Paul Holmes -
University
English Professor

Free Materials For ESL Teachers and Learners

Short Stories for Kids

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The Fairy’s Secret

Lily discovers a hidden door in the enchanted forest and befriends a sparkling fairy named Hazel.

Try this story at a different level?

 

In a magical place, there was a girl named Lily who loved fairy tales. She found a tiny door in the forest and met a fairy named Hazel. Hazel told her that kind-hearted people could see fairies and invited her to a fairy dance on the next full moon. But a gnome named Grumpyboots heard them and planned to sneak after Lily.

On the night of the full moon, fairies danced beautifully in a secret place. Lily was amazed by their magic. Suddenly, everything turned dark. Grumpyboots had used a spell to stop the fairies’ magic.

Lily had an idea. She told Hazel to tell all the fairies to join their magic. They held hands, and their magic got stronger. With a bright flash, their magic broke Grumpyboots’ spell, and the forest became beautiful again.

Grumpyboots was sorry for causing trouble. He said he’d be better, and the fairies forgave him. They let him be part of their world again, and he became a happy gnome.

Lily understood how important it was to be kind and to forgive. She learned that everyone can change for the better. Lily stayed happy and kind, and the fairies kept dancing in the moonlight, knowing their secret was safe with her.

🎧 Listen:

Slow

Normal

📖 Vocabulary:

1magicalSomething that is full of wonder and seems to have special powers
2fairyA tiny, magical person with wings that can sometimes be hard to see
3kind-heartedHaving a gentle and caring nature
4gnomeA small, mythical creature that often lives underground and can be a bit grumpy
5sneakTo move quietly and carefully to avoid being seen or heard
6amazedVery surprised and impressed
7spellWords that are said to make magic happen
8joinedCame together or connected with others
9flashA sudden, bright burst of light
10troubleProblems or difficulties
11forgaveStopped being angry at someone for something they did wrong
12secretSomething that is kept away from others’ knowledge

🤔 Comprehension Questions:

1. Who is the main character in the story?
2. Where did Lily find a tiny door?
3. What did Hazel tell Lily about seeing fairies?
4. What happened to the fairies’ magic on the night of the full moon?
5. How did Lily and the fairies break Grumpyboots’ spell?
6. What did Grumpyboots do to show he was sorry?
Go to answers ⇩

🎧✍️ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

In a magical place, there was a girl named Lily who loved fairy tales. She found a tiny (1)______ in the forest and met a fairy named Hazel. Hazel (2)______ her that kind-hearted people could see fairies and invited her to a fairy dance on the next (3)______ moon. But a gnome named Grumpyboots heard them and planned to sneak after Lily.

On the night of the full moon, (4)______ danced beautifully in a secret place. Lily was amazed by their (5)______. Suddenly, everything turned dark. Grumpyboots had used a spell to (6)______ the fairies’ magic.

Lily had an idea. She told Hazel to tell all the fairies to join their magic. They (7)______ hands, and their magic got stronger. With a bright flash, their magic broke Grumpyboots’ spell, and the forest (8)______ beautiful again.

Grumpyboots was sorry for causing trouble. He said he’d be better, and the fairies (9)______ him. They let him be part of their world again, and he became a (10)______ gnome.

Lily (11)______ how important it was to be (12)______ and to forgive. She learned that everyone can change for the better. Lily stayed happy and kind, and the fairies kept dancing in the moonlight, knowing their secret was safe with her.
Go to answers ⇩

💬 Discussion Questions:

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

1. What is a fairy tale? Why do you think Lily loved fairy tales?
2. How would you feel if you found a tiny door in the forest? Why?
3. Do you like magic? Why or why not?
4. Do you think it’s important to be kind? Why or why not?
5. How would you feel if someone tried to stop the fairies’ magic? Why?
6. Have you ever had an idea to solve a problem? What was it?
7. Do you think people can change for the better? Why or why not?
8. How would you feel if you were invited to a fairy dance? Why?

📖💭 Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. magical
2. fairy
3. kind-hearted
4. gnome
5. sneak
6. amazed
7. spell
8. joined
9. flash
10. trouble
11. forgave
12. secret

Meanings:
(A) To move quietly and carefully to avoid being seen or heard
(B) A small, mythical creature that often lives underground and can be a bit grumpy
(C) Having a gentle and caring nature
(D) Words that are said to make magic happen
(E) Very surprised and impressed
(F) Something that is kept away from others’ knowledge
(G) Problems or difficulties
(H) Stopped being angry at someone for something they did wrong
(I) A sudden, bright burst of light
(J) A tiny, magical person with wings that can sometimes be hard to see
(K) Something that is full of wonder and seems to have special powers
(L) Came together or connected with others
Go to answers ⇩

🔡 Multiple Choice Questions:

1. What did Lily find in the forest?
(a) A tiny door
(b) A magical wand
(c) A treasure chest
(d) A talking animal

2. What was the name of the fairy Lily met?
(a) Rose
(b) Hazel
(c) Lily
(d) Daisy

3. What did the fairy invite Lily to?
(a) A tea party
(b) A fairy dance
(c) A treasure hunt
(d) A magic show

4. Who overheard Lily and the fairy talking?
(a) Happyfeet the elf
(b) Sparkle the unicorn
(c) Flutter the butterfly
(d) Grumpyboots the gnome

5. What did Grumpyboots do to stop the fairies’ magic?
(a) Cast a spell
(b) Stole their wands
(c) Hid their fairy dust
(d) Broke their wings

6. How did Lily and the fairies break Grumpyboots’ spell?
(a) By finding a magical potion
(b) By singing a special song
(c) By using a powerful wand
(d) By joining their magic together

7. What happened to Grumpyboots after the fairies forgave him?
(a) He disappeared forever
(b) He turned into a fairy
(c) He became a happy gnome
(d) He went back to causing trouble

8. What did Lily learn from her adventure with the fairies?
(a) The secret to finding hidden treasure
(b) How to perform magic spells
(c) The importance of kindness and forgiveness
(d) How to fly with the fairies

Go to answers ⇩

🕵️ True or False Questions:

1. Grumpyboots used a spell to stop the fairies’ magic and everything turned dark.
2. On the night of the new moon, fairies danced beautifully in a secret place.
3. Hazel invited Lily to a vampire dance on the next full moon.
4. Lily met a fairy named Hazel who told her that kind-hearted people can see fairies.
5. Lily loved horror stories and found a tiny door in the forest.
6. Lily had an idea to gather all the fairies’ magic to break Grumpyboots’ spell.
7. A gnome named Mischievousfoot overheard their conversation and planned to sneak after Lily.
8. Grumpyboots apologized and the fairies forgave him, allowing him to be part of their world again.
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?
Lily is the main character in the story.

2. Where did Lily find a tiny door?
Lily found a tiny door in the forest.

3. What did Hazel tell Lily about seeing fairies?
Hazel told Lily that kind-hearted people can see fairies.

4. What happened to the fairies’ magic on the night of the full moon?
Grumpyboots used a spell to stop the fairies’ magic on the night of the full moon.

5. How did Lily and the fairies break Grumpyboots’ spell?
Lily and the fairies held hands and joined their magic together to break Grumpyboots’ spell.

6. What did Grumpyboots do to show he was sorry?
Grumpyboots apologized and promised to be better. The fairies forgave him and let him be part of their world again.
Go back to questions ⇧

🎧✍️✅ Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) door
(2) told
(3) full
(4) fairies
(5) magic
(6) stop
(7) held
(8) became
(9) forgave
(10) happy
(11) understood
(12) kind
Go back to questions ⇧

📖💭✅ Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. magical
Answer: (K) Something that is full of wonder and seems to have special powers

2. fairy
Answer: (J) A tiny, magical person with wings that can sometimes be hard to see

3. kind-hearted
Answer: (C) Having a gentle and caring nature

4. gnome
Answer: (B) A small, mythical creature that often lives underground and can be a bit grumpy

5. sneak
Answer: (A) To move quietly and carefully to avoid being seen or heard

6. amazed
Answer: (E) Very surprised and impressed

7. spell
Answer: (D) Words that are said to make magic happen

8. joined
Answer: (L) Came together or connected with others

9. flash
Answer: (I) A sudden, bright burst of light

10. trouble
Answer: (G) Problems or difficulties

11. forgave
Answer: (H) Stopped being angry at someone for something they did wrong

12. secret
Answer: (F) Something that is kept away from others’ knowledge
Go back to questions ⇧

🔡✅ Multiple Choice Answers:

1. What did Lily find in the forest?
Answer: (a) A tiny door

2. What was the name of the fairy Lily met?
Answer: (b) Hazel

3. What did the fairy invite Lily to?
Answer: (b) A fairy dance

4. Who overheard Lily and the fairy talking?
Answer: (d) Grumpyboots the gnome

5. What did Grumpyboots do to stop the fairies’ magic?
Answer: (a) Cast a spell

6. How did Lily and the fairies break Grumpyboots’ spell?
Answer: (d) By joining their magic together

7. What happened to Grumpyboots after the fairies forgave him?
Answer: (c) He became a happy gnome

8. What did Lily learn from her adventure with the fairies?
Answer: (c) The importance of kindness and forgiveness
Go back to questions ⇧

🕵️✅ True or False Answers:

1. Grumpyboots used a spell to stop the fairies’ magic and everything turned dark. (Answer: True)
2. On the night of the new moon, fairies danced beautifully in a secret place. (Answer: False)
3. Hazel invited Lily to a vampire dance on the next full moon. (Answer: False)
4. Lily met a fairy named Hazel who told her that kind-hearted people can see fairies. (Answer: True)
5. Lily loved horror stories and found a tiny door in the forest. (Answer: False)
6. Lily had an idea to gather all the fairies’ magic to break Grumpyboots’ spell. (Answer: True)
7. A gnome named Mischievousfoot overheard their conversation and planned to sneak after Lily. (Answer: False)
8. Grumpyboots apologized and the fairies forgave him, allowing him to be part of their world again. (Answer: True)
Go back to questions ⇧

📚 How about these other Level 2 stories?

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

The Magical Marmalade

Lily found a magical jar that made things come alive, but she learned that true magic is friendship and happiness.

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