Paul Holmes -
University
English Professor

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Short Stories for Kids

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The Princess and the Potato

A princess falls in love with a humble peasant who brings her a plain potato.

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Once upon a time, there was a kingdom with a princess named Penelope. She was very kind and everybody liked her. One day, her dad, the king, said she should get married. Many guys from different places came to marry her. But Penelope didn’t like any of them. Instead, she really loved potatoes more than anything.

A farmer named Pippin found out about Penelope’s love for potatoes. He picked the best potato he had and took it to her. Penelope was so happy with it that she said she would marry the person who could bring her more great potatoes.

The whole kingdom thought this was funny and strange. But it made knights and princes everywhere start looking for the best potatoes. They all tried to impress Penelope with their potatoes, but none were as good as Pippin’s first one. Penelope kept waiting for her perfect potato.

In a small town, there was a guy named Peter. He heard about the princess and her potato wish. He decided to take a chance and brought a regular potato from his garden to the castle. The guards laughed at him, but Penelope saw that Peter was nice and gave his potato a try.

When Penelope tasted Peter’s potato, she loved it and said it was the best because it was made with care and love. She fell in love with Peter, and they got married. He became a prince.

This story tells us that what really matters in love is being honest and kind, not how fancy or rich something is. Peter’s regular potato won because he was genuine. So we should remember to be caring and true to ourselves, and that’s what will make us happy in life. Love comes from the little things we do with our hearts.

🎧 Listen:

Slow

Normal

📖 Vocabulary:

1kingdomA country or territory ruled by a king or queen
2princessA female member of a royal family, especially the daughter of a king or queen
3marryTo join in a formal relationship recognized by law or custom, typically as husband and wife
4knightsSoldiers in the past who wore armor and rode horses
5potatoesA type of vegetable that grows underground and is often used in cooking
6impressedTo make someone feel admiration or respect
7perfectHaving no mistakes or flaws, the best possible
8regularNormal or usual, not special or different
9castleA large building where a king or queen lives
10guardsPeople who protect a place and control who enters it
11genuineReal and sincere, not pretending
12caringShowing concern for the well-being of others
13honestTelling the truth, not lying or cheating
14fancyVery nice or sophisticated, often expensive or decorative
15heartsThe physical and emotional center of a person, often associated with love and affection

🤔 Comprehension Questions:

1. Who is the main character of the story?
2. Why did the king want Princess Penelope to get married?
3. How did Penelope feel about the guys who came to marry her?
4. What did Pippin bring to Penelope?
5. Why did Penelope like Peter’s potato?
6. What happened after Penelope tasted Peter’s potato?
7. What is the lesson we can learn from this story?
Go to answers ⇩

🎧✍️ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

Once upon a time, there was a kingdom with a princess (1)______ (2)______. She was very kind and everybody liked her. One day, her dad, the king, said she should get married. Many guys from different places came to (3)______ her. But Penelope didn’t like any of them. Instead, she really (4)______ potatoes more than anything.

A farmer named Pippin found out about Penelope’s love for potatoes. He picked the best potato he had and took it to her. Penelope was so happy with it that she said she would marry the person who could bring her more (5)______ potatoes.

The whole (6)______ thought this was (7)______ and strange. But it made knights and princes everywhere start looking for the best potatoes. They all tried to impress Penelope with their potatoes, but none were as good as Pippin’s (8)______ one. Penelope kept waiting for her (9)______ (10)______.

In a small town, there was a guy named (11)______. He heard about the (12)______ and her potato wish. He decided to take a chance and brought a regular potato from his garden to the castle. The guards laughed at him, but Penelope saw that Peter was nice and gave his potato a try.

When Penelope tasted Peter’s potato, she loved it and said it was the best because it was made with care and love. She fell in love with Peter, and they got married. He (13)______ a (14)______.

This story tells us that what really (15)______ in love is being honest and kind, not how fancy or rich something is. Peter’s regular potato won because he was genuine. So we should (16)______ to be caring and true to ourselves, and that’s what will make us happy in life. Love comes from the little things we do with our hearts.
Go to answers ⇩

💬 Discussion Questions:

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

1. What is your favorite food and why?
2. How would you feel if your parents chose a partner for you to marry?
3. Do you think it’s important to marry someone who has the same interests as you? Why or why not?
4. Have you ever done something kind for someone you care about? Can you tell us about it?
5. What do you think is more important in a relationship, material possessions or emotional connection? Why?
6. How do you think Penelope felt when she couldn’t find a potato she liked?
7. Do you think it’s important to be true to yourself in a relationship? Why or why not?
8. Have you ever judged someone based on their appearance or something they liked? How did you feel afterwards?
9. What are some little things you can do to show someone you care about them?
10. Why do you think the story says that love comes from the little things we do with our hearts?

📖💭 Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. kingdom
2. princess
3. marry
4. knights
5. potatoes
6. impressed
7. perfect
8. regular
9. castle
10. guards
11. genuine
12. caring
13. honest
14. fancy
15. hearts

Meanings:
(A) Having no mistakes or flaws, the best possible
(B) Soldiers in the past who wore armor and rode horses
(C) Showing concern for the well-being of others
(D) To make someone feel admiration or respect
(E) A country or territory ruled by a king or queen
(F) People who protect a place and control who enters it
(G) Real and sincere, not pretending
(H) Very nice or sophisticated, often expensive or decorative
(I) Normal or usual, not special or different
(J) A large building where a king or queen lives
(K) The physical and emotional center of a person, often associated with love and affection
(L) Telling the truth, not lying or cheating
(M) A type of vegetable that grows underground and is often used in cooking
(N) To join in a formal relationship recognized by law or custom, typically as husband and wife
(O) A female member of a royal family, especially the daughter of a king or queen
Go to answers ⇩

🔡 Multiple Choice Questions:

1. What is the name of the princess in the story?
(a) Elizabeth
(b) Penelope
(c) Catherine
(d) Isabella

2. Why did the king want his daughter to get married?
(a) He wanted to have a big wedding celebration
(b) He wanted to find a prince to rule the kingdom
(c) He thought it was time for her to settle down
(d) He wanted to make his daughter happy

3. How did Pippin find out about Penelope’s love for potatoes?
(a) He read about it in the newspaper
(b) He received a letter from the king
(c) He saw a poster in town
(d) He overheard a conversation at the market

4. What did Penelope say she would do if someone brought her more great potatoes?
(a) Give them a reward
(b) Cook a feast for them
(c) Marry them
(d) Make them a knight

5. What did the knights and princes do to try and impress Penelope?
(a) Sang her songs
(b) Brought her flowers
(c) Showed her their wealth
(d) Brought her different kinds of potatoes

6. Why did the guards laugh at Peter when he brought his potato to the castle?
(a) They thought his potato was funny-looking
(b) They didn’t think he had a chance with the princess
(c) They thought he was wasting their time
(d) They thought he was trying to trick them

7. What did Penelope love about Peter’s potato?
(a) It was the biggest potato she had ever seen
(b) It was the most expensive potato she had ever had
(c) It was a unique and rare variety of potato
(d) It was made with care and love

8. What lesson does the story teach us about love?
(a) It’s important to find someone who is rich and powerful
(b) It’s important to impress others with fancy gifts
(c) It’s important to be honest and kind
(d) It’s important to have a big wedding celebration

Go to answers ⇩

🕵️ True or False Questions:

1. Peter, a guy from a small town, decided to bring a regular carrot from his garden to the castle.
2. Pippin, a farmer, found out about Penelope’s hate for potatoes and brought her a special one.
3. Many guys from different places came to marry Penelope, but she didn’t like any of them.
4. Penelope fell in love with Peter because his potato was made with indifference and they got married.
5. Knights and princes from all over tried to impress Penelope with their potatoes, but none were as good as Pippin’s.
6. The king, Penelope’s dad, wanted her to get married.
7. Penelope said she would marry the person who could bring her fewer great potatoes.
8. Penelope, the princess, loved potatoes more than anything else.
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 of the story?
The main character of the story is Princess Penelope.

2. Why did the king want Princess Penelope to get married?
The king wanted Princess Penelope to get married because it was a tradition for the princess to find a husband and start her own family.

3. How did Penelope feel about the guys who came to marry her?
Penelope didn’t like any of the guys who came to marry her. She didn’t feel a connection with them and didn’t think they were right for her.

4. What did Pippin bring to Penelope?
Pippin brought a potato to Penelope.

5. Why did Penelope like Peter’s potato?
Penelope liked Peter’s potato because it was made with care and love. Even though it was a regular potato, it tasted special because it was made with genuine kindness.

6. What happened after Penelope tasted Peter’s potato?
After Penelope tasted Peter’s potato, she fell in love with him. They got married and Peter became a prince.

7. What is the lesson we can learn from this story?
The lesson we can learn from this story is that what really matters in love is being honest and kind, not how fancy or rich something is. Genuine care and love are more important than material things.
Go back to questions ⇧

🎧✍️✅ Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) named
(2) Penelope
(3) marry
(4) loved
(5) great
(6) kingdom
(7) funny
(8) first
(9) perfect
(10) potato
(11) Peter
(12) princess
(13) became
(14) prince
(15) matters
(16) remember
Go back to questions ⇧

📖💭✅ Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. kingdom
Answer: (E) A country or territory ruled by a king or queen

2. princess
Answer: (O) A female member of a royal family, especially the daughter of a king or queen

3. marry
Answer: (N) To join in a formal relationship recognized by law or custom, typically as husband and wife

4. knights
Answer: (B) Soldiers in the past who wore armor and rode horses

5. potatoes
Answer: (M) A type of vegetable that grows underground and is often used in cooking

6. impressed
Answer: (D) To make someone feel admiration or respect

7. perfect
Answer: (A) Having no mistakes or flaws, the best possible

8. regular
Answer: (I) Normal or usual, not special or different

9. castle
Answer: (J) A large building where a king or queen lives

10. guards
Answer: (F) People who protect a place and control who enters it

11. genuine
Answer: (G) Real and sincere, not pretending

12. caring
Answer: (C) Showing concern for the well-being of others

13. honest
Answer: (L) Telling the truth, not lying or cheating

14. fancy
Answer: (H) Very nice or sophisticated, often expensive or decorative

15. hearts
Answer: (K) The physical and emotional center of a person, often associated with love and affection
Go back to questions ⇧

🔡✅ Multiple Choice Answers:

1. What is the name of the princess in the story?
Answer: (b) Penelope

2. Why did the king want his daughter to get married?
Answer: (c) He thought it was time for her to settle down

3. How did Pippin find out about Penelope’s love for potatoes?
Answer: (d) He overheard a conversation at the market

4. What did Penelope say she would do if someone brought her more great potatoes?
Answer: (c) Marry them

5. What did the knights and princes do to try and impress Penelope?
Answer: (b) Brought her flowers

6. Why did the guards laugh at Peter when he brought his potato to the castle?
Answer: (a) They thought his potato was funny-looking

7. What did Penelope love about Peter’s potato?
Answer: (d) It was made with care and love

8. What lesson does the story teach us about love?
Answer: (a) It’s important to find someone who is rich and powerful
Go back to questions ⇧

🕵️✅ True or False Answers:

1. Peter, a guy from a small town, decided to bring a regular carrot from his garden to the castle. (Answer: False)
2. Pippin, a farmer, found out about Penelope’s hate for potatoes and brought her a special one. (Answer: False)
3. Many guys from different places came to marry Penelope, but she didn’t like any of them. (Answer: True)
4. Penelope fell in love with Peter because his potato was made with indifference and they got married. (Answer: False)
5. Knights and princes from all over tried to impress Penelope with their potatoes, but none were as good as Pippin’s. (Answer: True)
6. The king, Penelope’s dad, wanted her to get married. (Answer: True)
7. Penelope said she would marry the person who could bring her fewer great potatoes. (Answer: False)
8. Penelope, the princess, loved potatoes more than anything else. (Answer: True)
Go back to questions ⇧

📚 How about these other Level 3 stories?

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The Ice Cream Island

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A dragon overcomes the challenge of losing his voice by using enchanted invitations for his birthday party.

The Dragon’s Birthday

Sparkle the dragon couldn’t talk, but that didn’t stop him from throwing an epic birthday party with magical invites and sign language.

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