Paul Holmes -
University
English Professor

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Short Stories for Kids

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The Journey to the Jade Jungle

Bobo the mischievous monkey and Toots the colorful toucan befriend a group of squirrels and discover a magical singing waterfall in the Jade Jungle, ultimately learning the power of friendship and laughter.

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In a small village lived a monkey named Bobo who loved adventures. He dreamed of exploring the Jade Jungle, filled with magic and mysterious creatures. One sunny day, he packed a sandwich and went into the jungle to find its secrets.

As Bobo explored, he met a colorful toucan named Toots. Toots wanted to find the Rainbow Raccoon, a magical creature, so she joined Bobo. Together, they journeyed deeper into the jungle.

They ran into a group of playful squirrels led by Sammy the Squirrel King. Sammy challenged them to throw acorns. They all had fun playing together, and Bobo and Toots made new friends.

Later, Bobo and Toots found a waterfall that could make wishes come true, guarded by a grumpy turtle named Terry. Bobo convinced Terry to grant them a wish to make the world happier. The waterfall sang, thanking them for their kindness.

Finally, they met the Rainbow Raccoon who loved riddles. Bobo and Toots answered her questions with smart and funny answers. The raccoon shared the forest’s biggest secret – the power of friendship and laughter. Bobo and Toots went back home, shared their stories, and kept the jungle’s magic alive with joy and laughter.

🎧 Listen:

Slow

Normal

📖 Vocabulary:

1adventuresGoing on exciting trips or doing daring things
2mysteriousSomething that is strange or not easy to understand
3exploringLooking around a place to discover new things
4magicalHaving special powers that can do things that seem impossible
5creaturesAnimals, especially ones that are not real and you might find in stories
6journeyedTraveled from one place to another
7playfulFull of fun and liking to play
8waterfallWater that falls from a high place to a lower place, often seen in nature
9grumpyIn a bad mood and easily annoyed
10convincedPersuaded someone to believe or do something
11riddlesTricky questions that make you think hard to find the answer
12laughterThe sound you make when something is funny

🤔 Comprehension Questions:

1. Who was the main character of the story?
2. What did Bobo want to do in the jungle?
3. Who did Bobo meet in the jungle?
4. What did Sammy the Squirrel King challenge Bobo and Toots to do?
5. What did Bobo and Toots find near the end of their journey?
6. What did the Rainbow Raccoon teach Bobo and Toots?
Go to answers ⇩

🎧✍️ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

In a small village (1)______ a monkey named Bobo who loved adventures. He dreamed of exploring the (2)______ Jungle, filled with magic and mysterious creatures. One sunny day, he packed a sandwich and went into the (3)______ to find its secrets.

As Bobo explored, he met a colorful toucan named Toots. Toots wanted to find the Rainbow Raccoon, a magical (4)______, so she joined Bobo. Together, they (5)______ deeper into the jungle.

They ran into a group of playful squirrels led by (6)______ the Squirrel King. Sammy challenged them to throw acorns. They all had fun playing together, and Bobo and Toots made new friends.

Later, Bobo and Toots (7)______ a (8)______ that could make wishes come true, guarded by a grumpy turtle named Terry. Bobo convinced Terry to grant them a wish to make the world happier. The waterfall sang, thanking them for their (9)______.

Finally, they met the Rainbow Raccoon who loved riddles. Bobo and Toots answered her questions with smart and funny answers. The raccoon (10)______ the forest’s biggest secret – the (11)______ of friendship and laughter. Bobo and Toots went back home, shared their stories, and (12)______ the jungle’s magic alive with joy and laughter.
Go to answers ⇩

💬 Discussion Questions:

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

1. What is an adventure? Have you ever had an adventure? Why or why not?
2. How would you feel if you could explore a jungle filled with magic and mysterious creatures? Why?
3. Do you like making new friends? Why or why not?
4. What is a wish? If you could make a wish, what would it be? Why?
5. How do you think the world would be if everyone was happier? Why?
6. Do you enjoy solving riddles? Why or why not?
7. Have you ever shared stories with your friends? How did it make you feel? Why?
8. Do you think laughter is important? Why or why not?

📖💭 Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. adventures
2. mysterious
3. exploring
4. magical
5. creatures
6. journeyed
7. playful
8. waterfall
9. grumpy
10. convinced
11. riddles
12. laughter

Meanings:
(A) Persuaded someone to believe or do something
(B) Going on exciting trips or doing daring things
(C) Tricky questions that make you think hard to find the answer
(D) Having special powers that can do things that seem impossible
(E) Something that is strange or not easy to understand
(F) Animals, especially ones that are not real and you might find in stories
(G) The sound you make when something is funny
(H) In a bad mood and easily annoyed
(I) Water that falls from a high place to a lower place, often seen in nature
(J) Full of fun and liking to play
(K) Looking around a place to discover new things
(L) Traveled from one place to another
Go to answers ⇩

🔡 Multiple Choice Questions:

1. What is the name of the adventurous monkey in the story?
(a) Toots
(b) Bobo
(c) Sammy
(d) Terry

2. What did Bobo pack before going into the jungle?
(a) A map
(b) A camera
(c) A book
(d) A sandwich

3. Who did Bobo meet in the jungle?
(a) Sammy the Squirrel King
(b) Terry the grumpy turtle
(c) Toots the toucan
(d) All of the above

4. What did Sammy the Squirrel King challenge Bobo and Toots to do?
(a) Throw acorns
(b) Climb trees
(c) Swim in the river
(d) Sing a song

5. What did Bobo and Toots find guarded by Terry the turtle?
(a) A treasure chest
(b) A magic wand
(c) A secret cave
(d) A waterfall

6. What did Bobo wish for at the waterfall?
(a) To become a king
(b) To have unlimited bananas
(c) To make the world happier
(d) To fly like a bird

7. What did the Rainbow Raccoon love?
(a) Riddles
(b) Singing
(c) Dancing
(d) Painting

8. How did Bobo and Toots keep the jungle’s magic alive?
(a) By building a treehouse
(b) By sharing their stories
(c) By planting more trees
(d) By singing songs

Go to answers ⇩

🕵️ True or False Questions:

1. Eventually, Bobo and Toots discover a regular waterfall guarded by a happy turtle named Terry, who steals their wish to make the world happier.
2. Bobo and Toots make new friends while playing with the squirrels and having fun.
3. Along the way, Bobo meets a boring toucan named Toots who is not interested in finding the magical Rainbow Raccoon.
4. There is no monkey named Bobo who hates going on adventures.
5. Bobo dreams of exploring the magical Jade Jungle and discovering its secrets.
6. Bobo and Toots become enemies and journey deeper into the jungle separately.
7. One day, Bobo packed a sandwich and ventured into the jungle to find its mysteries.
8. They come across a group of playful squirrels led by Sammy the Squirrel King, who challenges them to a game of throwing acorns.
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 main character of the story?
Bobo was the main character of the story.

2. What did Bobo want to do in the jungle?
Bobo wanted to explore the Jade Jungle and find its secrets.

3. Who did Bobo meet in the jungle?
Bobo met a colorful toucan named Toots in the jungle.

4. What did Sammy the Squirrel King challenge Bobo and Toots to do?
Sammy the Squirrel King challenged Bobo and Toots to throw acorns.

5. What did Bobo and Toots find near the end of their journey?
Bobo and Toots found a waterfall that could make wishes come true near the end of their journey.

6. What did the Rainbow Raccoon teach Bobo and Toots?
The Rainbow Raccoon taught Bobo and Toots the power of friendship and laughter.
Go back to questions ⇧

🎧✍️✅ Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) lived
(2) Jade
(3) jungle
(4) creature
(5) journeyed
(6) Sammy
(7) found
(8) waterfall
(9) kindness
(10) shared
(11) power
(12) kept
Go back to questions ⇧

📖💭✅ Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. adventures
Answer: (B) Going on exciting trips or doing daring things

2. mysterious
Answer: (E) Something that is strange or not easy to understand

3. exploring
Answer: (K) Looking around a place to discover new things

4. magical
Answer: (D) Having special powers that can do things that seem impossible

5. creatures
Answer: (F) Animals, especially ones that are not real and you might find in stories

6. journeyed
Answer: (L) Traveled from one place to another

7. playful
Answer: (J) Full of fun and liking to play

8. waterfall
Answer: (I) Water that falls from a high place to a lower place, often seen in nature

9. grumpy
Answer: (H) In a bad mood and easily annoyed

10. convinced
Answer: (A) Persuaded someone to believe or do something

11. riddles
Answer: (C) Tricky questions that make you think hard to find the answer

12. laughter
Answer: (G) The sound you make when something is funny
Go back to questions ⇧

🔡✅ Multiple Choice Answers:

1. What is the name of the adventurous monkey in the story?
Answer: (b) Bobo

2. What did Bobo pack before going into the jungle?
Answer: (d) A sandwich

3. Who did Bobo meet in the jungle?
Answer: (c) Toots the toucan

4. What did Sammy the Squirrel King challenge Bobo and Toots to do?
Answer: (a) Throw acorns

5. What did Bobo and Toots find guarded by Terry the turtle?
Answer: (d) A waterfall

6. What did Bobo wish for at the waterfall?
Answer: (c) To make the world happier

7. What did the Rainbow Raccoon love?
Answer: (a) Riddles

8. How did Bobo and Toots keep the jungle’s magic alive?
Answer: (b) By sharing their stories
Go back to questions ⇧

🕵️✅ True or False Answers:

1. Eventually, Bobo and Toots discover a regular waterfall guarded by a happy turtle named Terry, who steals their wish to make the world happier. (Answer: False)
2. Bobo and Toots make new friends while playing with the squirrels and having fun. (Answer: True)
3. Along the way, Bobo meets a boring toucan named Toots who is not interested in finding the magical Rainbow Raccoon. (Answer: False)
4. There is no monkey named Bobo who hates going on adventures. (Answer: False)
5. Bobo dreams of exploring the magical Jade Jungle and discovering its secrets. (Answer: True)
6. Bobo and Toots become enemies and journey deeper into the jungle separately. (Answer: False)
7. One day, Bobo packed a sandwich and ventured into the jungle to find its mysteries. (Answer: True)
8. They come across a group of playful squirrels led by Sammy the Squirrel King, who challenges them to a game of throwing acorns. (Answer: True)
Go back to questions ⇧

📚 How about these other Level 2 stories?

Amy and the Magic Book

Amy found a magical book that let her make anything she wanted, but she realized that the real world is already full of wonder.

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

The Voyage to Vegetable Land

Max, a boy who hated vegetables, went on an adventure to Vegetable Land and met talking veggies who changed his mind about healthy food.

A lonely turtle named Timothy embarks on an adventure to find friends and discovers a hidden cove.

The Lonely Turtle

Timothy the turtle was sad because he didn’t have any friends to play with. But one day, he found a magical compass that could help him find friends. Timothy followed the compass on an exciting adventure and eventually found a group of turtles who welcomed him with open arms. Now, Timothy is no longer lonely because he has found friends who like him for who he is.

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