Paul Holmes -
University
English Professor

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Short Stories for Kids

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The Chocolate Waterfall

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In a little village, there was a boy named Tommy who really loved eating chocolates. One day, everyone in the village heard a story about a hidden waterfall in the forest that was made entirely of chocolate. Tommy was super excited and wanted to see it himself, so he packed his favorite chocolate bars and went on an adventure to find it.

Tommy walked through the forest following the sound of the water until he found a huge waterfall with chocolate instead of water. His eyes lit up because he had never seen anything so cool. Without waiting another second, he jumped into the chocolate waterfall.

While tasting the chocolate, Tommy noticed it was different. It had all these amazing colors and was bubbling. When he drank it, he found out it was magical because he suddenly started to fly! He laughed and flew around, having the time of his life.

Then, Tommy heard a noise and saw a squirrel eating the chocolate and getting really big. It had turned into a giant chocolate monster! Tommy knew he had to do something fast or the monster would go to the village and cause problems.

Quickly, Tommy found some honey and used it to calm the beast down. The squirrel loved the honey so much that it became normal size again. Tommy had saved the day with his quick thinking. He sent the squirrel back into the forest, and the squirrel thanked him with a chocolate hug. Tommy learned that he had to be careful with things he liked and that he could face any challenge by being brave and kind.

When Tommy got back to his village, he was nicer and wanted to make everyone happy with chocolate. He had become someone everyone loved because he brought joy and chocolate to everyone. Tommy was now the village’s hero who shared sweetness and laughter with all.

🎧 Listen:

Slow

Normal

📖 Vocabulary:

1villageA small community or group of houses in a rural area, smaller than a town
2adventureAn exciting and risky journey or experience
3waterfallA place where water flows over a vertical drop in the course of a stream or river
4magicalHaving special powers that cannot be explained by science
5beastA large and frightening animal, often found in myths
6calmPeaceful and free from stress or worry
7challengeA difficult task or problem that tests someone’s abilities
8quickDoing something quickly or immediately
9honeyA sweet, sticky substance made by bees
10braveHaving courage and facing fears
11joyA feeling of great happiness or pleasure
12heroSomeone who is admired for doing something very brave or great
13laughterThe sound of someone laughing
14excitementA feeling of great pleasure or eagerness
15kindnessThe quality of being friendly and considerate toward others

🤔 Comprehension Questions:

1. Who is the main character in the story?
2. What did Tommy bring with him on his adventure?
3. What did Tommy find in the forest instead of water?
4. What happened to Tommy when he drank the chocolate?
5. What did the squirrel turn into after eating the chocolate?
6. How did Tommy calm down the giant chocolate monster?
7. How did Tommy become the village’s hero?
Go to answers ⇩

🎧✍️ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

In a (1)______ village, there was a boy named (2)______ who really loved eating chocolates. One day, everyone in the village (3)______ a story about a hidden (4)______ in the forest that was made entirely of chocolate. Tommy was super excited and wanted to see it himself, so he packed his favorite chocolate bars and went on an adventure to find it.

Tommy walked through the forest following the sound of the water until he found a huge waterfall with (5)______ instead of water. His eyes lit up because he had never seen anything so cool. Without waiting another (6)______, he jumped into the chocolate waterfall.

While tasting the chocolate, Tommy (7)______ it was different. It had all these amazing colors and was bubbling. When he drank it, he found out it was magical because he suddenly started to fly! He (8)______ and flew around, having the time of his life.

Then, Tommy heard a noise and saw a squirrel eating the chocolate and getting really big. It had turned into a giant chocolate monster! Tommy knew he had to do something fast or the monster would go to the village and cause (9)______.

Quickly, Tommy (10)______ some honey and used it to calm the beast down. The squirrel (11)______ the honey so much that it became normal size again. Tommy had (12)______ the day with his quick thinking. He sent the squirrel back into the forest, and the (13)______ thanked him with a chocolate hug. Tommy learned that he had to be careful with things he liked and that he could face any challenge by being brave and kind.

When Tommy got back to his (14)______, he was nicer and wanted to make everyone happy with chocolate. He had (15)______ someone everyone loved because he brought joy and chocolate to everyone. Tommy was now the village’s hero who shared (16)______ and laughter with all.
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 chocolate and why?
2. How would you feel if you found a waterfall made of chocolate?
3. Do you think it would be fun to fly like Tommy did? Why or why not?
4. What do you think would happen if the squirrel went to the village as a giant chocolate monster?
5. How did Tommy save the day? Do you think you could have come up with a solution like that?
6. Why do you think Tommy wanted to make everyone in the village happy with chocolate?
7. Have you ever had an adventure like Tommy’s? If so, can you tell us about it?
8. What do you think Tommy learned from his adventure in the forest?
9. Do you think it’s important to be kind to animals? Why or why not?
10. If you could have a magical power, what would it be and why?

📖💭 Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. village
2. adventure
3. waterfall
4. magical
5. beast
6. calm
7. challenge
8. quick
9. honey
10. brave
11. joy
12. hero
13. laughter
14. excitement
15. kindness

Meanings:
(A) A small community or group of houses in a rural area, smaller than a town
(B) Having special powers that cannot be explained by science
(C) A large and frightening animal, often found in myths
(D) Having courage and facing fears
(E) A sweet, sticky substance made by bees
(F) The sound of someone laughing
(G) A place where water flows over a vertical drop in the course of a stream or river
(H) A feeling of great happiness or pleasure
(I) An exciting and risky journey or experience
(J) A difficult task or problem that tests someone’s abilities
(K) Someone who is admired for doing something very brave or great
(L) Peaceful and free from stress or worry
(M) Doing something quickly or immediately
(N) A feeling of great pleasure or eagerness
(O) The quality of being friendly and considerate toward others
Go to answers ⇩

🔡 Multiple Choice Questions:

1. What did Tommy bring with him on his adventure to find the hidden chocolate waterfall?
(a) His favorite chocolate bars
(b) His favorite toys
(c) His pet squirrel
(d) His backpack

2. What did Tommy find in the forest instead of water?
(a) A hidden treasure chest
(b) A huge waterfall made of chocolate
(c) A magical talking tree
(d) A secret cave

3. What happened to Tommy when he tasted the chocolate from the waterfall?
(a) He turned into a squirrel
(b) He became invisible
(c) He grew taller
(d) He started to fly

4. What did Tommy do to calm down the giant chocolate monster squirrel?
(a) Ran away
(b) Yelled at it
(c) Hid behind a tree
(d) Used honey

5. How did the squirrel react to the honey that Tommy gave it?
(a) It turned into a bird
(b) It grew even bigger
(c) It became normal size again
(d) It ran away

6. What did Tommy learn from his adventure?
(a) To never eat chocolate again
(b) To be careful with things he liked
(c) To always bring his pet squirrel on adventures
(d) To stay away from forests

7. How did Tommy become a hero in his village?
(a) By bringing joy and chocolate to everyone
(b) By defeating the chocolate monster
(c) By flying around the village
(d) By finding the hidden waterfall

8. What did Tommy share with everyone in the village?
(a) Toys and games
(b) Secrets and stories
(c) Sweetness and laughter
(d) Fruits and vegetables

Go to answers ⇩

🕵️ True or False Questions:

1. The squirrel remained small and thanked Tommy with a chocolate hug.
2. Tommy became a despised villain in his village by spreading despair and taking away chocolate from everyone.
3. Tommy learned the importance of being careful with things he liked and the power of bravery and kindness.
4. Tommy encountered a squirrel that turned into a giant chocolate monster after eating the chocolate.
5. When Tommy tasted the chocolate, he realized it was magical and made him fly.
6. Tommy discovered a tiny trickle in the forest made of chocolate.
7. Tommy used honey to calm down the chocolate monster and saved the village from potential problems.
8. Tommy hated eating chocolates and went on an adventure to find a hidden broccoli waterfall.
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?
The main character in the story is Tommy.

2. What did Tommy bring with him on his adventure?
Tommy brought his favorite chocolate bars with him on his adventure.

3. What did Tommy find in the forest instead of water?
Tommy found a huge waterfall made entirely of chocolate in the forest instead of water.

4. What happened to Tommy when he drank the chocolate?
When Tommy drank the chocolate, he suddenly started to fly.

5. What did the squirrel turn into after eating the chocolate?
The squirrel turned into a giant chocolate monster after eating the chocolate.

6. How did Tommy calm down the giant chocolate monster?
Tommy calmed down the giant chocolate monster by using honey, which the squirrel loved and caused it to become normal size again.

7. How did Tommy become the village’s hero?
Tommy became the village’s hero because he shared sweetness and laughter with everyone by bringing joy and chocolate to the village.
Go back to questions ⇧

🎧✍️✅ Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) little
(2) Tommy
(3) heard
(4) waterfall
(5) chocolate
(6) second
(7) noticed
(8) laughed
(9) problems
(10) found
(11) loved
(12) saved
(13) squirrel
(14) village
(15) become
(16) sweetness
Go back to questions ⇧

📖💭✅ Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

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

2. adventure
Answer: (I) An exciting and risky journey or experience

3. waterfall
Answer: (G) A place where water flows over a vertical drop in the course of a stream or river

4. magical
Answer: (B) Having special powers that cannot be explained by science

5. beast
Answer: (C) A large and frightening animal, often found in myths

6. calm
Answer: (L) Peaceful and free from stress or worry

7. challenge
Answer: (J) A difficult task or problem that tests someone’s abilities

8. quick
Answer: (M) Doing something quickly or immediately

9. honey
Answer: (E) A sweet, sticky substance made by bees

10. brave
Answer: (D) Having courage and facing fears

11. joy
Answer: (H) A feeling of great happiness or pleasure

12. hero
Answer: (K) Someone who is admired for doing something very brave or great

13. laughter
Answer: (F) The sound of someone laughing

14. excitement
Answer: (N) A feeling of great pleasure or eagerness

15. kindness
Answer: (O) The quality of being friendly and considerate toward others
Go back to questions ⇧

🔡✅ Multiple Choice Answers:

1. What did Tommy bring with him on his adventure to find the hidden chocolate waterfall?
Answer: (a) His favorite chocolate bars

2. What did Tommy find in the forest instead of water?
Answer: (b) A huge waterfall made of chocolate

3. What happened to Tommy when he tasted the chocolate from the waterfall?
Answer: (d) He started to fly

4. What did Tommy do to calm down the giant chocolate monster squirrel?
Answer: (d) Used honey

5. How did the squirrel react to the honey that Tommy gave it?
Answer: (c) It became normal size again

6. What did Tommy learn from his adventure?
Answer: (b) To be careful with things he liked

7. How did Tommy become a hero in his village?
Answer: (a) By bringing joy and chocolate to everyone

8. What did Tommy share with everyone in the village?
Answer: (c) Sweetness and laughter
Go back to questions ⇧

🕵️✅ True or False Answers:

1. The squirrel remained small and thanked Tommy with a chocolate hug. (Answer: False)
2. Tommy became a despised villain in his village by spreading despair and taking away chocolate from everyone. (Answer: False)
3. Tommy learned the importance of being careful with things he liked and the power of bravery and kindness. (Answer: True)
4. Tommy encountered a squirrel that turned into a giant chocolate monster after eating the chocolate. (Answer: True)
5. When Tommy tasted the chocolate, he realized it was magical and made him fly. (Answer: True)
6. Tommy discovered a tiny trickle in the forest made of chocolate. (Answer: False)
7. Tommy used honey to calm down the chocolate monster and saved the village from potential problems. (Answer: True)
8. Tommy hated eating chocolates and went on an adventure to find a hidden broccoli waterfall. (Answer: False)
Go back to questions ⇧

📚 How about these other Level 3 stories?

Dara the daring dragonfly embarks on a quest, only to discover that the true treasure is within.

The Daring Dragonfly

Dara the dragonfly found a hidden treasure in the forest, but it wasn’t gold or jewels—it was something even better.

Lily and her animal friends explore a crystal cave, discovering magical powers and learning important lessons.

The Crystal Cave

Lily and her animal friends discover a magical crystal cave, where they have exciting adventures and learn important life lessons.

A young girl named Emily discovers a tree that produces rainbow-colored raspberries, bringing joy to her village.

The Remarkable Raspberry Rain

Emily discovers a tree that rains colorful raspberries, but when they lose their color, she learns that children’s laughter can bring the magic back.

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