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 Bizarre Blueberry Banquet

In the end, it wasn't the blueberries that made the Bizarre Blueberry Banquet special, but the spirit of the village.

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In a small village called Berryville, there was a big party every summer called “The Bizarre Blueberry Banquet.” Everyone in the village loved to celebrate blueberries in fun and silly ways. The party was organized by the mayor, Mr. Berry, who was crazy about blueberries.

One day before the party, all the people in the village were really excited. They were getting their outfits and decorations ready. But something weird happened. All the blueberries in the village were gone! They had disappeared overnight, and nobody knew what to do.

The mayor, Mr. Berry, didn’t want to cancel the party. He told everyone to look everywhere for blueberries. They looked all over but found nothing. Then they saw a squirrel running with a blueberry. They followed the squirrel and found a huge blueberry bush no one knew about. It had more blueberries than they had ever seen.

Now that they had blueberries again, everyone started to get ready for the party. They made tasty blueberry pies, drinks, and really strange blueberry foods. They decorated the tables with blueberry colors and decorations.

When the party day came, everyone wore their best blueberry costumes. But suddenly, it started raining very hard. Instead of being sad, the people in the village laughed and danced in the rain. They had fun even though their plans didn’t work out. They were happy just being together and enjoying the party.

🎧 Listen:

Slow

Normal

📖 Vocabulary:

1villageA small community or group of houses in a rural area, smaller than a town
2banquetA large formal meal for many people, often followed by speeches
3celebrateTo take part in special enjoyable activities in order to show that a particular occasion is important
4organizedTo plan and arrange the details of an event or activity
5mayorThe head of the government of a town or city
6outfitsClothes, especially ones that are special or unusual
7decorationsItems used to make something look more attractive on special occasions
8disappearedVanished or went out of sight
9squirrelA small animal with a bushy tail that climbs trees
10bushA plant with a lot of branches, often where berries or small fruits grow
11piesA baked dish of fruit, or meat and vegetables, typically with a top and base of pastry
12costumesSpecial outfits worn to create a particular appearance, often for a party or event
13suddenlyHappening quickly and without warning
14laughedTo make sounds with your voice that show you think something is funny
15enjoyingTaking pleasure in something

🤔 Comprehension Questions:

1. What was the name of the big party that took place in Berryville every summer?
2. Who organized the party?
3. What happened to all the blueberries in the village before the party?
4. Who discovered a hidden blueberry bush?
5. What did the villagers do once they found the blueberries?
6. How did the villagers react when it started raining on the day of the party?
7. What was the most important thing to the villagers at the party, even though their plans didn’t work out?
Go to answers ⇩

🎧✍️ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

In a (1)______ village called Berryville, there was a big party every summer called “The Bizarre Blueberry (2)______.” Everyone in the village (3)______ to (4)______ blueberries in fun and silly ways. The party was organized by the mayor, Mr. Berry, who was crazy about blueberries.

One day before the party, all the people in the village were really excited. They were getting their outfits and decorations ready. But something (5)______ happened. All the (6)______ in the (7)______ were gone! They had disappeared overnight, and nobody knew what to do.

The (8)______, Mr. Berry, didn’t want to cancel the party. He told everyone to look everywhere for blueberries. They looked all over but found nothing. Then they saw a squirrel (9)______ with a (10)______. They followed the squirrel and (11)______ a huge blueberry bush no one knew about. It had more blueberries than they had ever seen.

Now that they had blueberries again, everyone started to get ready for the party. They made tasty blueberry pies, drinks, and really strange blueberry foods. They (12)______ the tables with blueberry colors and decorations.

When the party day came, everyone wore their best blueberry costumes. But suddenly, it started raining very hard. Instead of being sad, the (13)______ in the village (14)______ and (15)______ in the rain. They had fun even though their plans didn’t work out. They were happy just being together and (16)______ the party.
Go to answers ⇩

💬 Discussion Questions:

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

1. What is your favorite type of fruit and why?
2. How would you feel if you were planning a big party and all the decorations disappeared?
3. Do you like parties? Why or why not?
4. What is the most fun party you have ever been to? Can you describe it?
5. How do you think the people in the village felt when they found the hidden blueberry bush?
6. Do you think it’s important to be flexible and have fun even when things don’t go as planned? Why or why not?
7. Have you ever organized a party or event? What was it like?
8. Do you think it’s better to have a small party with close friends or a big party with lots of people? Why?
9. What is your favorite type of food to eat at a party? Why?
10. How do you think the people in the village felt when they were dancing in the rain at the end of the story? Why?

📖💭 Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. village
2. banquet
3. celebrate
4. organized
5. mayor
6. outfits
7. decorations
8. disappeared
9. squirrel
10. bush
11. pies
12. costumes
13. suddenly
14. laughed
15. enjoying

Meanings:
(A) To make sounds with your voice that show you think something is funny
(B) A baked dish of fruit, or meat and vegetables, typically with a top and base of pastry
(C) The head of the government of a town or city
(D) To plan and arrange the details of an event or activity
(E) Items used to make something look more attractive on special occasions
(F) To take part in special enjoyable activities in order to show that a particular occasion is important
(G) Vanished or went out of sight
(H) A large formal meal for many people, often followed by speeches
(I) A plant with a lot of branches, often where berries or small fruits grow
(J) A small community or group of houses in a rural area, smaller than a town
(K) A small animal with a bushy tail that climbs trees
(L) Clothes, especially ones that are special or unusual
(M) Taking pleasure in something
(N) Special outfits worn to create a particular appearance, often for a party or event
(O) Happening quickly and without warning
Go to answers ⇩

🔡 Multiple Choice Questions:

1. Who organized “The Bizarre Blueberry Banquet”?
(a) Mrs. Apple
(b) Dr. Orange
(c) Ms. Grape
(d) Mr. Berry

2. Where did the party take place?
(a) Appletown
(b) Orangeville
(c) Berryville
(d) Grapeville

3. What happened to all the blueberries in the village?
(a) They disappeared overnight
(b) They were eaten by squirrels
(c) They were stolen by the mayor
(d) They were thrown away

4. Who found the hidden blueberry bush?
(a) The mayor
(b) The squirrel
(c) The party guests
(d) The villagers

5. What did the villagers do when they found the blueberry bush?
(a) They called the police
(b) They planted more blueberry bushes
(c) They started preparing for the party
(d) They gave up and canceled the party

6. What did the villagers make with the blueberries?
(a) Pies, drinks, and strange foods
(b) Cakes, cookies, and ice cream
(c) Salads, sandwiches, and soups
(d) Burgers, fries, and milkshakes

7. What happened on the day of the party?
(a) The sun was shining brightly
(b) It started raining heavily
(c) There was a thunderstorm
(d) The weather was perfect

8. How did the villagers react to the rain during the party?
(a) They got upset and went home
(b) They laughed and danced in the rain
(c) They used umbrellas and stayed dry
(d) They canceled the party and rescheduled

Go to answers ⇩

🕵️ True or False Questions:

1. The mayor did want to cancel the party and asked everyone to look for blueberries.
2. They ignored a squirrel and discovered a hidden blueberry bush with lots of blueberries.
3. One day before the party, all the blueberries in the village disappeared overnight.
4. The party was organized by the mayor of the village, Mr. Berry.
5. The Bizarre Blueberry Banquet was an annual summer party in Berryville.
6. Due to heavy rain on the day of the party, the villagers didn’t have fun and didn’t enjoy being together.
7. Without the blueberries found, the villagers prepared delicious blueberry treats and decorated for the party.
8. The villagers loved celebrating blueberries in fun and silly ways at the party.
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. What was the name of the big party that took place in Berryville every summer?
The Bizarre Blueberry Banquet.

2. Who organized the party?
The mayor, Mr. Berry.

3. What happened to all the blueberries in the village before the party?
They disappeared overnight.

4. Who discovered a hidden blueberry bush?
The villagers followed a squirrel and discovered a hidden blueberry bush.

5. What did the villagers do once they found the blueberries?
They used the blueberries to make tasty pies, drinks, and other blueberry foods. They also decorated the tables with blueberry colors and decorations.

6. How did the villagers react when it started raining on the day of the party?
They laughed and danced in the rain.

7. What was the most important thing to the villagers at the party, even though their plans didn’t work out?
Being together and enjoying the party was the most important thing to the villagers, even though their plans didn’t work out.
Go back to questions ⇧

🎧✍️✅ Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) small
(2) Banquet
(3) loved
(4) celebrate
(5) weird
(6) blueberries
(7) village
(8) mayor
(9) running
(10) blueberry
(11) found
(12) decorated
(13) people
(14) laughed
(15) danced
(16) enjoying
Go back to questions ⇧

📖💭✅ Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. village
Answer: (J) A small community or group of houses in a rural area, smaller than a town

2. banquet
Answer: (H) A large formal meal for many people, often followed by speeches

3. celebrate
Answer: (F) To take part in special enjoyable activities in order to show that a particular occasion is important

4. organized
Answer: (D) To plan and arrange the details of an event or activity

5. mayor
Answer: (C) The head of the government of a town or city

6. outfits
Answer: (L) Clothes, especially ones that are special or unusual

7. decorations
Answer: (E) Items used to make something look more attractive on special occasions

8. disappeared
Answer: (G) Vanished or went out of sight

9. squirrel
Answer: (K) A small animal with a bushy tail that climbs trees

10. bush
Answer: (I) A plant with a lot of branches, often where berries or small fruits grow

11. pies
Answer: (B) A baked dish of fruit, or meat and vegetables, typically with a top and base of pastry

12. costumes
Answer: (N) Special outfits worn to create a particular appearance, often for a party or event

13. suddenly
Answer: (O) Happening quickly and without warning

14. laughed
Answer: (A) To make sounds with your voice that show you think something is funny

15. enjoying
Answer: (M) Taking pleasure in something
Go back to questions ⇧

🔡✅ Multiple Choice Answers:

1. Who organized “The Bizarre Blueberry Banquet”?
Answer: (d) Mr. Berry

2. Where did the party take place?
Answer: (c) Berryville

3. What happened to all the blueberries in the village?
Answer: (a) They disappeared overnight

4. Who found the hidden blueberry bush?
Answer: (d) The villagers

5. What did the villagers do when they found the blueberry bush?
Answer: (c) They started preparing for the party

6. What did the villagers make with the blueberries?
Answer: (a) Pies, drinks, and strange foods

7. What happened on the day of the party?
Answer: (b) It started raining heavily

8. How did the villagers react to the rain during the party?
Answer: (b) They laughed and danced in the rain
Go back to questions ⇧

🕵️✅ True or False Answers:

1. The mayor did want to cancel the party and asked everyone to look for blueberries. (Answer: False)
2. They ignored a squirrel and discovered a hidden blueberry bush with lots of blueberries. (Answer: False)
3. One day before the party, all the blueberries in the village disappeared overnight. (Answer: True)
4. The party was organized by the mayor of the village, Mr. Berry. (Answer: True)
5. The Bizarre Blueberry Banquet was an annual summer party in Berryville. (Answer: True)
6. Due to heavy rain on the day of the party, the villagers didn’t have fun and didn’t enjoy being together. (Answer: False)
7. Without the blueberries found, the villagers prepared delicious blueberry treats and decorated for the party. (Answer: False)
8. The villagers loved celebrating blueberries in fun and silly ways at the party. (Answer: True)
Go back to questions ⇧

📚 How about these other Level 3 stories?

A cheeky little boy named Sam has a day full of funny mishaps and unexpected surprises in the snowy landscape.

Sam’s Snowy Day

Sam had an awesome day in the snow, from flying off his sled to saving a squirrel.

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.

The Journey to the Jade Jungle

Bobo the monkey and Toots the toucan go on an exciting adventure in the magical Jade Jungle, making new friends and discovering the true magic of friendship and laughter.

A dragon and a squirrel team up to find an enchanted treasure, but the squirrel has a secret plan.

The Dragon’s Dream

Dillon the dragon, with his special dreaming talent, embarks on a quest for a magical treasure with his new friend Daisy.

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