Paul Holmes -
University
English Professor

Free Materials For ESL Teachers and Learners

Short Stories for Kids

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The Friendly Dragon

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In a magical forest, there was a nice dragon named Fred. Fred was not like other dragons. He didn’t want to scare people; he wanted to make friends. But because he was big and could breathe fire, he often scared people away. Fred was usually very lonely.

One sunny day, Fred went to a village to find a friend. He found some kids playing and they were scared at first, but then they saw he was friendly. They looked at his shiny scales and gentle eyes and slowly walked over to him.

A brave kid named Timmy asked Fred why he was so nice when other dragons were scary. Fred laughed and told Timmy he wanted to show that dragons could be kind and helpful too.

Fred and the kids started to do nice things together. They flew around helping people, fixing things, and saving a cat from a tree. The people in the villages were surprised and happy. They learned that dragons could be good friends.

Soon, even the King heard about Fred. He had been scared of dragons but invited Fred to his castle when he heard about the dragon’s good deeds. The King saw that Fred was friendly and said sorry for being scared. Fred became a special guest in the kingdom and helped other dragons be kind too.

The story teaches us not to judge someone by how they look or what we expect them to be like. Just because someone is different or scary-looking doesn’t mean they’re bad. Kindness and friends can be found in places we don’t expect.

🎧 Listen:

Slow

Normal

📖 Vocabulary:

1magicalHaving special powers or abilities that seem like magic
2dragonA large, mythical creature with wings and the ability to breathe fire
3scareTo make someone feel afraid or frightened
4lonelyFeeling sad and alone because you don’t have any friends
5shinyVery bright and reflecting light
6gentleBeing kind and careful with others
7surprisedFeeling shocked or amazed by something unexpected
8deedsActions or things that someone does to help others
9judgeTo form an opinion about someone without knowing them
10expectTo think that something will happen or someone will be a certain way
11scary-lookingHaving a scary appearance
12kindnessBeing nice and showing care towards others

🤔 Comprehension Questions:

1. What was the name of the dragon in the story?
2. Why did people get scared of Fred at first?
3. What did Fred and the kids do together?
4. How did the people in the villages feel when they saw Fred being kind?
5. What did the King think of dragons before he met Fred?
6. What is the lesson we learn from the story?
Go to answers ⇩

🎧✍️ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

In a magical forest, there was a nice dragon named Fred. Fred was not like other (1)______. He didn’t want to scare people; he wanted to make friends. But because he was big and could breathe fire, he often scared people away. Fred was usually very lonely.

One (2)______ day, Fred went to a village to find a friend. He (3)______ some kids playing and they were scared at first, but then they saw he was friendly. They looked at his shiny scales and gentle eyes and slowly walked over to him.

A brave kid (4)______ Timmy asked Fred why he was so nice when (5)______ dragons were scary. Fred laughed and told Timmy he wanted to show that dragons could be kind and helpful too.

Fred and the kids (6)______ to do nice things together. They flew around helping people, (7)______ things, and saving a cat from a tree. The people in the villages were surprised and happy. They (8)______ that dragons could be good friends.

Soon, even the King heard about (9)______. He had been scared of dragons but invited Fred to his castle when he heard about the dragon’s good deeds. The King saw that Fred was friendly and said (10)______ for being scared. Fred became a special guest in the kingdom and (11)______ other dragons be kind too.

The story (12)______ us not to judge someone by how they look or what we expect them to be like. Just because someone is different or scary-looking doesn’t mean they’re bad. Kindness and friends can be found in places we don’t expect.
Go to answers ⇩

💬 Discussion Questions:

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

1. What is a dragon?
2. How would you feel if you saw a dragon in real life?
3. Do you like Fred the dragon? Why or why not?
4. Do you think it’s important to be friends with people who are different from you? Why or why not?
5. How do you think Fred felt when the kids were scared of him at first?
6. Have you ever judged someone based on how they look? How did you feel afterwards?
7. What kind things did Fred and the kids do together?
8. Why do you think the King invited Fred to his castle?

📖💭 Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. magical
2. dragon
3. scare
4. lonely
5. shiny
6. gentle
7. surprised
8. deeds
9. judge
10. expect
11. scary-looking
12. kindness

Meanings:
(A) Having a scary appearance
(B) A large, mythical creature with wings and the ability to breathe fire
(C) Feeling sad and alone because you don’t have any friends
(D) To form an opinion about someone without knowing them
(E) Being kind and careful with others
(F) Actions or things that someone does to help others
(G) To make someone feel afraid or frightened
(H) Very bright and reflecting light
(I) Feeling shocked or amazed by something unexpected
(J) To think that something will happen or someone will be a certain way
(K) Having special powers or abilities that seem like magic
(L) Being nice and showing care towards others
Go to answers ⇩

🔡 Multiple Choice Questions:

1. Why did Fred want to make friends?
(a) He was lonely and wanted company
(b) He didn’t want to scare people
(c) He wanted to show off his shiny scales
(d) He wanted to play with the kids

2. How did the kids react when they first saw Fred?
(a) They were excited
(b) They were angry
(c) They were sad
(d) They were scared

3. What did Fred and the kids do together?
(a) Played games and watched movies
(b) Helped people, fixed things, and saved a cat
(c) Ate lots of ice cream and cake
(d) Went on adventures in the forest

4. How did the people in the villages feel about Fred?
(a) Surprised and happy
(b) Scared and angry
(c) Sad and disappointed
(d) Bored and uninterested

5. Why did the King invite Fred to his castle?
(a) He wanted to scare Fred away
(b) He wanted to steal Fred’s shiny scales
(c) He heard about Fred’s good deeds
(d) He wanted to challenge Fred to a fight

6. How did the King feel about dragons before meeting Fred?
(a) Excited
(b) Happy
(c) Scared
(d) Indifferent

7. What did Fred do in the kingdom?
(a) Helped other dragons be kind
(b) Ate all the food in the castle
(c) Took over as the new King
(d) Scared everyone away

8. What is the lesson of the story?
(a) Dragons are always scary and mean
(b) Kindness and friendship are not important
(c) Only kids can be friends with dragons
(d) Don’t judge someone by how they look or what you expect them to be like

Go to answers ⇩

🕵️ True or False Questions:

1. Fred is a dragon who wants to scare people, he doesn’t want to make friends.
2. Fred becomes an ordinary member in the kingdom and doesn’t help other dragons be kind too.
3. Fred often attracts people because he is big and can breathe fire.
4. Fred goes to a village to find a friend and meets some scared kids who eventually realize he is friendly.
5. The people in the village are shocked and unhappy to learn that dragons can be good friends.
6. The King invites Fred to his castle after hearing about his good deeds and realizes that Fred is friendly, not scary.
7. Fred and the kids start doing nice things together, like helping people, fixing things, and saving a cat from a tree.
8. Timmy, a brave kid, asks Fred why he is so nice when other dragons are scary.
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 name of the dragon in the story?
Fred.

2. Why did people get scared of Fred at first?
Because he was big and could breathe fire.

3. What did Fred and the kids do together?
They flew around helping people, fixing things, and saving a cat from a tree.

4. How did the people in the villages feel when they saw Fred being kind?
They were surprised and happy.

5. What did the King think of dragons before he met Fred?
He was scared of dragons.

6. What is the lesson we learn from the story?
We should not judge someone by how they look or what we expect them to be like. Kindness and friends can be found in places we don’t expect.
Go back to questions ⇧

🎧✍️✅ Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) dragons
(2) sunny
(3) found
(4) named
(5) other
(6) started
(7) fixing
(8) learned
(9) Fred
(10) sorry
(11) helped
(12) teaches
Go back to questions ⇧

📖💭✅ Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. magical
Answer: (K) Having special powers or abilities that seem like magic

2. dragon
Answer: (B) A large, mythical creature with wings and the ability to breathe fire

3. scare
Answer: (G) To make someone feel afraid or frightened

4. lonely
Answer: (C) Feeling sad and alone because you don’t have any friends

5. shiny
Answer: (H) Very bright and reflecting light

6. gentle
Answer: (E) Being kind and careful with others

7. surprised
Answer: (I) Feeling shocked or amazed by something unexpected

8. deeds
Answer: (F) Actions or things that someone does to help others

9. judge
Answer: (D) To form an opinion about someone without knowing them

10. expect
Answer: (J) To think that something will happen or someone will be a certain way

11. scary-looking
Answer: (A) Having a scary appearance

12. kindness
Answer: (L) Being nice and showing care towards others
Go back to questions ⇧

🔡✅ Multiple Choice Answers:

1. Why did Fred want to make friends?
Answer: (b) He didn’t want to scare people

2. How did the kids react when they first saw Fred?
Answer: (d) They were scared

3. What did Fred and the kids do together?
Answer: (b) Helped people, fixed things, and saved a cat

4. How did the people in the villages feel about Fred?
Answer: (a) Surprised and happy

5. Why did the King invite Fred to his castle?
Answer: (c) He heard about Fred’s good deeds

6. How did the King feel about dragons before meeting Fred?
Answer: (c) Scared

7. What did Fred do in the kingdom?
Answer: (a) Helped other dragons be kind

8. What is the lesson of the story?
Answer: (d) Don’t judge someone by how they look or what you expect them to be like
Go back to questions ⇧

🕵️✅ True or False Answers:

1. Fred is a dragon who wants to scare people, he doesn’t want to make friends. (Answer: False)
2. Fred becomes an ordinary member in the kingdom and doesn’t help other dragons be kind too. (Answer: False)
3. Fred often attracts people because he is big and can breathe fire. (Answer: False)
4. Fred goes to a village to find a friend and meets some scared kids who eventually realize he is friendly. (Answer: True)
5. The people in the village are shocked and unhappy to learn that dragons can be good friends. (Answer: False)
6. The King invites Fred to his castle after hearing about his good deeds and realizes that Fred is friendly, not scary. (Answer: True)
7. Fred and the kids start doing nice things together, like helping people, fixing things, and saving a cat from a tree. (Answer: True)
8. Timmy, a brave kid, asks Fred why he is so nice when other dragons are scary. (Answer: True)
Go back to questions ⇧

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