Paul Holmes -
University
English Professor

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Short Stories for Kids

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The Treasure of Smuggler’s Cove

Children in a small fishing village embark on a treasure hunt, only to discover the true value of unity.

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In a tiny fishing town called Seaside, there was a secret place called Smuggler’s Cove. People said there was hidden treasure in the rocks, but no one had found it. Still, the kids in the village loved to imagine finding that treasure.

One day, some kids went to look for the treasure in Smuggler’s Cove. They took shovels and maps, and acted like they were pirates searching for gold. But a sneaky seagull took their map and flew away.

The kids didn’t give up. They climbed through caves, hopped over gaps, and avoided slimy seaweed. Then they found a hidden room with shiny treasure! But when they went in, they accidentally woke up a huge octopus guarding the treasure.

The kids had a plan. They distracted the octopus with coins and one of them took the treasure. They decided they would share it with their village.

They met a fisherman named Captain Jack, who had been watching them. He told them the treasure was for everyone in the village. The kids and Captain Jack got their map back from the seagull by trading it some biscuits. Then they set up a big treasure hunt for everyone, and the village found joy in sharing and being together. The Smuggler’s Cove treasure taught them to work as a team.

🎧 Listen:

Slow

Normal

📖 Vocabulary:

1treasureSomething valuable that is hidden or buried
2seagullA bird that lives near the sea and can fly
3piratesPeople who steal from others and sail on ships
4octopusA sea creature with eight arms and a soft body
5sneakyDoing something secretly or quietly
6cavesHoles or tunnels in the ground or in rocks
7slimyWet and slippery, like a wet banana peel
8distractedNot paying attention because something else is more interesting
9tradeGiving something to someone in exchange for something else
10joyA feeling of happiness and excitement
11villageA small community of houses and people
12teamWorking together to achieve a goal

🤔 Comprehension Questions:

1. Where is Smuggler’s Cove?
2. What did the kids take with them when they went to look for the treasure?
3. What happened to their map?
4. How did the kids distract the octopus?
5. Who did the kids meet while they were looking for the treasure?
6. What did the treasure teach the village?
Go to answers ⇩

🎧✍️ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

In a tiny fishing town called Seaside, there was a secret (1)______ called Smuggler’s Cove. People said there was (2)______ (3)______ in the rocks, but no one had found it. Still, the kids in the village loved to imagine finding that treasure.

One day, some kids went to look for the treasure in Smuggler’s Cove. They took shovels and maps, and acted like they were pirates searching for gold. But a sneaky seagull took their map and flew away.

The kids didn’t (4)______ up. They climbed through (5)______, hopped over gaps, and avoided (6)______ seaweed. Then they found a hidden room with shiny treasure! But when they went in, they accidentally woke up a huge octopus guarding the treasure.

The (7)______ had a plan. They (8)______ the octopus with (9)______ and one of them took the treasure. They decided they would share it with their village.

They met a fisherman named Captain Jack, who had been watching them. He told them the treasure was for everyone in the (10)______. The kids and Captain (11)______ got their map back from the seagull by trading it some biscuits. Then they set up a big treasure hunt for everyone, and the village (12)______ joy in sharing and being together. The Smuggler’s Cove treasure taught them to work as a team.
Go to answers ⇩

💬 Discussion Questions:

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

1. What is a treasure? Why do you think the kids in the story wanted to find it?
2. How would you feel if you found hidden treasure like the kids in the story? Why?
3. Do you like going on adventures like the kids in the story? Why or why not?
4. What would you do if a sneaky seagull took your map like in the story? Why?
5. Do you think it was fair for the kids to share the treasure with the village? Why or why not?
6. Have you ever worked as a team with your friends or family? How did it feel?
7. What would you trade with a seagull to get your map back? Why?
8. Do you think it’s important to share with others? Why or why not?

📖💭 Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. treasure
2. seagull
3. pirates
4. octopus
5. sneaky
6. caves
7. slimy
8. distracted
9. trade
10. joy
11. village
12. team

Meanings:
(A) A feeling of happiness and excitement
(B) A small community of houses and people
(C) Working together to achieve a goal
(D) People who steal from others and sail on ships
(E) A bird that lives near the sea and can fly
(F) Giving something to someone in exchange for something else
(G) Wet and slippery, like a wet banana peel
(H) Holes or tunnels in the ground or in rocks
(I) Something valuable that is hidden or buried
(J) A sea creature with eight arms and a soft body
(K) Not paying attention because something else is more interesting
(L) Doing something secretly or quietly
Go to answers ⇩

🔡 Multiple Choice Questions:

1. Where did the kids go to look for treasure?
(a) Pirate’s Bay
(b) Treasure Island
(c) Seaside Village
(d) Smuggler’s Cove

2. What did the kids take with them to search for the treasure?
(a) Shovels and maps
(b) Fishing nets and buckets
(c) Binoculars and compasses
(d) Flashlights and ropes

3. What happened to the kids’ map?
(a) They dropped it in the water
(b) They left it at home
(c) A seagull took it
(d) The wind blew it away

4. How did the kids distract the octopus?
(a) With food
(b) With a fishing net
(c) With coins
(d) With a loud noise

5. Who did the kids meet while searching for the treasure?
(a) Captain Hook
(b) Captain Jack
(c) Captain Morgan
(d) Captain Blackbeard

6. How did the kids get their map back from the seagull?
(a) They scared it away
(b) They traded it some biscuits
(c) They chased it down
(d) They called for help

7. What did the kids decide to do with the treasure?
(a) Keep it for themselves
(b) Sell it for money
(c) Hide it somewhere else
(d) Share it with the village

8. What did the treasure hunt teach the village?
(a) To work as a team
(b) To be greedy
(c) To keep secrets
(d) To be selfish

Go to answers ⇩

🕵️ True or False Questions:

1. The kids came up with a plan to distract the octopus with coins, allowing one of them to grab the treasure while the others escaped.
2. One day, while the kids were looking for the treasure, a friendly seagull found their map and returned it to them.
3. Despite finding their map, the kids gave up and abandoned their adventure in Smuggler’s Cove.
4. In a small fishing town called Seaside, there was a secret place called Smuggler’s Cove.
5. The kids in the village despised pretending to be pirates searching for gold in Smuggler’s Cove.
6. People doubted that there was hidden treasure in the rocks of Smuggler’s Cove, as no one had found it yet.
7. The kids had to climb through caves, jump over gaps, and avoid slimy seaweed to find the hidden room with shiny treasure.
8. However, when they entered the room, they accidentally woke up a huge octopus that was guarding the treasure.
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. Where is Smuggler’s Cove?
Smuggler’s Cove is in a tiny fishing town called Seaside.

2. What did the kids take with them when they went to look for the treasure?
The kids took shovels and maps with them when they went to look for the treasure.

3. What happened to their map?
A sneaky seagull took their map and flew away with it.

4. How did the kids distract the octopus?
The kids distracted the octopus by throwing coins at it.

5. Who did the kids meet while they were looking for the treasure?
The kids met a fisherman named Captain Jack while they were looking for the treasure.

6. What did the treasure teach the village?
The treasure taught the village to work as a team and to share with each other.
Go back to questions ⇧

🎧✍️✅ Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) place
(2) hidden
(3) treasure
(4) give
(5) caves
(6) slimy
(7) kids
(8) distracted
(9) coins
(10) village
(11) Jack
(12) found
Go back to questions ⇧

📖💭✅ Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. treasure
Answer: (I) Something valuable that is hidden or buried

2. seagull
Answer: (E) A bird that lives near the sea and can fly

3. pirates
Answer: (D) People who steal from others and sail on ships

4. octopus
Answer: (J) A sea creature with eight arms and a soft body

5. sneaky
Answer: (L) Doing something secretly or quietly

6. caves
Answer: (H) Holes or tunnels in the ground or in rocks

7. slimy
Answer: (G) Wet and slippery, like a wet banana peel

8. distracted
Answer: (K) Not paying attention because something else is more interesting

9. trade
Answer: (F) Giving something to someone in exchange for something else

10. joy
Answer: (A) A feeling of happiness and excitement

11. village
Answer: (B) A small community of houses and people

12. team
Answer: (C) Working together to achieve a goal
Go back to questions ⇧

🔡✅ Multiple Choice Answers:

1. Where did the kids go to look for treasure?
Answer: (d) Smuggler’s Cove

2. What did the kids take with them to search for the treasure?
Answer: (a) Shovels and maps

3. What happened to the kids’ map?
Answer: (c) A seagull took it

4. How did the kids distract the octopus?
Answer: (c) With coins

5. Who did the kids meet while searching for the treasure?
Answer: (b) Captain Jack

6. How did the kids get their map back from the seagull?
Answer: (b) They traded it some biscuits

7. What did the kids decide to do with the treasure?
Answer: (d) Share it with the village

8. What did the treasure hunt teach the village?
Answer: (a) To work as a team
Go back to questions ⇧

🕵️✅ True or False Answers:

1. The kids came up with a plan to distract the octopus with coins, allowing one of them to grab the treasure while the others escaped. (Answer: True)
2. One day, while the kids were looking for the treasure, a friendly seagull found their map and returned it to them. (Answer: False)
3. Despite finding their map, the kids gave up and abandoned their adventure in Smuggler’s Cove. (Answer: False)
4. In a small fishing town called Seaside, there was a secret place called Smuggler’s Cove. (Answer: True)
5. The kids in the village despised pretending to be pirates searching for gold in Smuggler’s Cove. (Answer: False)
6. People doubted that there was hidden treasure in the rocks of Smuggler’s Cove, as no one had found it yet. (Answer: False)
7. The kids had to climb through caves, jump over gaps, and avoid slimy seaweed to find the hidden room with shiny treasure. (Answer: True)
8. However, when they entered the room, they accidentally woke up a huge octopus that was guarding the treasure. (Answer: True)
Go back to questions ⇧

📚 How about these other Level 2 stories?

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.

Mia and Ben conquer the Maze of Mirrors, learning the value of perseverance and laughter.

The Maze of Mirrors

Mia and Ben went on an adventure in a tricky maze with funny mirrors, and they found the way out by waving at a special mirror that wasn’t a mirror at all!

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