Paul Holmes -
University
English Professor

Free Materials For ESL Teachers and Learners

Short Stories for Kids

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The Fairy’s Secret

Lily discovers a hidden door in the enchanted forest and befriends a sparkling fairy named Hazel.

Try this story at a different level?

 

In a land full of magic, a curious girl named Lily lived. She had heard stories about fairies with special powers. While she was walking in the forest near her home, she found a tiny hidden door. Lily was so excited that she opened it right away. Inside, she met a small, shiny fairy called Hazel.

Hazel told Lily that fairies only show themselves to good-hearted people. She let Lily in on a secret: on every full moon, fairies meet up in a hidden spot to dance. Lily was super happy to be invited and agreed to keep it a secret. But an annoying gnome named Grumpyboots heard them and wanted to sneak into the fairy dance.

When the full moon was up, fairies from all around came to the hidden spot and started to dance and cast spells. It was beautiful, and Lily loved it. But suddenly, everything got dark and there was a weird fog. It was all because of Grumpyboots, who used a spell to stop the fairies’ magic.

Lily didn’t waste any time and made a plan. She told Hazel and the fairies to use their magic together. They held hands and their magic got stronger. The fog started to lift and the forest shined again. With a bright flash, they broke Grumpyboots’ spell and everything was magical once more.

Seeing he was wrong, Grumpyboots said he was sorry to the fairies. He promised to be better and not to use his powers to hurt anyone. The fairies accepted his apology and let him join them again. Grumpyboots was now the happiest gnome around.

Lily learned how important it is to forgive and to understand others. She realized every choice she makes has an impact and that everyone deserves a chance to make things right. From then on, she was always kind and made people happy wherever she went. And the fairies kept on dancing in the moonlight, knowing Lily would keep their secret and that love and peace are stronger than any darkness.

🎧 Listen:

Slow

Normal

📖 Vocabulary:

1curiousWanting to know more about something or someone
2fairiesSmall, mythical beings with magical abilities
3excitedFeeling very happy and eager
4shinyReflecting light, bright and sparkling
5secretInformation that is meant to be kept hidden from others
6annoyingCausing irritation or bothering someone
7spellsWords or actions used to perform magic
8beautifulVery attractive or pleasing to the senses
9weirdStrange and not normal
10fogA thick cloud that makes it hard to see
11planA detailed proposal for doing or achieving something
12magicalRelated to or characterized by enchantment and wonder
13apologizedSaid you were sorry for something wrong you did
14impactThe effect or influence of one thing on another
15peaceA state of quiet and tranquility

🤔 Comprehension Questions:

1. Who is the main character in the story?
2. How did Lily find the hidden door?
3. Why did the fairies only show themselves to good-hearted people?
4. What did Grumpyboots want to do at the fairy dance?
5. What happened when Grumpyboots used a spell to stop the fairies’ magic?
6. How did Lily and the fairies break Grumpyboots’ spell?
7. What did Lily learn from the experience with Grumpyboots?
Go to answers ⇩

🎧✍️ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

In a land full of magic, a curious girl named Lily lived. She had heard stories about fairies with special (1)______. While she was walking in the forest near her home, she (2)______ a tiny (3)______ door. Lily was so excited that she opened it right away. Inside, she met a small, shiny fairy (4)______ Hazel.

Hazel told Lily that fairies only show themselves to good-hearted people. She let Lily in on a secret: on every full moon, fairies meet up in a hidden spot to dance. Lily was super (5)______ to be invited and agreed to keep it a secret. But an (6)______ gnome (7)______ Grumpyboots (8)______ them and wanted to sneak into the fairy dance.

When the full moon was up, fairies from all around came to the hidden spot and started to dance and cast spells. It was beautiful, and Lily loved it. But suddenly, everything got dark and there was a weird fog. It was all because of Grumpyboots, who used a spell to stop the fairies’ magic.

Lily didn’t waste any time and made a plan. She told Hazel and the fairies to use their magic together. They held hands and their magic got stronger. The fog (9)______ to lift and the forest shined again. With a bright flash, they broke Grumpyboots’ (10)______ and everything was magical once more.

Seeing he was wrong, Grumpyboots said he was sorry to the fairies. He promised to be better and not to use his powers to hurt anyone. The fairies (11)______ his (12)______ and let him join them again. Grumpyboots was now the happiest (13)______ around.

Lily learned how important it is to forgive and to understand others. She (14)______ every choice she makes has an impact and that everyone deserves a chance to make things right. From then on, she was always kind and made people happy wherever she went. And the fairies kept on (15)______ in the moonlight, knowing Lily would keep their (16)______ and that love and peace are stronger than any darkness.
Go to answers ⇩

💬 Discussion Questions:

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

1. What is a fairy and what special powers do they have?
2. How would you feel if you found a hidden door in the forest and met a shiny fairy?
3. Do you like the character Grumpyboots? Why or why not?
4. Do you think it’s important to keep secrets? Why or why not?
5. How would you feel if someone used their powers to hurt others?
6. What would you do if you were in Lily’s shoes and discovered the fairies’ secret dance?
7. Have you ever had to forgive someone? How did it make you feel?
8. Do you believe that love and peace are stronger than darkness? Why or why not?
9. How do you think Lily’s kindness made a difference in the story?
10. Have you ever made a choice that had a big impact on someone’s life? What was it and how did it make you feel?

📖💭 Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. curious
2. fairies
3. excited
4. shiny
5. secret
6. annoying
7. spells
8. beautiful
9. weird
10. fog
11. plan
12. magical
13. apologized
14. impact
15. peace

Meanings:
(A) Related to or characterized by enchantment and wonder
(B) Causing irritation or bothering someone
(C) Feeling very happy and eager
(D) A detailed proposal for doing or achieving something
(E) Wanting to know more about something or someone
(F) A state of quiet and tranquility
(G) The effect or influence of one thing on another
(H) A thick cloud that makes it hard to see
(I) Very attractive or pleasing to the senses
(J) Reflecting light, bright and sparkling
(K) Said you were sorry for something wrong you did
(L) Strange and not normal
(M) Small, mythical beings with magical abilities
(N) Words or actions used to perform magic
(O) Information that is meant to be kept hidden from others
Go to answers ⇩

🔡 Multiple Choice Questions:

1. What did Lily find in the forest?
(a) A treasure chest
(b) A magic wand
(c) A talking animal
(d) A hidden door

2. What is the name of the fairy Lily meets?
(a) Hazel
(b) Rose
(c) Lily
(d) Daisy

3. How often do the fairies meet up to dance?
(a) Every day
(b) Once a year
(c) Only on special occasions
(d) On every full moon

4. Who overhears Lily and Hazel talking about the fairy dance?
(a) Grumpyboots the gnome
(b) A wise owl
(c) Lily’s best friend
(d) Lily’s little brother

5. What does Grumpyboots do to stop the fairies’ magic?
(a) Steals their wands
(b) Casts a spell
(c) Hides their fairy dust
(d) Turns off the moonlight

6. How do Lily and the fairies break Grumpyboots’ spell?
(a) By singing a special song
(b) By using their magic together
(c) By finding a magical potion
(d) By asking for help from a wizard

7. What does Grumpyboots do after the spell is broken?
(a) Runs away and hides
(b) Steals the fairies’ wings
(c) Apologizes to the fairies
(d) Laughs and makes fun of the fairies

8. What does Lily learn from this experience?
(a) How to cast spells like a fairy
(b) That fairies are not real
(c) The importance of forgiveness and understanding
(d) That magic is dangerous and should be avoided

Go to answers ⇩

🕵️ True or False Questions:

1. Lily meets a small fairy named Hazel inside the hidden door.
2. A gnome named Grumpyboots overhears Lily and Hazel’s conversation and wants to sneak into the fairy dance.
3. Lily, with the help of Hazel and the fairies, breaks Grumpyboots’ spell and restores the magic in the forest.
4. Fairies only reveal themselves to people who have bad hearts.
5. The story takes place in a mundane land where fairies do not exist.
6. Lily, the main character, ignores a hidden door while walking in the forest.
7. Lily is not invited to a secret fairy dance that takes place during the full moon.
8. Grumpyboots uses a spell to stop the fairies’ magic during the dance.
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 Lily.

2. How did Lily find the hidden door?
Lily found the hidden door while she was walking in the forest near her home.

3. Why did the fairies only show themselves to good-hearted people?
The fairies only showed themselves to good-hearted people because they wanted to make sure they could trust them and that they would use their magic for good.

4. What did Grumpyboots want to do at the fairy dance?
Grumpyboots wanted to sneak into the fairy dance and cause trouble.

5. What happened when Grumpyboots used a spell to stop the fairies’ magic?
When Grumpyboots used a spell to stop the fairies’ magic, everything got dark and a weird fog covered the forest.

6. How did Lily and the fairies break Grumpyboots’ spell?
Lily and the fairies held hands and used their magic together to break Grumpyboots’ spell. The fog lifted and the forest became magical again.

7. What did Lily learn from the experience with Grumpyboots?
Lily learned the importance of forgiveness and understanding others. She realized that everyone deserves a chance to make things right and that her choices can have a big impact. She also learned that love and peace are stronger than any darkness.
Go back to questions ⇧

🎧✍️✅ Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) powers
(2) found
(3) hidden
(4) called
(5) happy
(6) annoying
(7) named
(8) heard
(9) started
(10) spell
(11) accepted
(12) apology
(13) gnome
(14) realized
(15) dancing
(16) secret
Go back to questions ⇧

📖💭✅ Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. curious
Answer: (E) Wanting to know more about something or someone

2. fairies
Answer: (M) Small, mythical beings with magical abilities

3. excited
Answer: (C) Feeling very happy and eager

4. shiny
Answer: (J) Reflecting light, bright and sparkling

5. secret
Answer: (O) Information that is meant to be kept hidden from others

6. annoying
Answer: (B) Causing irritation or bothering someone

7. spells
Answer: (N) Words or actions used to perform magic

8. beautiful
Answer: (I) Very attractive or pleasing to the senses

9. weird
Answer: (L) Strange and not normal

10. fog
Answer: (H) A thick cloud that makes it hard to see

11. plan
Answer: (D) A detailed proposal for doing or achieving something

12. magical
Answer: (A) Related to or characterized by enchantment and wonder

13. apologized
Answer: (K) Said you were sorry for something wrong you did

14. impact
Answer: (G) The effect or influence of one thing on another

15. peace
Answer: (F) A state of quiet and tranquility
Go back to questions ⇧

🔡✅ Multiple Choice Answers:

1. What did Lily find in the forest?
Answer: (d) A hidden door

2. What is the name of the fairy Lily meets?
Answer: (a) Hazel

3. How often do the fairies meet up to dance?
Answer: (d) On every full moon

4. Who overhears Lily and Hazel talking about the fairy dance?
Answer: (a) Grumpyboots the gnome

5. What does Grumpyboots do to stop the fairies’ magic?
Answer: (b) Casts a spell

6. How do Lily and the fairies break Grumpyboots’ spell?
Answer: (b) By using their magic together

7. What does Grumpyboots do after the spell is broken?
Answer: (c) Apologizes to the fairies

8. What does Lily learn from this experience?
Answer: (c) The importance of forgiveness and understanding
Go back to questions ⇧

🕵️✅ True or False Answers:

1. Lily meets a small fairy named Hazel inside the hidden door. (Answer: True)
2. A gnome named Grumpyboots overhears Lily and Hazel’s conversation and wants to sneak into the fairy dance. (Answer: True)
3. Lily, with the help of Hazel and the fairies, breaks Grumpyboots’ spell and restores the magic in the forest. (Answer: True)
4. Fairies only reveal themselves to people who have bad hearts. (Answer: False)
5. The story takes place in a mundane land where fairies do not exist. (Answer: False)
6. Lily, the main character, ignores a hidden door while walking in the forest. (Answer: False)
7. Lily is not invited to a secret fairy dance that takes place during the full moon. (Answer: False)
8. Grumpyboots uses a spell to stop the fairies’ magic during the dance. (Answer: True)
Go back to questions ⇧

📚 How about these other Level 3 stories?

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.

Penelope, the brave pirate princess, embarks on daring adventures, outsmarting sea monsters, cunning pirates, and even making a wish with a magical Golden Mermaid.

The Pirate Princess

Penelope, the pirate princess, sails the seas, outsmarting monsters, tricking pirates, and finding the true treasure of friendship.

A lonely turtle named Timothy embarks on an adventure to find friends and discovers a hidden cove.

The Lonely Turtle

Timothy the turtle feels lonely, but when he finds a magical compass, he embarks on an adventure to find friends and discovers a secret bay full of turtles just like him.

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