In the small, lively village of Pebblebrook, something strange happened one sunny morning. The villagers woke up to find that their favorite park had changed overnight. Hundreds of dull, gray stones were now painted with bright colors and fun designs. There were rocks that looked like smiling suns, funny monkeys, and even a dragon that looked a lot like Mr. Hootington, the village owl. Everyone was curious about who had painted these wonderful stones and why.

As people gathered to talk about it, they started to guess who the artist could be. Mrs. Baker, who was known for being witty, said, “It must be the squirrels! They are always up to something creative!” Benny, the village squirrel, puffed up his chest and seriously denied it. “I’m too busy planning my nut stockpile for winter!” he said, but everyone just laughed at his serious face.

Wanting to solve the mystery, three friends—Tom, Zadie, and Marco—decided to investigate. They brought a magnifying glass and a basket of sandwiches, in case they got hungry. They looked everywhere and asked everyone in town if they had seen anything weird, even the village chickens, but the chickens just flapped their wings and clucked in confusion.

Just when they were about to give up, they found a hidden alley behind the library. There, they saw a shiny figure. It was Miss Ethel, the town’s shy artist who was painting a big stone that looked like a colorful watermelon. “Wow, what an amazing painting!” Marco shouted, startling Miss Ethel and causing her to spill paint all over their sandwiches.

Miss Ethel explained that she painted the stones to make people happy and to bring smiles to Pebblebrook. She wanted to start an annual art festival where everyone could show their talents. The friends were excited and could picture the village full of art, laughter, and maybe even dancing. “Let’s call it Pebblefest!” Zadie said with shining eyes. In the end, they convinced Miss Ethel to display her work at the village square. The next Saturday, the village celebrated its first Pebblefest with lots of color, music, and laughter. The villagers learned that sharing your talents can make the world a happier place. The festival became a yearly tradition, reminding everyone that creativity should always be celebrated.

🎧 Listen:

Slow

Normal

📖 Vocabulary:

🤔 Comprehension Questions:

1. What changes did the villagers notice in the park when they woke up one morning?

2. How did Mrs. Baker humorously suggest the squirrels might be involved in the painting of the stones?

3. Who were the three friends that decided to investigate the mystery, and what did they bring with them?

4. What did Tom, Zadie, and Marco discover in the hidden alley behind the library?

5. What was Miss Ethel’s reason for painting the stones in Pebblebrook?

6. How did the idea of an annual art festival, called Pebblefest, come about?

7. What message did the villagers learn from the first Pebblefest celebration?
Go to answers ⇩

🎧✍️ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

In the (1)______, lively village of Pebblebrook, something strange happened one sunny morning. The villagers woke up to find that their favorite park had changed overnight. Hundreds of dull, gray stones were now painted with bright colors and fun designs. There were rocks that looked like smiling suns, funny (2)______, and even a dragon that looked a lot like Mr. (3)______, the village owl. Everyone was (4)______ about who had painted these wonderful stones and why.

As people gathered to talk about it, they started to guess who the artist could be. Mrs. Baker, who was known for being witty, said, “It must be the squirrels! They are always up to something creative!” Benny, the village squirrel, puffed up his chest and seriously denied it. “I’m too busy (5)______ my nut stockpile for winter!” he said, but everyone just laughed at his serious face.

Wanting to solve the (6)______, three friends—Tom, Zadie, and Marco—decided to investigate. They brought a magnifying (7)______ and a basket of sandwiches, in case they got hungry. They (8)______ everywhere and asked everyone in town if they had seen anything weird, even the village chickens, but the chickens just flapped their wings and clucked in confusion.

Just when they were about to give up, they found a hidden alley behind the library. There, they saw a shiny figure. It was Miss Ethel, the town’s shy (9)______ who was painting a big (10)______ that looked like a colorful watermelon. “Wow, what an amazing painting!” Marco shouted, (11)______ Miss Ethel and causing her to spill paint all over their sandwiches.

Miss Ethel explained that she painted the stones to make people happy and to bring smiles to (12)______. She wanted to start an annual art festival where everyone could show their talents. The friends were excited and could picture the village full of art, laughter, and maybe even dancing. “Let’s call it Pebblefest!” Zadie said with shining eyes. In the end, they convinced Miss (13)______ to display her work at the village square. The next Saturday, the village (14)______ its first Pebblefest with lots of color, music, and laughter. The villagers (15)______ that (16)______ your talents can make the world a happier place. The festival became a yearly tradition, reminding everyone that creativity should always be celebrated.
Go to answers ⇩

💬 Discussion Questions:

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

1. What is your favorite way to express your creativity?

2. How would you feel if you woke up one day to find your neighborhood had changed in a fun way?

3. Do you think it’s important for communities to have art festivals? Why or why not?

4. What is a talent you have that you would like to share with others?

5. How would you react if you discovered that a shy person in your town was an amazing artist?

6. Do you like surprises? Why or why not?

7. What do you think makes people happy in their everyday lives?

8. How would you feel if you were part of a project that brought your community together?

9. Do you think animals, like the squirrels in the story, can be creative? Why or why not?

10. What is a memorable event or festival you have attended? What made it special?

📖💭 Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. villagers
2. dull
3. witty
4. investigate
5. magnifying glass
6. confusion
7. hidden
8. shiny
9. startling
10. annual
11. talents
12. display
13. celebrated
14. tradition
15. creativity

Meanings:
(A) Happening once every year
(B) To look into something carefully to find out the truth
(C) To show something in a place where people can see it
(D) Honored or praised in a special way
(E) People who live in a small town or village
(F) Natural abilities or skills
(G) The use of imagination to create something new
(H) A custom or belief that is passed down through generations
(I) A tool used to make small things look bigger
(J) Kept out of sight; not easily found
(K) A state of not understanding what is happening
(L) Causing a sudden feeling of surprise or shock
(M) Lacking brightness or color; boring
(N) Reflecting light; bright and glossy
(O) Clever and funny
Go to answers ⇩

🔡 Multiple Choice Questions:

1. What did the villagers find in their park one sunny morning?
(a) New benches
(b) A fountain
(c) A playground
(d) Painted stones

2. Who was suspected of painting the stones at first?
(a) The chickens
(b) The squirrels
(c) The village mayor
(d) The postman

3. Who were the three friends that decided to investigate the mystery?
(a) Ben, Lily, and Sarah
(b) Jack, Emma, and Noah
(c) Tom, Zadie, and Marco
(d) Alex, Mia, and Sam

4. What did the friends bring with them while investigating?
(a) A magnifying glass and sandwiches
(b) A camera and snacks
(c) A notebook and a map
(d) A flashlight and water bottles

5. Who did the friends find painting in the hidden alley?
(a) Mr. Hootington, the owl
(b) Mrs. Baker, the witty villager
(c) Miss Ethel, the town’s artist
(d) Benny, the squirrel

6. What did Miss Ethel want to start in Pebblebrook?
(a) A music concert
(b) A cooking competition
(c) A sports day
(d) An annual art festival

7. What name did Zadie suggest for the festival?
(a) Stonepalooza
(b) Pebblefest
(c) Art in the Park
(d) Colorful Days

8. What lesson did the villagers learn from the festival?
(a) Sharing talents makes the world happier
(b) Painting is the best hobby
(c) Festivals are only for summer
(d) Squirrels are good artists

Go to answers ⇩

🕵️ True or False Questions:

1. Mrs. Baker jokingly suggested that the squirrels might be responsible for the artwork.
2. Miss Ethel’s goal was to bring joy to the village and to start an annual art festival called Pebblefest.
3. Three acquaintances named Tom, Zadie, and Marco chose to explore the secret of the painted rocks.
4. The villagers were curious about the identity of the artist who painted the stones.
5. Colorless rocks with dull patterns substituted the vibrant, colorful rocks previously in the park.
6. The city of Pebblebrook encountered a predictable alteration in their park one sunny morning.
7. The first Pebblefest was celebrated with art, music, and laughter, becoming a yearly tradition in Pebblebrook.
8. They stumbled upon Miss Ethel, the village’s outgoing artist, sketching a plain rock in a visible alley.
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 changes did the villagers notice in the park when they woke up one morning?
The villagers noticed that hundreds of dull, gray stones had been painted with bright colors and fun designs, including smiling suns, funny monkeys, and a dragon resembling Mr. Hootington, the village owl.

2. How did Mrs. Baker humorously suggest the squirrels might be involved in the painting of the stones?
Mrs. Baker jokingly suggested that the squirrels must be the ones painting the stones because they are always up to something creative.

3. Who were the three friends that decided to investigate the mystery, and what did they bring with them?
The three friends were Tom, Zadie, and Marco. They brought a magnifying glass and a basket of sandwiches.

4. What did Tom, Zadie, and Marco discover in the hidden alley behind the library?
They discovered Miss Ethel, the town’s shy artist, who was painting a big stone that looked like a colorful watermelon.

5. What was Miss Ethel’s reason for painting the stones in Pebblebrook?
Miss Ethel painted the stones to make people happy and to bring smiles to Pebblebrook. She wanted to start an annual art festival to showcase everyone’s talents.

6. How did the idea of an annual art festival, called Pebblefest, come about?
The idea for Pebblefest came about when Zadie suggested it after learning about Miss Ethel’s desire to celebrate creativity and bring joy to the village.

7. What message did the villagers learn from the first Pebblefest celebration?
The villagers learned that sharing your talents can make the world a happier place, and creativity should always be celebrated.
Go back to questions ⇧

🎧✍️✅ Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) small
(2) monkeys
(3) Hootington
(4) curious
(5) planning
(6) mystery
(7) glass
(8) looked
(9) artist
(10) stone
(11) startling
(12) Pebblebrook
(13) Ethel
(14) celebrated
(15) learned
(16) sharing
Go back to questions ⇧

📖💭✅ Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. villagers
Answer: (E) People who live in a small town or village

2. dull
Answer: (M) Lacking brightness or color; boring

3. witty
Answer: (O) Clever and funny

4. investigate
Answer: (B) To look into something carefully to find out the truth

5. magnifying glass
Answer: (I) A tool used to make small things look bigger

6. confusion
Answer: (K) A state of not understanding what is happening

7. hidden
Answer: (J) Kept out of sight; not easily found

8. shiny
Answer: (N) Reflecting light; bright and glossy

9. startling
Answer: (L) Causing a sudden feeling of surprise or shock

10. annual
Answer: (A) Happening once every year

11. talents
Answer: (F) Natural abilities or skills

12. display
Answer: (C) To show something in a place where people can see it

13. celebrated
Answer: (D) Honored or praised in a special way

14. tradition
Answer: (H) A custom or belief that is passed down through generations

15. creativity
Answer: (G) The use of imagination to create something new
Go back to questions ⇧

🔡✅ Multiple Choice Answers:

1. What did the villagers find in their park one sunny morning?
Answer: (d) Painted stones

2. Who was suspected of painting the stones at first?
Answer: (b) The squirrels

3. Who were the three friends that decided to investigate the mystery?
Answer: (c) Tom, Zadie, and Marco

4. What did the friends bring with them while investigating?
Answer: (a) A magnifying glass and sandwiches

5. Who did the friends find painting in the hidden alley?
Answer: (c) Miss Ethel, the town’s artist

6. What did Miss Ethel want to start in Pebblebrook?
Answer: (d) An annual art festival

7. What name did Zadie suggest for the festival?
Answer: (b) Pebblefest

8. What lesson did the villagers learn from the festival?
Answer: (a) Sharing talents makes the world happier
Go back to questions ⇧

🕵️✅ True or False Answers:

1. Mrs. Baker jokingly suggested that the squirrels might be responsible for the artwork. (Answer: True)
2. Miss Ethel’s goal was to bring joy to the village and to start an annual art festival called Pebblefest. (Answer: True)
3. Three acquaintances named Tom, Zadie, and Marco chose to explore the secret of the painted rocks. (Answer: False)
4. The villagers were curious about the identity of the artist who painted the stones. (Answer: True)
5. Colorless rocks with dull patterns substituted the vibrant, colorful rocks previously in the park. (Answer: False)
6. The city of Pebblebrook encountered a predictable alteration in their park one sunny morning. (Answer: False)
7. The first Pebblefest was celebrated with art, music, and laughter, becoming a yearly tradition in Pebblebrook. (Answer: True)
8. They stumbled upon Miss Ethel, the village’s outgoing artist, sketching a plain rock in a visible alley. (Answer: False)
Go back to questions ⇧