Paul Holmes -
University
English Professor

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Short Stories for Kids

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The Princess and the Potato

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

Try this story at a different level?

 

In a far place, there was a kind princess named Penelope. She loved something funny – potatoes. Even when it was time to find a prince, she just wanted more potatoes.

A man who grew potatoes, named Pippin, gave Penelope a big, nice potato. She was so happy and said, “I will marry who brings me the best potato!”

Then, a boy named Peter, with just a little potato, came to see her. He wasn’t rich or fancy. The guards laughed, but Penelope saw something special in Peter.

Peter’s potato was simple but made with love. The princess liked it the most! She and Peter got married, and he became a prince. They remind us to be nice and love with all our heart.

🎧 Listen:

Slow

Normal

📖 Vocabulary:

1princessA girl who is the daughter of a king and queen
2potatoesA kind of food that grows in the dirt, and you can make fries with it
3marryWhen two people want to be together forever and have a big party
4guardsPeople who keep you safe and watch over a place
5heartThe part inside you that goes thump-thump and keeps you alive
6richHaving a lot of money or things
7fancyVery pretty or with lots of decorations
8specialNot like everything else, one of a kind
9loveWhen you care about someone very, very much
10remindTo make you think of something again

🤔 Comprehension Questions:

1. Who was the kind princess in the story?
2. What did the princess love to eat?
3. Who gave the princess a big potato?
4. What did the guards do when Peter came to see the princess?
5. Why did the princess like Peter’s potato?
6. What happened to Peter after he gave the princess his potato?
Go to answers ⇩

🎧✍️ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

In a far place, there was a kind (1)______ named Penelope. She loved something funny – potatoes. Even when it was (2)______ to find a prince, she just wanted more potatoes.

A man who (3)______ potatoes, named Pippin, gave Penelope a big, nice potato. She was so happy and said, “I will (4)______ who brings me the best potato!”

Then, a boy named (5)______, with just a little potato, came to see her. He wasn’t rich or fancy. The guards laughed, but Penelope saw something (6)______ in Peter.

Peter’s potato was simple but made with love. The (7)______ss liked it the most! She and Peter got married, and he became a prince. They remind us to be (8)______ and love with all our heart.
Go to answers ⇩

💬 Discussion Questions:

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

1. What is a princess?
2. How would you feel if someone laughed at your potato?
3. Do you like potatoes? Why or why not?
4. What is something funny that you like?
5. How would you feel if someone gave you a big, nice potato?
6. Do you think it’s important to be rich and fancy? Why or why not?
7. What is something special about you?
8. How can we show love with all our heart?

📖💭 Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. princess
2. potatoes
3. marry
4. guards
5. heart
6. rich
7. fancy
8. special
9. love
10. remind

Meanings:
(A) When you care about someone very, very much
(B) When two people want to be together forever and have a big party
(C) People who keep you safe and watch over a place
(D) The part inside you that goes thump-thump and keeps you alive
(E) To make you think of something again
(F) Very pretty or with lots of decorations
(G) A kind of food that grows in the dirt, and you can make fries with it
(H) Having a lot of money or things
(I) A girl who is the daughter of a king and queen
(J) Not like everything else, one of a kind
Go to answers ⇩

🔡 Multiple Choice Questions:

1. What does Princess Penelope love?
(a) Carrots
(b) Apples
(c) Bananas
(d) Potatoes

2. Who gave Princess Penelope a big potato?
(a) Peter
(b) Watson
(c) Pippin
(d) Smith

3. What did the guards do when Peter came with his potato?
(a) They cheered
(b) They laughed
(c) They cried
(d) They danced

4. Why did Princess Penelope like Peter’s potato?
(a) It was made with love
(b) It was big and fancy
(c) It was made by Pippin
(d) It was the only potato

5. What happened after Princess Penelope liked Peter’s potato?
(a) They became friends
(b) They went on a trip
(c) They got married
(d) They ate more potatoes

6. What did Peter become after marrying Princess Penelope?
(a) A king
(b) A farmer
(c) A potato
(d) A prince

7. What did Peter’s potato look like?
(a) Simple
(b) Fancy
(c) Colorful
(d) Small

8. What do Peter and Princess Penelope remind us to do?
(a) Eat lots of potatoes
(b) Be nice and love with all our heart
(c) Laugh at guards
(d) Grow vegetables

Go to answers ⇩

🕵️ True or False Questions:

1. Penelope wanted to marry someone who brought her the best potato.
2. The guards laughed at Peter because he wasn’t rich or fancy.
3. Penelope and Peter teach us to be mean and hate with all our heart.
4. A girl named Penelope came to see Peter with a small potato.
5. Penelope disliked Peter’s simple potato the most because it was made without love.
6. Pippin, a man who grew potatoes, gave Penelope a big, nice potato.
7. There was a princess named Penelope who hated potatoes.
8. Penelope and Peter got married and Peter became a prince.
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 was the kind princess in the story?
The kind princess in the story was named Penelope.

2. What did the princess love to eat?
The princess loved to eat potatoes.

3. Who gave the princess a big potato?
A man named Pippin, who grew potatoes, gave the princess a big potato.

4. What did the guards do when Peter came to see the princess?
The guards laughed when Peter came to see the princess.

5. Why did the princess like Peter’s potato?
The princess liked Peter’s potato because it was simple but made with love.

6. What happened to Peter after he gave the princess his potato?
Peter and the princess got married, and he became a prince.
Go back to questions ⇧

🎧✍️✅ Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) princess
(2) time
(3) grew
(4) marry
(5) Peter
(6) special
(7) prince
(8) nice
Go back to questions ⇧

📖💭✅ Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. princess
Answer: (I) A girl who is the daughter of a king and queen

2. potatoes
Answer: (G) A kind of food that grows in the dirt, and you can make fries with it

3. marry
Answer: (B) When two people want to be together forever and have a big party

4. guards
Answer: (C) People who keep you safe and watch over a place

5. heart
Answer: (D) The part inside you that goes thump-thump and keeps you alive

6. rich
Answer: (H) Having a lot of money or things

7. fancy
Answer: (F) Very pretty or with lots of decorations

8. special
Answer: (J) Not like everything else, one of a kind

9. love
Answer: (A) When you care about someone very, very much

10. remind
Answer: (E) To make you think of something again
Go back to questions ⇧

🔡✅ Multiple Choice Answers:

1. What does Princess Penelope love?
Answer: (d) Potatoes

2. Who gave Princess Penelope a big potato?
Answer: (c) Pippin

3. What did the guards do when Peter came with his potato?
Answer: (b) They laughed

4. Why did Princess Penelope like Peter’s potato?
Answer: (a) It was made with love

5. What happened after Princess Penelope liked Peter’s potato?
Answer: (c) They got married

6. What did Peter become after marrying Princess Penelope?
Answer: (d) A prince

7. What did Peter’s potato look like?
Answer: (a) Simple

8. What do Peter and Princess Penelope remind us to do?
Answer: (b) Be nice and love with all our heart
Go back to questions ⇧

🕵️✅ True or False Answers:

1. Penelope wanted to marry someone who brought her the best potato. (Answer: True)
2. The guards laughed at Peter because he wasn’t rich or fancy. (Answer: True)
3. Penelope and Peter teach us to be mean and hate with all our heart. (Answer: False)
4. A girl named Penelope came to see Peter with a small potato. (Answer: False)
5. Penelope disliked Peter’s simple potato the most because it was made without love. (Answer: False)
6. Pippin, a man who grew potatoes, gave Penelope a big, nice potato. (Answer: True)
7. There was a princess named Penelope who hated potatoes. (Answer: False)
8. Penelope and Peter got married and Peter became a prince. (Answer: True)
Go back to questions ⇧

📚 How about these other Level 1 stories?

Three children embark on a thrilling adventure to outsmart a mischievous genie and discover the true meaning of happiness.

The Wishing Well Mystery

Once upon a time, three friends found a special well that could make wishes come true. They solved tricky riddles and met a funny genie who played tricks. But they learned that making others happy is more important than just getting what you wish for.

Embarking on a magical adventure in Vegetable Land, Max discovers that vegetables are superheroes in disguise.

The Voyage to Vegetable Land

Max didn’t like eating vegetables, but one day he went on an adventure to Vegetable Land and discovered that veggies can be fun and yummy!

disaster into a triumph, creating a beautiful and unforgettable moment for everyone involved.

The Carnival of Colors

In Rainbowland, everyone had a big fun day with colors, parades, and tasty snacks. Timmy’s costume flew away, but his friends helped him fix it and win a prize.

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