Paul Holmes -
University
English Professor

Free Materials For ESL Teachers and Learners

Short Stories for Kids

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The Carnival of Colors

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

Try this story at a different level?

 

In a place called Rainbowland, the biggest event was the Carnival of Colors. It was a fun day where everyone celebrated colors. The carnival place looked like a rainbow with lots of decorations and yummy food.

On carnival day, people were super excited. They wore their brightest clothes because the carnival was a lucky day. The best part was the Great Color Parade, where people showed off amazing costumes. There was a prize for the coolest costume this year.

A boy named Timmy loved to make art. He made a costume that looked like a bright bird. But just as he was going to the carnival, the wind blew his costume away. Timmy was really sad because he thought he couldn’t be in the parade. Then, Polly, a funny parrot, took the costume.

Polly liked to play tricks and hid the costume to see Timmy get upset. But the costume’s colors caught people’s eyes, and they followed Polly. Feeling sorry, Polly showed everyone where the costume was hidden.

The people saw Timmy’s costume and were wowed by it. They all helped put it back together, and it was even better than before. The parade judges loved it and gave Timmy the prize. He learned that sometimes when things go wrong, they can still turn out great, especially with friends to help.

🎧 Listen:

Slow

Normal

📖 Vocabulary:

1CarnivalA big party with music, dancing, and fun activities
2CelebratedHad a special time because something good happened
3DecorationsThings that make a place look pretty for a special occasion
4CostumesSpecial clothes people wear to look like someone or something else
5PrizeSomething you get for winning a game or contest
6ArtMaking things like paintings, drawings, or sculptures
7ParadeA line of people moving together in a celebration
8WindThe air moving outside that can blow things around
9TricksClever actions meant to surprise or fool someone
10HiddenPut in a place where others can’t see it
11WowedMade people say “Wow!” because they were so impressed
12JudgesPeople who decide who wins in a contest

🤔 Comprehension Questions:

1. What was the biggest event in Rainbowland called?
2. Why did people wear their brightest clothes on carnival day?
3. What did Timmy make his costume look like?
4. What happened to Timmy’s costume just before the carnival?
5. Who took Timmy’s costume and played tricks?
6. How did Timmy’s costume end up being even better than before?
Go to answers ⇩

🎧✍️ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

In a place called Rainbowland, the biggest (1)______ was the Carnival of Colors. It was a fun day where everyone (2)______ colors. The (3)______ place looked like a rainbow with lots of decorations and yummy food.

On carnival day, people were super excited. They wore their brightest clothes because the carnival was a lucky day. The best part was the Great Color Parade, where people (4)______ off (5)______ costumes. There was a prize for the coolest costume this year.

A boy named Timmy loved to make art. He made a costume that looked like a bright bird. But just as he was going to the carnival, the (6)______ blew his costume away. Timmy was really sad because he (7)______ he couldn’t be in the parade. Then, Polly, a (8)______ parrot, took the (9)______.

Polly liked to play tricks and hid the costume to see Timmy get upset. But the costume’s colors caught people’s eyes, and they followed Polly. Feeling sorry, Polly showed everyone where the costume was hidden.

The people saw Timmy’s costume and were (10)______ by it. They all (11)______ put it back together, and it was even better than before. The parade (12)______ loved it and gave Timmy the prize. He learned that sometimes when things go wrong, they can still turn out great, especially with friends to help.
Go to answers ⇩

💬 Discussion Questions:

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

1. What is a carnival? Why do people like to go to carnivals?
2. How would you feel if you made a special costume for a parade, but it blew away in the wind? Why?
3. Do you like making art? Why or why not?
4. What do you think Polly the parrot was thinking when she hid the costume? Why do you think she did that?
5. Have you ever had something go wrong, but it turned out okay in the end? Can you tell us about it?
6. Do you think it’s important to have friends who can help you when things go wrong? Why or why not?
7. How do you think Timmy felt when he won the prize for his costume? Why?
8. If you could make your own costume for a parade, what would it look like? Why?

📖💭 Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. Carnival
2. Celebrated
3. Decorations
4. Costumes
5. Prize
6. Art
7. Parade
8. Wind
9. Tricks
10. Hidden
11. Wowed
12. Judges

Meanings:
(A) The air moving outside that can blow things around
(B) Clever actions meant to surprise or fool someone
(C) Something you get for winning a game or contest
(D) Put in a place where others can’t see it
(E) People who decide who wins in a contest
(F) Making things like paintings, drawings, or sculptures
(G) Things that make a place look pretty for a special occasion
(H) A line of people moving together in a celebration
(I) Special clothes people wear to look like someone or something else
(J) A big party with music, dancing, and fun activities
(K) Had a special time because something good happened
(L) Made people say “Wow!” because they were so impressed
Go to answers ⇩

🔡 Multiple Choice Questions:

1. What is the name of the event in Rainbowland?
(a) Carnival of Colors
(b) Festival of Lights
(c) Celebration of Music
(d) Party in the Park

2. What did people wear to the carnival?
(a) Their oldest clothes
(b) Their fanciest clothes
(c) Their brightest clothes
(d) Their darkest clothes

3. What was the prize for at the carnival?
(a) Best dance moves
(b) Coolest costume
(c) Tastiest food
(d) Loudest scream

4. What did Timmy make his costume look like?
(a) A scary monster
(b) A famous superhero
(c) A magical unicorn
(d) A bright bird

5. What happened to Timmy’s costume?
(a) It got dirty
(b) The wind blew it away
(c) It got ripped
(d) It changed colors

6. Who took Timmy’s costume?
(a) Sammy the squirrel
(b) Benny the bunny
(c) Molly the mouse
(d) Polly the parrot

7. What did Polly do with the costume?
(a) Wore it
(b) Threw it away
(c) Hid it
(d) Sold it

8. Who helped Timmy put his costume back together?
(a) The people at the carnival
(b) Timmy’s family
(c) Timmy’s friends
(d) The parade judges

Go to answers ⇩

🕵️ True or False Questions:

1. The Great Color Parade is the highlight of the carnival.
2. Timmy made a costume that looked like a dull bird.
3. Timmy won the prize for the coolest costume in the parade.
4. Polly, the serious parrot, took Timmy’s costume and hid it.
5. Polly felt sorry and showed everyone where the costume was hidden.
6. Timmy’s costume was carried away by the wind.
7. The Carnival of Colors is a small event in Rainbowland.
8. People in Rainbowland wear their brightest clothes on carnival day.
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 was the biggest event in Rainbowland called?
The biggest event in Rainbowland was called the Carnival of Colors.

2. Why did people wear their brightest clothes on carnival day?
People wore their brightest clothes on carnival day because it was a lucky day and they wanted to celebrate colors.

3. What did Timmy make his costume look like?
Timmy made his costume look like a bright bird.

4. What happened to Timmy’s costume just before the carnival?
Just before the carnival, the wind blew Timmy’s costume away.

5. Who took Timmy’s costume and played tricks?
Polly, a funny parrot, took Timmy’s costume and played tricks.

6. How did Timmy’s costume end up being even better than before?
Timmy’s costume ended up being even better than before because the people helped put it back together and made it look even more amazing.
Go back to questions ⇧

🎧✍️✅ Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) event
(2) celebrated
(3) carnival
(4) showed
(5) amazing
(6) wind
(7) thought
(8) funny
(9) costume
(10) wowed
(11) helped
(12) judges
Go back to questions ⇧

📖💭✅ Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. Carnival
Answer: (J) A big party with music, dancing, and fun activities

2. Celebrated
Answer: (K) Had a special time because something good happened

3. Decorations
Answer: (G) Things that make a place look pretty for a special occasion

4. Costumes
Answer: (I) Special clothes people wear to look like someone or something else

5. Prize
Answer: (C) Something you get for winning a game or contest

6. Art
Answer: (F) Making things like paintings, drawings, or sculptures

7. Parade
Answer: (H) A line of people moving together in a celebration

8. Wind
Answer: (A) The air moving outside that can blow things around

9. Tricks
Answer: (B) Clever actions meant to surprise or fool someone

10. Hidden
Answer: (D) Put in a place where others can’t see it

11. Wowed
Answer: (L) Made people say “Wow!” because they were so impressed

12. Judges
Answer: (E) People who decide who wins in a contest
Go back to questions ⇧

🔡✅ Multiple Choice Answers:

1. What is the name of the event in Rainbowland?
Answer: (a) Carnival of Colors

2. What did people wear to the carnival?
Answer: (c) Their brightest clothes

3. What was the prize for at the carnival?
Answer: (b) Coolest costume

4. What did Timmy make his costume look like?
Answer: (d) A bright bird

5. What happened to Timmy’s costume?
Answer: (b) The wind blew it away

6. Who took Timmy’s costume?
Answer: (d) Polly the parrot

7. What did Polly do with the costume?
Answer: (c) Hid it

8. Who helped Timmy put his costume back together?
Answer: (a) The people at the carnival
Go back to questions ⇧

🕵️✅ True or False Answers:

1. The Great Color Parade is the highlight of the carnival. (Answer: True)
2. Timmy made a costume that looked like a dull bird. (Answer: False)
3. Timmy won the prize for the coolest costume in the parade. (Answer: True)
4. Polly, the serious parrot, took Timmy’s costume and hid it. (Answer: False)
5. Polly felt sorry and showed everyone where the costume was hidden. (Answer: True)
6. Timmy’s costume was carried away by the wind. (Answer: False)
7. The Carnival of Colors is a small event in Rainbowland. (Answer: False)
8. People in Rainbowland wear their brightest clothes on carnival day. (Answer: True)
Go back to questions ⇧

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