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 Legend of the Laughing Llama

In Llamalandia, the Laughing Llama embarks on a quest to find a hidden treasure that spreads joy.

Try this story at a different level?

 

In a place far away called Llamalandia, there was a special llama named Lulu. Unlike other llamas, Lulu was magical. When she laughed, the happy sound traveled everywhere and made everyone feel good. People called her “The Laughing Llama” because of this.

One day, Lulu was playing in a big, open field and found a secret map in the grass. The map showed the way to a treasure on top of a huge mountain called Mount Giggle. Lulu was so excited and wanted to find this treasure to share its happiness with everyone.

As Lulu climbed the mountain, she faced tough puzzles and problems. But her laugh was so cheerful that it helped her and made others feel light and happy. Every time she laughed, it sounded all around the mountain and helped guide her toward the treasure.

When she finally got to the top of the mountain, Lulu was surprised. Instead of finding gold or jewels, she found a magical mirror. This mirror could show the laughter inside anyone and cure their sadness. Lulu realized that the best treasure was the power to make people happy.

Back in Llamalandia, Lulu was a hero. People would come just to hear her laugh because it had special magic. The land that used to be sad was now full of laughter and joy, all because of Lulu’s giggles. Kids from many places visited Llamalandia to listen to her, learning that the best treasure is making others smile.

🎧 Listen:

Slow

Normal

📖 Vocabulary:

1magicalHaving special powers that can do things that seem impossible
2treasureSomething valuable and precious, often hidden
3puzzlesChallenges or games that test your brain and problem-solving skills
4cheerfulFull of happiness and positive feelings
5guideSomeone or something that shows the way
6mirrorA reflective surface that you can look into to see yourself
7cureTo make someone healthy again or fix a problem
8sadnessThe feeling you get when you are unhappy
9heroA person who is admired for doing something very brave or great
10magicA special or mysterious force that can make amazing things happen
11joyA feeling of great happiness
12gigglesThe sound of quiet laughter
13kidsYoung people who are not yet adults
14LlamalandiaA fictional place, often used in stories
15smileThe expression you make with your face when you’re happy or amused

🤔 Comprehension Questions:

1. Who is Lulu and why is she special?
2. What did Lulu find in the grass while playing in the field?
3. How did Lulu’s laugh help her as she climbed the mountain?
4. What did Lulu find at the top of Mount Giggle?
5. What did Lulu realize was the best treasure?
6. How did Lulu become a hero in Llamalandia?
7. Why did kids from many places visit Llamalandia?
Go to answers ⇩

🎧✍️ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

In a (1)______ far away called Llamalandia, there was a special llama named Lulu. Unlike other llamas, Lulu was (2)______. When she (3)______, the happy (4)______ traveled everywhere and made everyone feel good. People called her “The Laughing Llama” because of this.

One day, Lulu was playing in a big, open field and found a secret map in the grass. The map (5)______ the way to a treasure on top of a huge (6)______ called Mount Giggle. Lulu was so excited and wanted to find this treasure to share its happiness with everyone.

As Lulu (7)______ the mountain, she faced tough puzzles and problems. But her laugh was so (8)______ that it helped her and made others feel light and happy. Every time she laughed, it (9)______ all around the mountain and helped guide her toward the (10)______.

When she finally got to the top of the mountain, Lulu was surprised. Instead of finding gold or jewels, she found a magical (11)______. This mirror could show the laughter inside anyone and cure their sadness. Lulu (12)______ that the best treasure was the power to make people (13)______.

Back in Llamalandia, Lulu was a hero. (14)______ would come just to hear her laugh because it had special (15)______. The land that used to be sad was now full of laughter and joy, all because of Lulu’s (16)______. Kids from many places visited Llamalandia to listen to her, learning that the best treasure is making others smile.
Go to answers ⇩

💬 Discussion Questions:

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

1. What is a magical llama?
2. How would you feel if you found a secret map?
3. Do you think it’s important to make other people feel good? Why or why not?
4. Have you ever faced tough puzzles or problems? How did you handle them?
5. Do you like to hear other people laugh? Why or why not?
6. How would you feel if you found a magical mirror?
7. What do you think is the best treasure in the world? Why?
8. Have you ever been to a place that was sad and then became happy? How did that make you feel?
9. Do you think laughter has the power to help people? Why or why not?
10. How do you think Lulu’s laughter changed Llamalandia?

📖💭 Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. magical
2. treasure
3. puzzles
4. cheerful
5. guide
6. mirror
7. cure
8. sadness
9. hero
10. magic
11. joy
12. giggles
13. kids
14. Llamalandia
15. smile

Meanings:
(A) Young people who are not yet adults
(B) Something valuable and precious, often hidden
(C) The sound of quiet laughter
(D) A special or mysterious force that can make amazing things happen
(E) A feeling of great happiness
(F) A reflective surface that you can look into to see yourself
(G) A fictional place, often used in stories
(H) Having special powers that can do things that seem impossible
(I) The expression you make with your face when you’re happy or amused
(J) Full of happiness and positive feelings
(K) To make someone healthy again or fix a problem
(L) A person who is admired for doing something very brave or great
(M) Challenges or games that test your brain and problem-solving skills
(N) The feeling you get when you are unhappy
(O) Someone or something that shows the way
Go to answers ⇩

🔡 Multiple Choice Questions:

1. Why was Lulu called “The Laughing Llama”?
(a) She had a unique fur color.
(b) She could run faster than any other llama.
(c) She could speak multiple languages.
(d) Her laughter made everyone feel good.

2. Where did Lulu find the secret map?
(a) In a hidden cave.
(b) In a river.
(c) In a tree.
(d) In a big, open field.

3. What did Lulu want to do with the treasure?
(a) Share its happiness with everyone.
(b) Keep it all to herself.
(c) Sell it for a lot of money.
(d) Hide it from others.

4. How did Lulu’s laugh help her while climbing the mountain?
(a) It made her climb faster.
(b) It scared away dangerous animals.
(c) It guided her toward the treasure.
(d) It gave her extra strength.

5. What did Lulu find at the top of Mount Giggle?
(a) Gold and jewels.
(b) A secret passage.
(c) A magical mirror.
(d) A hidden cave.

6. What could the magical mirror do?
(a) Make people disappear.
(b) Show the laughter inside anyone and cure their sadness.
(c) Grant wishes.
(d) Turn people into llamas.

7. How did Lulu become a hero in Llamalandia?
(a) People came to hear her laugh and feel happy.
(b) She defeated a dragon.
(c) She won a singing competition.
(d) She discovered a new land.

8. Why did kids from many places visit Llamalandia?
(a) To see the magical mirror.
(b) To listen to Lulu’s laughter and learn about making others smile.
(c) To climb Mount Giggle.
(d) To find the hidden treasure.

Go to answers ⇩

🕵️ True or False Questions:

1. The mirror lacked the power to reveal the laughter inside people and cure their sadness.
2. The map led Lulu to a treasure located on top of a mountain called Mount Giggle.
3. Llamalandia transformed from a sad place to a land full of laughter and joy because of Lulu’s magical giggles.
4. Instead of finding gold or jewels, Lulu discovered a magical mirror at the top of the mountain.
5. Lulu’s melancholic laughter hindered her in overcoming challenges and led her away from the treasure.
6. Lulu discovered a secret map while playing in a field in Llamalandia.
7. Lulu became a villain in Llamalandia, as people would come from far and wide to escape her laughter.
8. Lulu, the ordinary llama, had no ability to make anyone feel good with her laughter.
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 Lulu and why is she special?
Lulu is a llama who is special because she has a magical laugh that can make everyone feel good.

2. What did Lulu find in the grass while playing in the field?
Lulu found a secret map in the grass while playing in the field.

3. How did Lulu’s laugh help her as she climbed the mountain?
Lulu’s laugh helped her as she climbed the mountain because it guided her towards the treasure by sounding all around the mountain.

4. What did Lulu find at the top of Mount Giggle?
Lulu found a magical mirror at the top of Mount Giggle.

5. What did Lulu realize was the best treasure?
Lulu realized that the best treasure was the power to make people happy.

6. How did Lulu become a hero in Llamalandia?
Lulu became a hero in Llamalandia because her laughter brought happiness and joy to everyone in the land.

7. Why did kids from many places visit Llamalandia?
Kids from many places visited Llamalandia to listen to Lulu’s magical laughter and learn that the best treasure is making others smile.
Go back to questions ⇧

🎧✍️✅ Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) place
(2) magical
(3) laughed
(4) sound
(5) showed
(6) mountain
(7) climbed
(8) cheerful
(9) sounded
(10) treasure
(11) mirror
(12) realized
(13) happy
(14) People
(15) magic
(16) giggles
Go back to questions ⇧

📖💭✅ Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. magical
Answer: (H) Having special powers that can do things that seem impossible

2. treasure
Answer: (B) Something valuable and precious, often hidden

3. puzzles
Answer: (M) Challenges or games that test your brain and problem-solving skills

4. cheerful
Answer: (J) Full of happiness and positive feelings

5. guide
Answer: (O) Someone or something that shows the way

6. mirror
Answer: (F) A reflective surface that you can look into to see yourself

7. cure
Answer: (K) To make someone healthy again or fix a problem

8. sadness
Answer: (N) The feeling you get when you are unhappy

9. hero
Answer: (L) A person who is admired for doing something very brave or great

10. magic
Answer: (D) A special or mysterious force that can make amazing things happen

11. joy
Answer: (E) A feeling of great happiness

12. giggles
Answer: (C) The sound of quiet laughter

13. kids
Answer: (A) Young people who are not yet adults

14. Llamalandia
Answer: (G) A fictional place, often used in stories

15. smile
Answer: (I) The expression you make with your face when you’re happy or amused
Go back to questions ⇧

🔡✅ Multiple Choice Answers:

1. Why was Lulu called “The Laughing Llama”?
Answer: (d) Her laughter made everyone feel good.

2. Where did Lulu find the secret map?
Answer: (d) In a big, open field.

3. What did Lulu want to do with the treasure?
Answer: (a) Share its happiness with everyone.

4. How did Lulu’s laugh help her while climbing the mountain?
Answer: (c) It guided her toward the treasure.

5. What did Lulu find at the top of Mount Giggle?
Answer: (c) A magical mirror.

6. What could the magical mirror do?
Answer: (b) Show the laughter inside anyone and cure their sadness.

7. How did Lulu become a hero in Llamalandia?
Answer: (a) People came to hear her laugh and feel happy.

8. Why did kids from many places visit Llamalandia?
Answer: (b) To listen to Lulu’s laughter and learn about making others smile.
Go back to questions ⇧

🕵️✅ True or False Answers:

1. The mirror lacked the power to reveal the laughter inside people and cure their sadness. (Answer: False)
2. The map led Lulu to a treasure located on top of a mountain called Mount Giggle. (Answer: True)
3. Llamalandia transformed from a sad place to a land full of laughter and joy because of Lulu’s magical giggles. (Answer: True)
4. Instead of finding gold or jewels, Lulu discovered a magical mirror at the top of the mountain. (Answer: True)
5. Lulu’s melancholic laughter hindered her in overcoming challenges and led her away from the treasure. (Answer: False)
6. Lulu discovered a secret map while playing in a field in Llamalandia. (Answer: True)
7. Lulu became a villain in Llamalandia, as people would come from far and wide to escape her laughter. (Answer: False)
8. Lulu, the ordinary llama, had no ability to make anyone feel good with her laughter. (Answer: False)
Go back to questions ⇧

📚 How about these other Level 3 stories?

An invisible unicorn named Bella discovers the power of friendship and the magic of being seen.

The Invisible Unicorn

Bella, a unicorn that nobody could see, discovers the power of friendship and being seen for who she truly is.

Three friends stumble upon a magical peach palace filled with talking animals and enchanted treasures, unlocking their own creativity and joy.

The Peculiar Peach Palace

Max, Sam, and Mia discover a magical castle filled with talking animals, fairies, and enchanted fruits that make them laugh and hug, but the biggest surprise is a locked room that holds the key to their own creativity and happiness.

Stella the unicorn uses her magical rainbow to spread happiness and love to all creatures.

The Rainbow Bridge

Stella, a magical unicorn, wins a competition and uses her wish to spread happiness and love.

A mischievous squirrel named Benny embarks on an unexpected journey after stealing a tangerine.

The Tangerine Thief

Benny the squirrel’s mischievous act of stealing a tangerine led to an exciting chase and unexpected friendships.

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