Paul Holmes -
University
English Professor

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Short Stories for Kids

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The Playful Penguin’s Party

Peter the mischievous penguin learns the importance of bringing joy to others through a grand party.

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In a place where it was always cold and snowy, and penguins lived, there was one penguin named Peter who loved to have fun. He was the type of penguin who would always find a reason to throw a party, no matter what. One day, when the sky was really blue and the sun was shining, Peter got a great idea. He decided to have a huge party for all the penguins where he lived. He was so happy about the idea that he shouted, “I’m going to throw the best party ever for everyone!”

The news that there was going to be a party spread really fast. All the penguins got very excited and started getting ready to have a great time. Peter was busy too. He put up bright ribbons all over the place to decorate. He even got the fish to bring food for everyone. But then, just as he thought everything was perfect, Peter remembered he had forgotten something very important: music! Without music, his party wouldn’t be good at all. He started to panic because he didn’t want his party to be boring.

Then Peter, who was always good at solving problems, remembered he had a friend named Sammy who was a seal. Sammy was really good at making music and lived on an iceberg not too far away. Peter quickly walked all the way to where Sammy lived and told him about his problem. Sammy was happy to help. They worked together and made a cool song for the party that would get everyone dancing.

The day of the party finally came, and all the penguins came to the shore dressed up really nicely. When the sun began to set, it was party time. Peter played the music they had made, and suddenly, all the penguins were dancing. They slid around and spun on the ice. Peter was so happy to see his friends laughing and partying together.

The party went on, and it got more and more fun. But the best part for Peter wasn’t just having an awesome party. He realized that making his friends happy and feeling good was the best thing he could do. Peter learned that the best gift you can give someone is making them happy. He decided that he would always try to make his friends happy whenever he could, and he always remembered the important lesson he learned at that great party.

🎧 Listen:

Slow

Normal

📖 Vocabulary:

1penguinsBirds that cannot fly and live mostly in cold regions
2reasonA cause or explanation for something
3hugeVery big or enormous
4decorateTo make something look more attractive by adding items to it
5panicTo feel very worried or scared about something
6solvingFiguring out a solution to a problem
7icebergA large floating mass of ice detached from a glacier
8shoreThe land along the edge of a sea, lake, or other large body of water
9spunTo turn quickly and lightly around, especially as a form of dance
10laughingTo show joy with sounds and often a smile
11awesomeReally impressive or excellent
12realizedTo understand or become aware of something
13giftSomething given without expecting anything in return
14lessonSomething learned through experience
15rememberedTo have something come back to your mind

🤔 Comprehension Questions:

1. Who is the main character in the story?
2. What did Peter forget to do for his party?
3. How did Peter solve his problem?
4. How did the penguins react when they heard about the party?
5. What did Peter and Sammy make together?
6. What did the penguins do at the party?
7. What did Peter learn from throwing the party?
Go to answers ⇩

🎧✍️ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

In a (1)______ where it was always cold and snowy, and (2)______ lived, there was one penguin named Peter who loved to have fun. He was the type of penguin who would always find a reason to (3)______ a party, no matter what. One day, when the sky was really blue and the sun was shining, Peter got a (4)______ idea. He decided to have a huge party for all the penguins where he lived. He was so happy about the idea that he shouted, “I’m going to throw the best party ever for everyone!”

The news that there was going to be a party spread really fast. All the penguins got very excited and started getting ready to have a great time. Peter was busy too. He put up (5)______ ribbons all over the place to decorate. He even got the fish to bring food for everyone. But then, just as he (6)______ everything was perfect, Peter (7)______ he had forgotten something very important: music! Without music, his (8)______ wouldn’t be good at all. He started to panic because he didn’t want his party to be boring.

Then Peter, who was always good at solving problems, remembered he had a friend named Sammy who was a seal. Sammy was really good at making (9)______ and (10)______ on an iceberg not too far away. Peter quickly walked all the way to where Sammy lived and told him about his problem. Sammy was happy to help. They worked together and made a cool song for the party that would get everyone (11)______.

The day of the party finally came, and all the penguins came to the shore (12)______ up really nicely. When the sun began to set, it was party time. Peter played the music they had made, and suddenly, all the penguins were dancing. They slid around and spun on the ice. (13)______ was so happy to see his friends laughing and partying together.

The party went on, and it got more and more fun. But the best part for Peter wasn’t just having an (14)______ party. He realized that (15)______ his friends happy and feeling good was the best (16)______ he could do. Peter learned that the best gift you can give someone is making them happy. He decided that he would always try to make his friends happy whenever he could, and he always remembered the important lesson he learned at that great party.
Go to answers ⇩

💬 Discussion Questions:

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

1. What is a party? Have you ever been to a party? What was it like?
2. How do you think Peter felt when he realized he forgot the music for his party? Why?
3. How would you feel if you were at a party without any music? Why?
4. Do you think it’s important to make your friends happy? Why or why not?
5. What do you think Peter learned from throwing the party?
6. Have you ever forgotten something important? How did you feel?
7. Do you like throwing parties? Why or why not?
8. What is the best gift you have ever received? Why was it the best?
9. How do you think Peter’s friends felt when they saw him trying so hard to make the party fun? Why?
10. Do you think it’s important to have fun and enjoy life? Why or why not?

📖💭 Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. penguins
2. reason
3. huge
4. decorate
5. panic
6. solving
7. iceberg
8. shore
9. spun
10. laughing
11. awesome
12. realized
13. gift
14. lesson
15. remembered

Meanings:
(A) Something given without expecting anything in return
(B) To understand or become aware of something
(C) To turn quickly and lightly around, especially as a form of dance
(D) A cause or explanation for something
(E) To show joy with sounds and often a smile
(F) The land along the edge of a sea, lake, or other large body of water
(G) To make something look more attractive by adding items to it
(H) Something learned through experience
(I) To have something come back to your mind
(J) Birds that cannot fly and live mostly in cold regions
(K) Really impressive or excellent
(L) Figuring out a solution to a problem
(M) To feel very worried or scared about something
(N) Very big or enormous
(O) A large floating mass of ice detached from a glacier
Go to answers ⇩

🔡 Multiple Choice Questions:

1. What was the name of the penguin who loved to throw parties?
(a) Sammy
(b) Peter
(c) Watson
(d) Robert

2. Where did Peter live?
(a) A tropical island
(b) A desert
(c) A place where it was always cold and snowy
(d) A rainforest

3. What did Peter forget to organize for his party?
(a) Food
(b) Decorations
(c) Games
(d) Music

4. Who did Peter go to for help with the music?
(a) Sammy the seal
(b) Watson the penguin
(c) Robert the polar bear
(d) Jones the walrus

5. How did the penguins feel when they heard about the party?
(a) Bored
(b) Excited
(c) Annoyed
(d) Scared

6. What did Peter and Sammy make for the party?
(a) Delicious food
(b) Fun games
(c) A cool song
(d) Beautiful decorations

7. What did the penguins do when the music started playing?
(a) Sing
(b) Sleep
(c) Eat
(d) Dance

8. What did Peter learn from throwing the party?
(a) The best gift you can give someone is making them happy
(b) Parties are a waste of time
(c) Music is not important at a party
(d) Friends are not important

Go to answers ⇩

🕵️ True or False Questions:

1. Peter remembers his friend Sammy, a seal who is good at making music.
2. Peter plays the music they made and everyone starts dancing and having fun.
3. Peter asks Sammy for help and they work together to create a cool song for the party.
4. Peter learns that making his friends happy is not important to him and promises to never try to make them happy.
5. On the day of the party, none of the penguins come dressed up and ready to have a great time.
6. Peter realizes he arranged music for the party and starts to panic.
7. He decides to have a big party for all the penguins in his snowy home.
8. Peter is a penguin who dislikes having fun and throwing parties.
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 Peter, the penguin.

2. What did Peter forget to do for his party?
Peter forgot to arrange for music for his party.

3. How did Peter solve his problem?
Peter solved his problem by asking his friend Sammy, a seal, to help him make music for the party.

4. How did the penguins react when they heard about the party?
The penguins got very excited and started getting ready for the party.

5. What did Peter and Sammy make together?
Peter and Sammy made a cool song together for the party.

6. What did the penguins do at the party?
The penguins danced and had a great time at the party.

7. What did Peter learn from throwing the party?
Peter learned that the best gift you can give someone is making them happy, and he decided to always try to make his friends happy.
Go back to questions ⇧

🎧✍️✅ Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) place
(2) penguins
(3) throw
(4) great
(5) bright
(6) thought
(7) remembered
(8) party
(9) music
(10) lived
(11) dancing
(12) dressed
(13) Peter
(14) awesome
(15) making
(16) thing
Go back to questions ⇧

📖💭✅ Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. penguins
Answer: (J) Birds that cannot fly and live mostly in cold regions

2. reason
Answer: (D) A cause or explanation for something

3. huge
Answer: (N) Very big or enormous

4. decorate
Answer: (G) To make something look more attractive by adding items to it

5. panic
Answer: (M) To feel very worried or scared about something

6. solving
Answer: (L) Figuring out a solution to a problem

7. iceberg
Answer: (O) A large floating mass of ice detached from a glacier

8. shore
Answer: (F) The land along the edge of a sea, lake, or other large body of water

9. spun
Answer: (C) To turn quickly and lightly around, especially as a form of dance

10. laughing
Answer: (E) To show joy with sounds and often a smile

11. awesome
Answer: (K) Really impressive or excellent

12. realized
Answer: (B) To understand or become aware of something

13. gift
Answer: (A) Something given without expecting anything in return

14. lesson
Answer: (H) Something learned through experience

15. remembered
Answer: (I) To have something come back to your mind
Go back to questions ⇧

🔡✅ Multiple Choice Answers:

1. What was the name of the penguin who loved to throw parties?
Answer: (b) Peter

2. Where did Peter live?
Answer: (c) A place where it was always cold and snowy

3. What did Peter forget to organize for his party?
Answer: (d) Music

4. Who did Peter go to for help with the music?
Answer: (a) Sammy the seal

5. How did the penguins feel when they heard about the party?
Answer: (b) Excited

6. What did Peter and Sammy make for the party?
Answer: (c) A cool song

7. What did the penguins do when the music started playing?
Answer: (d) Dance

8. What did Peter learn from throwing the party?
Answer: (a) The best gift you can give someone is making them happy
Go back to questions ⇧

🕵️✅ True or False Answers:

1. Peter remembers his friend Sammy, a seal who is good at making music. (Answer: True)
2. Peter plays the music they made and everyone starts dancing and having fun. (Answer: True)
3. Peter asks Sammy for help and they work together to create a cool song for the party. (Answer: True)
4. Peter learns that making his friends happy is not important to him and promises to never try to make them happy. (Answer: False)
5. On the day of the party, none of the penguins come dressed up and ready to have a great time. (Answer: False)
6. Peter realizes he arranged music for the party and starts to panic. (Answer: False)
7. He decides to have a big party for all the penguins in his snowy home. (Answer: True)
8. Peter is a penguin who dislikes having fun and throwing parties. (Answer: False)
Go back to questions ⇧

📚 How about these other Level 3 stories?

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The Bizarre Blueberry Banquet

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A mischievous monkey disrupts the harmony of Elephant Valley with a powerful crystal, but learns a valuable lesson.

Echo in the Elephant Valley

Elephants in Elephant Valley use their trunks to make amazing echoes, but trouble starts when a monkey finds a shiny crystal that makes the echoes too loud.

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 sleepy snowman named Frosty embarks on a quest to find his missing carrot nose.

The Sleepy Snowman

Frosty, the sleepy snowman, embarks on an adventure to find his lost carrot nose and discovers the importance of friendship and staying positive.

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