Paul Holmes -
University
English Professor

Free Materials For ESL Teachers and Learners

Short Stories for Kids

Complete lesson plans, including stories, listening, classroom activities, quiz questions and more!

The Mysterious Mango

Maya's wish for endless laughter brings joy and unity to her village, making her the laughter ambassador.

Try this story at a different level?

 

In a small village, there was a girl named Maya who loved adventures. One day at the market, she saw a fruit stand with a shiny mango. It was different from the other fruits. Maya asked the man selling fruits what was special about the mango.

The old man told Maya that this mango could grant a wish if she answered a riddle. Maya was excited and wanted to try. The man gave her the mango and the riddle, “I have a heart that doesn’t beat. What am I?” Maya thought about it and then laughed, saying, “A deck of cards!”

The old man was happy that Maya got the riddle right. He gave her a knife to cut the mango. When she did, it tasted amazing, and she felt warm and happy. But then something strange happened. The mango started to move and a little mango sprite jumped out, ready to grant Maya’s wish.

Maya thought carefully and wished for everyone to have endless laughter. The sprite made it happen, and soon, all the villagers were laughing happily. They laughed a lot, and it made everyone feel good. The village was a happier place because of Maya’s wish.

Over time, Maya saw how laughter helped people. It made them happy and brought them together. She decided to make people laugh wherever she went. Maya went to different places, like hospitals and schools, making everyone laugh. The whole village remembered the mango’s magic and kept laughing together. They all learned that laughter was important and could make things better.

🎧 Listen:

Slow

Normal

📖 Vocabulary:

1adventuresFun trips or experiences that are new or exciting
2shinyBright and reflecting light, like something clean or polished
3grantTo give something asked for, like a wish
4riddleA tricky question or puzzle
5excitedFeeling very happy and eager
6spriteA tiny magical creature, like a fairy
7carefullyDoing something with a lot of attention and thought
8endlessGoing on and on without stopping
9villagersPeople who live in a small town or village
10laughterThe sound you make when something is funny
11hospitalsPlaces where sick or injured people get medical care
12rememberedKept something in your mind from the past

🤔 Comprehension Questions:

1. Who is the main character of the story?
2. What was special about the mango that Maya saw at the market?
3. What was the riddle that Maya had to answer to get the mango?
4. What did Maya wish for when the mango sprite appeared?
5. Where did Maya go to make people laugh after she got the mango?
6. What did the villagers learn from Maya’s wish?
Go to answers ⇩

🎧✍️ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

In a small village, there was a girl named (1)______ who loved adventures. One day at the market, she saw a fruit stand with a shiny (2)______. It was different from the other fruits. Maya asked the man selling fruits what was special about the mango.

The old man (3)______ Maya that this mango could grant a wish if she answered a riddle. Maya was excited and wanted to try. The man gave her the mango and the riddle, “I (4)______ a (5)______ that doesn’t beat. What am I?” Maya thought about it and then laughed, saying, “A deck of cards!”

The old man was (6)______ that Maya got the riddle right. He gave her a knife to cut the mango. When she did, it tasted amazing, and she felt warm and happy. But then something strange happened. The mango started to move and a little mango sprite jumped out, ready to grant Maya’s wish.

Maya thought carefully and (7)______ for everyone to have endless (8)______. The sprite made it (9)______, and soon, all the villagers were laughing happily. They laughed a lot, and it made everyone feel good. The village was a happier place because of Maya’s wish.

Over time, Maya saw how laughter (10)______ people. It made them happy and (11)______ them together. She decided to make people laugh wherever she went. Maya went to different places, like hospitals and schools, making everyone laugh. The whole village (12)______ the mango’s magic and kept laughing together. They all learned that laughter was important and could make things better.
Go to answers ⇩

💬 Discussion Questions:

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

1. What is an adventure? Why do you think Maya loved adventures?
2. How would you feel if you found a special fruit like Maya did? Why?
3. Do you like mangoes? Why or why not?
4. Do you think laughter is important? Why or why not?
5. What do you think would happen if everyone in the world laughed all the time?
6. Have you ever made someone laugh? How did it make you feel?
7. Why do you think Maya decided to make people laugh wherever she went?
8. If you could make one wish, what would you wish for? Why?

📖💭 Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. adventures
2. shiny
3. grant
4. riddle
5. excited
6. sprite
7. carefully
8. endless
9. villagers
10. laughter
11. hospitals
12. remembered

Meanings:
(A) People who live in a small town or village
(B) Feeling very happy and eager
(C) Kept something in your mind from the past
(D) Going on and on without stopping
(E) Places where sick or injured people get medical care
(F) Bright and reflecting light, like something clean or polished
(G) The sound you make when something is funny
(H) To give something asked for, like a wish
(I) A tiny magical creature, like a fairy
(J) Doing something with a lot of attention and thought
(K) Fun trips or experiences that are new or exciting
(L) A tricky question or puzzle
Go to answers ⇩

🔡 Multiple Choice Questions:

1. What did Maya see at the fruit stand that caught her attention?
(a) A juicy apple
(b) A ripe banana
(c) A sweet orange
(d) A shiny mango

2. What did the old man tell Maya about the mango?
(a) It was the juiciest mango in the world
(b) It could grant a wish if she answered a riddle
(c) It was the most expensive fruit at the market
(d) It was grown in a special garden

3. What riddle did the old man give Maya?
(a) “What is the capital city of England?”
(b) “What is the largest animal in the world?”
(c) “I have a heart that doesn’t beat. What am I?”
(d) “How many colors are in a rainbow?”

4. How did Maya answer the riddle?
(a) “A clock!”
(b) “A flower!”
(c) “A deck of cards!”
(d) “A book!”

5. What did the old man give Maya after she answered the riddle correctly?
(a) A knife to cut the mango
(b) A basket of other fruits
(c) A gold coin
(d) A magic wand

6. What did Maya wish for when the mango sprite appeared?
(a) For a lifetime supply of mangoes
(b) For everyone to have endless laughter
(c) For superpowers
(d) For a new bicycle

7. Where did Maya go to make people laugh after her wish came true?
(a) The beach and the park
(b) The library and the museum
(c) The grocery store and the bakery
(d) Hospitals and schools

8. What did the whole village learn from Maya’s wish?
(a) That laughter is important and can make things better
(b) That mangoes are the best fruit in the world
(c) That wishes always come true
(d) That riddles are fun to solve

Go to answers ⇩

🕵️ True or False Questions:

1. Maya wished for everyone to have endless sadness.
2. Maya loved going on adventures in her small village.
3. The mango had a riddle that Maya had to solve in order to make her wish.
4. Maya incorrectly answered the riddle and received the mango.
5. Maya discovered a special mango at the market that could grant a wish.
6. The whole village neglected the importance of laughter and became a sadder place.
7. Maya traveled to different places, like prisons and graveyards, to make people cry.
8. When Maya cut the mango, a little sprite appeared to grant her wish.
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 of the story?
Maya is the main character of the story.

2. What was special about the mango that Maya saw at the market?
The mango could grant a wish if Maya answered a riddle.

3. What was the riddle that Maya had to answer to get the mango?
The riddle was “I have a heart that doesn’t beat. What am I?” The answer was a deck of cards.

4. What did Maya wish for when the mango sprite appeared?
Maya wished for everyone to have endless laughter.

5. Where did Maya go to make people laugh after she got the mango?
Maya went to different places like hospitals and schools to make people laugh.

6. What did the villagers learn from Maya’s wish?
The villagers learned that laughter was important and could make things better.
Go back to questions ⇧

🎧✍️✅ Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) Maya
(2) mango
(3) told
(4) have
(5) heart
(6) happy
(7) wished
(8) laughter
(9) happen
(10) helped
(11) brought
(12) remembered
Go back to questions ⇧

📖💭✅ Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. adventures
Answer: (K) Fun trips or experiences that are new or exciting

2. shiny
Answer: (F) Bright and reflecting light, like something clean or polished

3. grant
Answer: (H) To give something asked for, like a wish

4. riddle
Answer: (L) A tricky question or puzzle

5. excited
Answer: (B) Feeling very happy and eager

6. sprite
Answer: (I) A tiny magical creature, like a fairy

7. carefully
Answer: (J) Doing something with a lot of attention and thought

8. endless
Answer: (D) Going on and on without stopping

9. villagers
Answer: (A) People who live in a small town or village

10. laughter
Answer: (G) The sound you make when something is funny

11. hospitals
Answer: (E) Places where sick or injured people get medical care

12. remembered
Answer: (C) Kept something in your mind from the past
Go back to questions ⇧

🔡✅ Multiple Choice Answers:

1. What did Maya see at the fruit stand that caught her attention?
Answer: (d) A shiny mango

2. What did the old man tell Maya about the mango?
Answer: (b) It could grant a wish if she answered a riddle

3. What riddle did the old man give Maya?
Answer: (c) “I have a heart that doesn’t beat. What am I?”

4. How did Maya answer the riddle?
Answer: (c) “A deck of cards!”

5. What did the old man give Maya after she answered the riddle correctly?
Answer: (a) A knife to cut the mango

6. What did Maya wish for when the mango sprite appeared?
Answer: (b) For everyone to have endless laughter

7. Where did Maya go to make people laugh after her wish came true?
Answer: (d) Hospitals and schools

8. What did the whole village learn from Maya’s wish?
Answer: (a) That laughter is important and can make things better
Go back to questions ⇧

🕵️✅ True or False Answers:

1. Maya wished for everyone to have endless sadness. (Answer: False)
2. Maya loved going on adventures in her small village. (Answer: True)
3. The mango had a riddle that Maya had to solve in order to make her wish. (Answer: True)
4. Maya incorrectly answered the riddle and received the mango. (Answer: False)
5. Maya discovered a special mango at the market that could grant a wish. (Answer: True)
6. The whole village neglected the importance of laughter and became a sadder place. (Answer: False)
7. Maya traveled to different places, like prisons and graveyards, to make people cry. (Answer: False)
8. When Maya cut the mango, a little sprite appeared to grant her wish. (Answer: True)
Go back to questions ⇧

📚 How about these other Level 2 stories?

Four friends embark on a magical adventure, only to discover that the real treasure is their friendship.

The Four Leaf Clover Quest

Four friends go on an adventure to find a special clover that grants wishes, but learn that friendship is the real magic.

The Big Ghost

Once upon a time, in a small village, there lived a big ghost named Ghoulie. Ghoulie was a friendly ghost,

Freddie the squirrel learns a valuable lesson about the true meaning of happiness and unity.

The Peacock Parade

Freddie the squirrel goes on an adventure to find a secret feather, but learns that happiness is about being together, not finding things.

Feedback