly Ghosts

Three friendly ghosts named Casper, Jasper, and Hester meet a boy named Timmy, and they become best friends and have lots of fun adventures together.

The Mischievous Kitten

Once upon a time, in a small village, there lived a family with a mischievous kitten named Mimi. Mimi was

A little girl named Lily discovers a jar of magical marmalade that brings everything to life.

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Lily and Bubbles had a magical day in the garden, making things dance and telling jokes, but grumpy Grumblebore learned to smile and have fun too.

Three siblings embark on a daring quest to solve the mystery of the Sapphire Sphinx.

The Secret of the Sapphire Sphinx

Three siblings named Mia, Max, and Ben found a special book about a secret. They went on an adventure to find it. They had to answer tricky questions from a big blue sphinx. They worked together and used their knowledge to solve the puzzles. They found out that the real treasure was learning new things. They were happy and shared their adventure with everyone.

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