Paul Holmes -
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English Professor

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Short Stories for Kids

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The Queen of Cats

Whiskers, the Queen of Cats, unites animals of all kinds and teaches them the power of compassion.

Try this story at a different level?

 

In a fun kingdom, there was a playful cat named Whiskers who thought she was the best cat ever. She had shiny white fur and bright green eyes that other cats wished they had. Whiskers had a special spot in the sun where she felt like the boss of all cats. But soon, something surprising was going to happen.

One day, while Whiskers was napping, some mice tried to sneak out of the kingdom. Whiskers, wanting to show she was the top cat, quickly caught them. But instead of being mean, she did something nice and let them go. This act of kindness gave her a new name, “The Queen with a Heart.”

News of what Whiskers did spread quickly, and all the animals started to admire her. They saw her kingdom as a place where everyone was kind and fair. Whiskers’ kindness made all the animals – cats, dogs, rabbits, and birds – join together and live happily.

Whiskers watched her kingdom become a perfect place because she was kind. The animals stopped fighting and became friends. Whiskers showed everyone that being nice was better than being mean. She became known as a smart and loving queen.

Whiskers, with her cleverness and kindness, will always be remembered as the kindest queen of all cats.

🎧 Listen:

Slow

Normal

📖 Vocabulary:

1kingdomA place ruled by a king or queen, like a country or state
2playfulFull of fun and liking to play
3admireTo think very highly of someone or something because they are good or did something impressive
4clevernessBeing smart in a creative or practical way
5kindnessBeing nice and caring towards others
6nappingSleeping for a short time
7sneakTo move quietly and secretly so no one sees or hears you
8admireTo think very highly of someone or something because they are good or did something impressive
9fairTreating everyone in the same and a good way
10perfectHaving no mistakes or flaws, completely right or good
11rememberedTo be kept in people’s minds or memories
12queenA woman who rules a country or kingdom

🤔 Comprehension Questions:

1. Who is the main character in the story?
2. What color is Whiskers’ fur?
3. What did Whiskers do when she caught the mice?
4. What did the animals think of Whiskers after they heard about what she did?
5. How did the animals start behaving after Whiskers showed them kindness?
6. How will Whiskers be remembered?
Go to answers ⇩

🎧✍️ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

In a fun kingdom, there was a (1)______ cat named Whiskers who thought she was the best cat ever. She had shiny white fur and bright green eyes that other cats wished they had. Whiskers had a (2)______ spot in the sun where she felt like the (3)______ of all cats. But soon, something surprising was going to happen.

One day, while Whiskers was napping, some mice (4)______ to sneak out of the kingdom. Whiskers, wanting to show she was the top cat, quickly caught them. But instead of being mean, she did something nice and let them go. This act of kindness (5)______ her a new name, “The Queen with a (6)______.”

News of what Whiskers did spread quickly, and all the animals started to admire her. They saw her (7)______ as a place where everyone was kind and fair. Whiskers’ kindness made all the animals – cats, dogs, rabbits, and (8)______ – join together and live happily.

Whiskers (9)______ her kingdom become a perfect place because she was kind. The animals stopped fighting and became friends. Whiskers showed everyone that being nice was (10)______ than being mean. She became known as a smart and loving queen.

Whiskers, with her (11)______ and kindness, will always be remembered as the (12)______ queen of all cats.
Go to answers ⇩

💬 Discussion Questions:

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

1. What is a kind person? Why is it important to be kind to others?
2. How would you feel if you were in Whiskers’ shoes and caught the mice? Would you let them go or keep them as your prisoners? Why or why not?
3. Do you like it when people are kind to you? How does it make you feel?
4. What do you think would happen if Whiskers had been mean to the mice instead of letting them go? Would the other animals still admire her? Why or why not?
5. Have you ever done something kind for someone? How did it make you feel afterwards?
6. Do you think it’s important for a leader to be kind? Why or why not?
7. How do you think the other animals felt when they saw Whiskers being kind to the mice? Why do you think they started to admire her?
8. What can we learn from Whiskers’ story about being kind to others?

📖💭 Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. kingdom
2. playful
3. admire
4. cleverness
5. kindness
6. napping
7. sneak
8. admire
9. fair
10. perfect
11. remembered
12. queen

Meanings:
(A) Treating everyone in the same and a good way
(B) A woman who rules a country or kingdom
(C) Sleeping for a short time
(D) To be kept in people’s minds or memories
(E) Being smart in a creative or practical way
(F) Full of fun and liking to play
(G) To think very highly of someone or something because they are good or did something impressive
(H) Being nice and caring towards others
(I) To think very highly of someone or something because they are good or did something impressive
(J) To move quietly and secretly so no one sees or hears you
(K) Having no mistakes or flaws, completely right or good
(L) A place ruled by a king or queen, like a country or state
Go to answers ⇩

🔡 Multiple Choice Questions:

1. What is the name of the playful cat in the story?
(a) Fluffy
(b) Mittens
(c) Whiskers
(d) Shadow

2. What color is Whiskers’ fur?
(a) Shiny white
(b) Bright green
(c) Spotty brown
(d) Striped orange

3. How did Whiskers earn her new name, “The Queen with a Heart”?
(a) By winning a race against other cats
(b) By scaring away all the dogs in the kingdom
(c) By sleeping in the sun all day
(d) By catching mice and letting them go

4. What happened to the animals in the kingdom after Whiskers showed kindness?
(a) They started fighting more
(b) They all became friends
(c) They moved away to a different kingdom
(d) They ignored Whiskers and went about their own business

5. What did the other animals in the kingdom think of Whiskers’ kindness?
(a) They were jealous of her
(b) They were scared of her
(c) They didn’t care about her
(d) They admired her

6. What did Whiskers’ kindness teach the animals in the kingdom?
(a) Being mean is better than being nice
(b) It’s best to stay away from other animals
(c) Being nice is better than being mean
(d) It’s important to only be kind to cats

7. How did Whiskers become known as a smart and loving queen?
(a) By being the fastest runner in the kingdom
(b) By solving a difficult puzzle
(c) By always being mean to other animals
(d) By showing kindness and fairness to everyone

8. How will Whiskers be remembered in the kingdom?
(a) As the kindest queen of all cats
(b) As the fastest queen of all cats
(c) As the meanest queen of all cats
(d) As the queen who never did anything special

Go to answers ⇩

🕵️ True or False Questions:

1. The animals in the kingdom stop fighting and become friends because of Whiskers’ kindness.
2. Whiskers is a malnourished cat with dirty white fur and dull green eyes.
3. Whiskers’ kingdom becomes a place where everyone is mean and unjust.
4. Whiskers thinks she is the worst cat ever.
5. Whiskers catches some mice but decides to let them go instead of being mean.
6. The news of Whiskers’ kindness spreads quickly, and all the animals start to admire her.
7. Whiskers is remembered as the kindest queen of all cats because of her cleverness and kindness.
8. Whiskers’ act of cruelty earns her a new name, “The Tyrant with No Heart.”
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?
Whiskers is the main character in the story.

2. What color is Whiskers’ fur?
Whiskers has shiny white fur.

3. What did Whiskers do when she caught the mice?
Whiskers let the mice go instead of being mean to them.

4. What did the animals think of Whiskers after they heard about what she did?
The animals admired Whiskers and thought she was kind.

5. How did the animals start behaving after Whiskers showed them kindness?
The animals started behaving nicely and became friends with each other.

6. How will Whiskers be remembered?
Whiskers will be remembered as the kindest queen of all cats.
Go back to questions ⇧

🎧✍️✅ Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) playful
(2) special
(3) boss
(4) tried
(5) gave
(6) Heart
(7) kingdom
(8) birds
(9) watched
(10) better
(11) cleverness
(12) kindest
Go back to questions ⇧

📖💭✅ Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. kingdom
Answer: (L) A place ruled by a king or queen, like a country or state

2. playful
Answer: (F) Full of fun and liking to play

3. admire
Answer: (G) To think very highly of someone or something because they are good or did something impressive

4. cleverness
Answer: (E) Being smart in a creative or practical way

5. kindness
Answer: (H) Being nice and caring towards others

6. napping
Answer: (C) Sleeping for a short time

7. sneak
Answer: (J) To move quietly and secretly so no one sees or hears you

8. admire
Answer: (G) To think very highly of someone or something because they are good or did something impressive

9. fair
Answer: (A) Treating everyone in the same and a good way

10. perfect
Answer: (K) Having no mistakes or flaws, completely right or good

11. remembered
Answer: (D) To be kept in people’s minds or memories

12. queen
Answer: (B) A woman who rules a country or kingdom
Go back to questions ⇧

🔡✅ Multiple Choice Answers:

1. What is the name of the playful cat in the story?
Answer: (c) Whiskers

2. What color is Whiskers’ fur?
Answer: (a) Shiny white

3. How did Whiskers earn her new name, “The Queen with a Heart”?
Answer: (d) By catching mice and letting them go

4. What happened to the animals in the kingdom after Whiskers showed kindness?
Answer: (b) They all became friends

5. What did the other animals in the kingdom think of Whiskers’ kindness?
Answer: (d) They admired her

6. What did Whiskers’ kindness teach the animals in the kingdom?
Answer: (c) Being nice is better than being mean

7. How did Whiskers become known as a smart and loving queen?
Answer: (b) By solving a difficult puzzle

8. How will Whiskers be remembered in the kingdom?
Answer: (a) As the kindest queen of all cats
Go back to questions ⇧

🕵️✅ True or False Answers:

1. The animals in the kingdom stop fighting and become friends because of Whiskers’ kindness. (Answer: True)
2. Whiskers is a malnourished cat with dirty white fur and dull green eyes. (Answer: False)
3. Whiskers’ kingdom becomes a place where everyone is mean and unjust. (Answer: False)
4. Whiskers thinks she is the worst cat ever. (Answer: False)
5. Whiskers catches some mice but decides to let them go instead of being mean. (Answer: True)
6. The news of Whiskers’ kindness spreads quickly, and all the animals start to admire her. (Answer: True)
7. Whiskers is remembered as the kindest queen of all cats because of her cleverness and kindness. (Answer: True)
8. Whiskers’ act of cruelty earns her a new name, “The Tyrant with No Heart.” (Answer: False)
Go back to questions ⇧

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