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 Peculiar Pineapple Parade

The Peculiar Pineapple Parade brings joy and unity to the magical land of Fruitopia.

Try this story at a different level?

 

In a magical place called Fruitopia, there were some special pineapples that could talk to animals and had bright colors. One day, Perry, Polly, and Peter, who were some of those pineapples, decided to start the very first Peculiar Pineapple Parade.

When all the animals found out about the parade, they became super excited. Monkeys began swinging in the trees, elephants practiced loud music with their trunks, and flamingos danced. The whole town couldn’t wait for the parade to begin.

On parade day, the weather was sunny, and the air smelled like sweet fruit. But suddenly, a big storm showed up and started to cause trouble. The wind was strong, and everyone got scared. But the smart pineapples came up with a plan really fast.

The pineapples and their animal friends made a huge leaf umbrella to cover the parade from the rain. The animals held it up over everyone’s head. This surprise made the parade even cooler and something people would always remember.

As the animals and pineapples marched through the town, people cheered and were happy. They learned that when problems happen, being together and thinking of new ideas can fix things. After the parade was over, the town said thank you to the pineapples and animals. The parade became something they did every year to remember to stay happy and help each other. The pineapples kept making life in the village better with their fun colors, their ability to talk to animals, and their positive spirit. The parade reminded everyone that even when strange things happen, life can still be good.

🎧 Listen:

Slow

Normal

📖 Vocabulary:

1magicalSomething that seems to have powers or is like a fairy tale
2peculiarOdd, unusual, or not typical
3paradeA public procession, often with music and colorful outfits
4excitedFeeling very happy and enthusiastic
5swingingMoving back and forth or from side to side, often hanging from something
6trunksThe long, flexible noses of elephants
7flamingosPink or reddish birds that stand on one leg
8smartHaving a good brain and able to think quickly or solve things
9umbrellaA device that protects you from the rain
10cheeredShouted with happiness or in support of something
11problemsDifficult situations or things that need to be dealt with
12ideasThoughts or plans that come from your imagination
13positiveHaving an attitude or outlook that good things will happen
14villageA small community or area where people live
15strangeNot normal or what you would expect

🤔 Comprehension Questions:

1. Who were the main characters in the story?
2. What special ability did the pineapples have?
3. How did the animals react when they found out about the parade?
4. What happened on parade day that caused trouble?
5. How did the pineapples and animals solve the problem?
6. How did the people in the town feel during the parade?
7. Why did the town decide to have the parade every year?
Go to answers ⇩

🎧✍️ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

In a magical place (1)______ Fruitopia, there were some special pineapples that could talk to (2)______ and had bright (3)______. One day, Perry, Polly, and (4)______, who were some of those pineapples, decided to start the very first Peculiar Pineapple Parade.

When all the animals found out about the parade, they became super excited. Monkeys began swinging in the trees, elephants practiced loud music with their trunks, and (5)______ danced. The (6)______ town couldn’t wait for the parade to begin.

On parade day, the weather was sunny, and the air smelled like (7)______ fruit. But suddenly, a big storm showed up and started to cause trouble. The wind was (8)______, and everyone got scared. But the smart pineapples came up with a plan really fast.

The pineapples and their animal friends made a huge leaf (9)______ to cover the (10)______ from the rain. The animals held it up over everyone’s head. This surprise made the parade even cooler and something (11)______ would always remember.

As the animals and pineapples marched through the town, people cheered and were happy. They learned that when problems happen, being together and thinking of new ideas can fix (12)______. After the parade was over, the town said thank you to the pineapples and animals. The parade became something they did every year to remember to stay happy and help each other. The pineapples kept (13)______ life in the (14)______ better with their fun colors, their (15)______ to talk to animals, and their (16)______ spirit. The parade reminded everyone that even when strange things happen, life can still be good.
Go to answers ⇩

💬 Discussion Questions:

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

1. What is a magical place like Fruitopia?
2. How would you feel if you could talk to animals like the pineapples in the story? Why or why not?
3. Do you like parades? Why or why not?
4. What do you think is the importance of being together and thinking of new ideas when problems happen?
5. How do you think the animals felt when they were holding up the leaf umbrella during the storm?
6. Have you ever experienced a surprise that made something even better? Can you tell us about it?
7. Why do you think the town decided to have the parade every year to remember to stay happy and help each other?
8. If you could have a special ability like the talking pineapples, what would it be and why?
9. How do you think the pineapples made life in the village better with their fun colors and positive spirit?
10. Can you think of a time when something strange happened, but life was still good? What was it and how did you feel?

📖💭 Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. magical
2. peculiar
3. parade
4. excited
5. swinging
6. trunks
7. flamingos
8. smart
9. umbrella
10. cheered
11. problems
12. ideas
13. positive
14. village
15. strange

Meanings:
(A) A device that protects you from the rain
(B) A small community or area where people live
(C) Moving back and forth or from side to side, often hanging from something
(D) Not normal or what you would expect
(E) Shouted with happiness or in support of something
(F) Something that seems to have powers or is like a fairy tale
(G) The long, flexible noses of elephants
(H) Difficult situations or things that need to be dealt with
(I) Pink or reddish birds that stand on one leg
(J) Having an attitude or outlook that good things will happen
(K) Thoughts or plans that come from your imagination
(L) Feeling very happy and enthusiastic
(M) Odd, unusual, or not typical
(N) A public procession, often with music and colorful outfits
(O) Having a good brain and able to think quickly or solve things
Go to answers ⇩

🔡 Multiple Choice Questions:

1. What made the pineapples in Fruitopia special?
(a) They could fly and had magical powers.
(b) They could talk to animals and had bright colors.
(c) They could turn into different fruits and vegetables.
(d) They could swim underwater and breathe like fish.

2. What did the animals do when they found out about the parade?
(a) They became super excited.
(b) They became scared and hid.
(c) They started fighting with each other.
(d) They didn’t care and went about their day.

3. What happened on parade day?
(a) The sun was shining brightly.
(b) A big storm showed up.
(c) The animals decided not to participate.
(d) The pineapples changed their minds and canceled the parade.

4. How did the pineapples and animals handle the storm?
(a) They ran away and hid from the storm.
(b) They continued with the parade despite the rain.
(c) They asked the townspeople for help.
(d) They made a huge leaf umbrella to cover the parade.

5. How did the parade make the town feel?
(a) Sad and disappointed.
(b) Angry and frustrated.
(c) Happy and excited.
(d) Indifferent and bored.

6. What did the town learn from the parade?
(a) Problems cannot be solved.
(b) It’s best to give up when things go wrong.
(c) Pineapples are the best fruit in the world.
(d) Being together and thinking of new ideas can fix things.

7. How did the parade become a tradition?
(a) The town decided to do it every year to remember to stay happy and help each other.
(b) The pineapples forced the town to continue the parade.
(c) The animals demanded that the parade happen annually.
(d) The parade was forgotten and never happened again.

8. What did the pineapples bring to the village?
(a) Boring colors, the ability to talk to plants, and a negative spirit.
(b) No colors, the ability to talk to rocks, and a neutral spirit.
(c) Fun colors, the ability to talk to animals, and a positive spirit.
(d) Dull colors, the ability to talk to insects, and a grumpy spirit.

Go to answers ⇩

🕵️ True or False Questions:

1. The oranges decide to start the first-ever Normal Orange Parade.
2. On parade day, a small storm suddenly shows up and causes trouble.
3. After the parade, the town thanks the pineapples and animals, and the parade becomes an annual tradition to remind everyone to stay happy and help each other.
4. The pineapples and animals quickly come up with a plan to protect the parade from the rain by making a huge leaf umbrella.
5. Perry, Polly, and Peter are some of these ordinary oranges.
6. When the animals in Fruitopia find out about the parade, they become super excited.
7. The surprise of the leaf umbrella makes the parade even warmer and forgettable.
8. In Fruitopia, there are special pineapples that can talk to animals and have bright colors.
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 were the main characters in the story?
The main characters in the story were Perry, Polly, and Peter, who were special talking pineapples.

2. What special ability did the pineapples have?
The pineapples had the special ability to talk to animals and had bright colors.

3. How did the animals react when they found out about the parade?
When the animals found out about the parade, they became super excited. Monkeys swung in the trees, elephants practiced loud music with their trunks, and flamingos danced.

4. What happened on parade day that caused trouble?
On parade day, a big storm showed up and started causing trouble. The wind was strong and everyone got scared.

5. How did the pineapples and animals solve the problem?
The pineapples and animals made a huge leaf umbrella to cover the parade from the rain. The animals held it up over everyone’s head, protecting them from the storm.

6. How did the people in the town feel during the parade?
During the parade, the people in the town felt happy and cheered for the pineapples and animals.

7. Why did the town decide to have the parade every year?
The town decided to have the parade every year to remember to stay happy and help each other. It became a reminder that even when strange things happen, life can still be good.
Go back to questions ⇧

🎧✍️✅ Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) called
(2) animals
(3) colors
(4) Peter
(5) flamingos
(6) whole
(7) sweet
(8) strong
(9) umbrella
(10) parade
(11) people
(12) things
(13) making
(14) village
(15) ability
(16) positive
Go back to questions ⇧

📖💭✅ Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. magical
Answer: (F) Something that seems to have powers or is like a fairy tale

2. peculiar
Answer: (M) Odd, unusual, or not typical

3. parade
Answer: (N) A public procession, often with music and colorful outfits

4. excited
Answer: (L) Feeling very happy and enthusiastic

5. swinging
Answer: (C) Moving back and forth or from side to side, often hanging from something

6. trunks
Answer: (G) The long, flexible noses of elephants

7. flamingos
Answer: (I) Pink or reddish birds that stand on one leg

8. smart
Answer: (O) Having a good brain and able to think quickly or solve things

9. umbrella
Answer: (A) A device that protects you from the rain

10. cheered
Answer: (E) Shouted with happiness or in support of something

11. problems
Answer: (H) Difficult situations or things that need to be dealt with

12. ideas
Answer: (K) Thoughts or plans that come from your imagination

13. positive
Answer: (J) Having an attitude or outlook that good things will happen

14. village
Answer: (B) A small community or area where people live

15. strange
Answer: (D) Not normal or what you would expect
Go back to questions ⇧

🔡✅ Multiple Choice Answers:

1. What made the pineapples in Fruitopia special?
Answer: (b) They could talk to animals and had bright colors.

2. What did the animals do when they found out about the parade?
Answer: (a) They became super excited.

3. What happened on parade day?
Answer: (b) A big storm showed up.

4. How did the pineapples and animals handle the storm?
Answer: (d) They made a huge leaf umbrella to cover the parade.

5. How did the parade make the town feel?
Answer: (c) Happy and excited.

6. What did the town learn from the parade?
Answer: (d) Being together and thinking of new ideas can fix things.

7. How did the parade become a tradition?
Answer: (a) The town decided to do it every year to remember to stay happy and help each other.

8. What did the pineapples bring to the village?
Answer: (c) Fun colors, the ability to talk to animals, and a positive spirit.
Go back to questions ⇧

🕵️✅ True or False Answers:

1. The oranges decide to start the first-ever Normal Orange Parade. (Answer: False)
2. On parade day, a small storm suddenly shows up and causes trouble. (Answer: False)
3. After the parade, the town thanks the pineapples and animals, and the parade becomes an annual tradition to remind everyone to stay happy and help each other. (Answer: True)
4. The pineapples and animals quickly come up with a plan to protect the parade from the rain by making a huge leaf umbrella. (Answer: True)
5. Perry, Polly, and Peter are some of these ordinary oranges. (Answer: False)
6. When the animals in Fruitopia find out about the parade, they become super excited. (Answer: True)
7. The surprise of the leaf umbrella makes the parade even warmer and forgettable. (Answer: False)
8. In Fruitopia, there are special pineapples that can talk to animals and have bright colors. (Answer: True)
Go back to questions ⇧

📚 How about these other Level 3 stories?

A jolly jellyfish named Finley gets lost in the deep sea but finds new friends along the way.

The Jolly Jellyfish

A colorful jellyfish named Finley gets lost in the ocean but makes new friends along the way.

In a small village nestled deep in a magical forest, a little girl named Lily discovers a talking teapot with the power to grant wishes.

The Talking Teapot

A brave girl named Lily finds a talking teapot that grants good wishes, but a mean witch tries to steal it.

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.

Daisy the dinosaur detective and her mischievous sidekick Benny solve mysteries and teach valuable life lessons.

The Dinosaur Detective

Daisy, a small and smart dinosaur, solves mysteries and makes friends with Benny, a young dinosaur who made a mistake.

Oliver and Polly, renowned adventurers, spread laughter and kindness wherever they go.

Oliver’s Ocean Adventure

Oliver and Polly go on an exciting adventure to find treasure on Emerald Island, but encounter sneaky pirates along the way.

George and his grape friends escape the vineyard, overcoming obstacles and finding a world full of adventures.

The Great Grape Escape

George the grape and his friends escape from the vineyard, facing obstacles and making new friends along the way.

Feedback