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 Riddle of the Red Panda

Ruby, the mischievous red panda, embarks on a quest to find a golden tree and discovers the true treasure of friendship.

Try this story at a different level?

 

In a magical forest named Doram, there was a playful red panda called Ruby. She had bright red fur and loved tricky puzzles. One morning, while playing around some bamboo, Ruby found an old scroll that had a riddle on it. It said to look for a golden tree with blue leaves to find a special clue.

Ruby was very excited and ran through the forest to find the golden tree. She asked animals like a wise owl and squirrels if they knew where it was. Finally, Ruby saw the tree with sparkly golden leaves. In front of her were two different paths. She wondered which way to go and chose the path that went up the hill.

Ruby walked along the winding path until she came to a huge rock blocking her way. She tried to move it but couldn’t do it alone. Then, a kind elephant named Ellie showed up. With Ellie’s help, they pushed the rock out of the way. Ruby thanked Ellie and kept going on her adventure.

Ruby then met an old tortoise named Terrance who knew a lot about the forest. She told him the riddle, and he gave her another one to solve. It said, “What has a heart that does not beat, runs but has no feet?” Ruby thought hard and guessed, “A river!” Terrance told her she was right and showed her where to go.

Ruby found herself in front of a beautiful waterfall with a pool. In the water, there was a chest. When she opened it, inside was a note saying the best thing about her journey was the friends she made along the way. Ruby felt very happy and understood the real treasure was friendship. She went back home, happy to have friends and ready for more adventures.

🎧 Listen:

Slow

Normal

📖 Vocabulary:

1magicalSomething that is like in fairy tales, where impossible things can happen
2riddleA tricky question that you have to think hard to answer
3scrollA long, rolled-up piece of paper, often old and with writing on it
4sparklyShiny and bright, like little stars
5windingA path that curves and turns a lot
6blockedWhen something is in the way and you can’t get past it
7tortoiseA slow-moving animal with a hard shell that it can hide inside
8waterfallWater that falls from high up in a river or stream, often very pretty
9chestA big box with a lid used for keeping things safe
10treasureValuable things that are often hidden or hard to find
11journeyA trip from one place to another
12adventuresExciting experiences that can be a little dangerous or very new

🤔 Comprehension Questions:

1. Who is the main character of the story?
2. What did Ruby find in the forest?
3. How did Ruby find the golden tree?
4. Who helped Ruby move the big rock?
5. What did Terrance give Ruby?
6. What did Ruby find inside the chest?
Go to answers ⇩

🎧✍️ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

In a magical forest named Doram, there was a playful red panda called Ruby. She had bright red fur and loved tricky puzzles. One morning, while (1)______ around some bamboo, Ruby found an old scroll that had a riddle on it. It said to look for a golden tree with blue leaves to find a special (2)______.

Ruby was very (3)______ and ran through the forest to find the golden tree. She asked animals like a wise owl and squirrels if they knew where it was. Finally, (4)______ saw the tree with sparkly golden (5)______. In front of her were two different paths. She wondered which way to go and chose the path that went up the hill.

Ruby walked along the winding path until she came to a huge rock blocking her way. She (6)______ to move it but couldn’t do it alone. Then, a kind elephant named Ellie showed up. With Ellie’s help, they pushed the rock out of the way. Ruby (7)______ Ellie and kept going on her adventure.

Ruby then met an old tortoise named (8)______ who knew a lot about the forest. She told him the riddle, and he gave her another one to solve. It said, “What has a heart that does not beat, runs but has no feet?” Ruby thought hard and guessed, “A (9)______!” Terrance told her she was right and showed her where to go.

Ruby found herself in front of a beautiful waterfall with a pool. In the water, there was a (10)______. When she opened it, inside was a note saying the best thing about her journey was the friends she made along the way. Ruby felt very happy and understood the (11)______ treasure was friendship. She (12)______ back home, happy to have friends and ready for more adventures.
Go to answers ⇩

💬 Discussion Questions:

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

1. What is a riddle? Why do you think Ruby liked solving riddles?
2. How would you feel if you found a magical scroll with a riddle on it? Why?
3. Do you like making new friends? Why or why not?
4. What do you think is the best thing about going on an adventure? Why?
5. How do you think Ruby felt when she couldn’t move the big rock? Why?
6. Do you think it’s important to help others? Why or why not?
7. What is your favorite thing about the story? Why?
8. If you could go on an adventure with Ruby, where would you want to go? Why?

📖💭 Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. magical
2. riddle
3. scroll
4. sparkly
5. winding
6. blocked
7. tortoise
8. waterfall
9. chest
10. treasure
11. journey
12. adventures

Meanings:
(A) A tricky question that you have to think hard to answer
(B) Shiny and bright, like little stars
(C) Something that is like in fairy tales, where impossible things can happen
(D) A big box with a lid used for keeping things safe
(E) A slow-moving animal with a hard shell that it can hide inside
(F) Exciting experiences that can be a little dangerous or very new
(G) A path that curves and turns a lot
(H) Valuable things that are often hidden or hard to find
(I) A long, rolled-up piece of paper, often old and with writing on it
(J) Water that falls from high up in a river or stream, often very pretty
(K) When something is in the way and you can’t get past it
(L) A trip from one place to another
Go to answers ⇩

🔡 Multiple Choice Questions:

1. What is the name of the playful red panda in the story?
(a) Ruby
(b) Lily
(c) Bella
(d) Sophie

2. What did Ruby find while playing around the bamboo?
(a) A shiny necklace
(b) A hidden treasure chest
(c) A magical wand
(d) An old scroll with a riddle

3. What did the riddle on the scroll say?
(a) Follow the path of the butterflies to find the hidden treasure
(b) Look for a golden tree with blue leaves to find a special clue
(c) Listen to the whispers of the wind to uncover the secret
(d) Search for a rainbow-colored flower to reveal the mystery

4. Who did Ruby ask for help in finding the golden tree?
(a) Fairies and gnomes
(b) Wizards and witches
(c) Mermaids and dolphins
(d) Animals like an owl and squirrels

5. Which path did Ruby choose when she found the golden tree?
(a) The one that went down to the river
(b) The one that led to a cave
(c) The one that went up the hill
(d) The one that went through a meadow

6. Who helped Ruby move the huge rock blocking her path?
(a) A mischievous monkey named Max
(b) A kind elephant named Ellie
(c) A brave lion named Leo
(d) A clever fox named Finn

7. What did the old tortoise named Terrance give Ruby?
(a) Another riddle to solve
(b) A magical key to unlock a secret door
(c) A map to a hidden treasure
(d) A special potion to grant her a wish

8. What did Ruby discover was the real treasure of her journey?
(a) The golden tree with blue leaves
(b) The chest with the note inside
(c) The friends she made along the way
(d) The riddles and puzzles she solved

Go to answers ⇩

🕵️ True or False Questions:

1. Ruby is a red panda who loves solving puzzles and playing in the magical forest of Doram.
2. Ruby never met an old tortoise named Terrance who gave her another riddle to solve.
3. Ruby asked animals like an owl and squirrels for help in finding the golden tree.
4. With the hindrance of a cruel elephant named Ellie, Ruby was unable to move the rock and continue her adventure.
5. Ruby chose the path that went downhill and encountered a tiny pebble blocking her way.
6. One morning, Ruby found an old scroll with a riddle on it that led her to search for a golden tree with blue leaves.
7. Ruby eventually found a regular tree with dull leaves and had no choice between two different paths.
8. Ruby discovered that the real treasure of her journey was the friends she made along the way and returned home happy and ready for more adventures.
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?
– The main character of the story is Ruby, a red panda.

2. What did Ruby find in the forest?
– Ruby found an old scroll with a riddle on it.

3. How did Ruby find the golden tree?
– Ruby asked other animals and followed their directions to find the golden tree with blue leaves.

4. Who helped Ruby move the big rock?
– Ellie, a kind elephant, helped Ruby move the big rock.

5. What did Terrance give Ruby?
– Terrance gave Ruby another riddle to solve.

6. What did Ruby find inside the chest?
– Inside the chest, Ruby found a note that said the best thing about her journey was the friends she made along the way.
Go back to questions ⇧

🎧✍️✅ Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) playing
(2) clue
(3) excited
(4) Ruby
(5) leaves
(6) tried
(7) thanked
(8) Terrance
(9) river
(10) chest
(11) real
(12) went
Go back to questions ⇧

📖💭✅ Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. magical
Answer: (C) Something that is like in fairy tales, where impossible things can happen

2. riddle
Answer: (A) A tricky question that you have to think hard to answer

3. scroll
Answer: (I) A long, rolled-up piece of paper, often old and with writing on it

4. sparkly
Answer: (B) Shiny and bright, like little stars

5. winding
Answer: (G) A path that curves and turns a lot

6. blocked
Answer: (K) When something is in the way and you can’t get past it

7. tortoise
Answer: (E) A slow-moving animal with a hard shell that it can hide inside

8. waterfall
Answer: (J) Water that falls from high up in a river or stream, often very pretty

9. chest
Answer: (D) A big box with a lid used for keeping things safe

10. treasure
Answer: (H) Valuable things that are often hidden or hard to find

11. journey
Answer: (L) A trip from one place to another

12. adventures
Answer: (F) Exciting experiences that can be a little dangerous or very new
Go back to questions ⇧

🔡✅ Multiple Choice Answers:

1. What is the name of the playful red panda in the story?
Answer: (a) Ruby

2. What did Ruby find while playing around the bamboo?
Answer: (d) An old scroll with a riddle

3. What did the riddle on the scroll say?
Answer: (b) Look for a golden tree with blue leaves to find a special clue

4. Who did Ruby ask for help in finding the golden tree?
Answer: (d) Animals like an owl and squirrels

5. Which path did Ruby choose when she found the golden tree?
Answer: (c) The one that went up the hill

6. Who helped Ruby move the huge rock blocking her path?
Answer: (b) A kind elephant named Ellie

7. What did the old tortoise named Terrance give Ruby?
Answer: (a) Another riddle to solve

8. What did Ruby discover was the real treasure of her journey?
Answer: (c) The friends she made along the way
Go back to questions ⇧

🕵️✅ True or False Answers:

1. Ruby is a red panda who loves solving puzzles and playing in the magical forest of Doram. (Answer: True)
2. Ruby never met an old tortoise named Terrance who gave her another riddle to solve. (Answer: False)
3. Ruby asked animals like an owl and squirrels for help in finding the golden tree. (Answer: True)
4. With the hindrance of a cruel elephant named Ellie, Ruby was unable to move the rock and continue her adventure. (Answer: False)
5. Ruby chose the path that went downhill and encountered a tiny pebble blocking her way. (Answer: False)
6. One morning, Ruby found an old scroll with a riddle on it that led her to search for a golden tree with blue leaves. (Answer: True)
7. Ruby eventually found a regular tree with dull leaves and had no choice between two different paths. (Answer: False)
8. Ruby discovered that the real treasure of her journey was the friends she made along the way and returned home happy and ready for more adventures. (Answer: True)
Go back to questions ⇧

📚 How about these other Level 2 stories?

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.

A small village is transformed by a baker's magical pies, teaching the importance of sharing.

The Peculiar Purple Pie

Mr. Higgins made magical pies that made people do funny things, but when the villagers got greedy, he taught them about kindness and sharing.

Four adventurous children discover a magical orchard filled with fruits that grant them extraordinary abilities.

The Orchard of Oddities

Four brave kids explore the Orchard of Oddities and discover magical fruits that make them sing, fly, shine, and transform into animals, teaching them about fun and friendship.

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