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 Tangerine Thief

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

Try this story at a different level?

 

In a little village, there was a squirrel named Benny who loved getting into trouble. One day, he saw a shiny tangerine on someone’s window and couldn’t help taking it. But he didn’t expect that grabbing this fruit would take him on a wild ride.

As Benny ran off with his prize, he was feeling pretty good about himself. But then, he dropped the tangerine, and a playful monkey named Max caught it. Max, who also loved causing trouble, took off with the tangerine, leaving Benny stunned.

Benny wasn’t going to give up that easily. He chased Max into the jungle, where they ran into other animals like Polly the parrot and Timmy the tortoise. Even though the chase got more dangerous, it was also thrilling, and they all felt excited.

At last, they cornered Max by a beautiful waterfall. Benny came up with a plan. He suggested they all stop fighting, share the tangerine, and have adventures together. Max liked the idea, and they all enjoyed the fruit, laughing and having a great time.

This crazy chase turned Benny, Max, Polly, and Timmy into the best of friends. They learned that unexpected events can lead to amazing friendships and that doing things together is much more fun. They went on many more adventures, always ready for new challenges and opportunities, thanks to that one tangerine theft.

🎧 Listen:

Slow

Normal

📖 Vocabulary:

1squirrelA small animal with a bushy tail that climbs trees
2tangerineA type of small, sweet orange fruit
3windowAn opening in a wall, usually filled with glass, that lets light and air into a room
4prizeSomething that is won or given as a reward
5monkeyA type of animal that is similar to humans but smaller and with a tail, often found in trees
6stunnedVery surprised or shocked
7jungleA dense forest in tropical areas with lots of rain
8dangerousLikely to cause harm or injury
9thrillingExtremely exciting and enjoyable
10waterfallA place where water flows over a vertical drop in the course of a stream or river
11planA detailed proposal for doing or achieving something
12adventuresExciting and often risky journeys or experiences
13unexpectedNot planned or expected
14challengesDifficult tasks or problems that test a person’s abilities
15opportunitiesChances for something better to happen

🤔 Comprehension Questions:

1. Who was the main character in the story?
2. What did Benny take from someone’s window?
3. What happened to the tangerine after Benny dropped it?
4. Who did Benny chase into the jungle?
5. Who did Benny and Max meet in the jungle?
6. What did Benny suggest they all do when they cornered Max?
7. What did Benny, Max, Polly, and Timmy learn from their adventure?
Go to answers ⇩

🎧✍️ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

In a (1)______ village, there was a squirrel named (2)______ who loved getting into trouble. One day, he saw a shiny (3)______ on someone’s (4)______ and couldn’t help taking it. But he didn’t expect that grabbing this fruit would take him on a wild ride.

As Benny ran off with his prize, he was feeling pretty good about himself. But then, he dropped the tangerine, and a playful (5)______ named Max caught it. Max, who also loved causing (6)______, took off with the tangerine, leaving Benny (7)______.

Benny wasn’t (8)______ to give up that easily. He chased Max into the jungle, where they ran into other animals like Polly the parrot and Timmy the tortoise. Even though the (9)______ got more dangerous, it was also thrilling, and they all felt excited.

At last, they cornered Max by a beautiful waterfall. Benny came up with a plan. He (10)______ they all stop fighting, (11)______ the tangerine, and have (12)______ together. Max liked the idea, and they all enjoyed the fruit, laughing and having a great time.

This crazy chase turned Benny, Max, Polly, and Timmy into the best of (13)______. They learned that unexpected (14)______ can lead to (15)______ friendships and that (16)______ things together is much more fun. They went on many more adventures, always ready for new challenges and opportunities, thanks to that one tangerine theft.
Go to answers ⇩

💬 Discussion Questions:

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

1. What is a tangerine? Have you ever eaten one?
2. How would you feel if someone took something that belonged to you without asking?
3. Do you like going on adventures? Why or why not?
4. What do you think it means to be a good friend?
5. Have you ever had an unexpected event lead to a new friendship? Can you tell us about it?
6. How do you think Benny felt when he dropped the tangerine and Max took it?
7. Do you think it’s important to share with others? Why or why not?
8. Have you ever had a situation where you had to work together with others to solve a problem? How did it make you feel?
9. Would you rather have many small adventures or one big adventure? Why?
10. Do you think Benny, Max, Polly, and Timmy made the right choice by becoming friends? Why or why not?

📖💭 Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. squirrel
2. tangerine
3. window
4. prize
5. monkey
6. stunned
7. jungle
8. dangerous
9. thrilling
10. waterfall
11. plan
12. adventures
13. unexpected
14. challenges
15. opportunities

Meanings:
(A) A detailed proposal for doing or achieving something
(B) Extremely exciting and enjoyable
(C) Difficult tasks or problems that test a person’s abilities
(D) Likely to cause harm or injury
(E) A small animal with a bushy tail that climbs trees
(F) An opening in a wall, usually filled with glass, that lets light and air into a room
(G) A type of animal that is similar to humans but smaller and with a tail, often found in trees
(H) Not planned or expected
(I) Something that is won or given as a reward
(J) Exciting and often risky journeys or experiences
(K) A place where water flows over a vertical drop in the course of a stream or river
(L) A dense forest in tropical areas with lots of rain
(M) A type of small, sweet orange fruit
(N) Chances for something better to happen
(O) Very surprised or shocked
Go to answers ⇩

🔡 Multiple Choice Questions:

1. What did Benny take from someone’s window?
(a) A golden apple
(b) A shiny tangerine
(c) A juicy watermelon
(d) A ripe banana

2. Who caught the tangerine after Benny dropped it?
(a) Polly the parrot
(b) Timmy the tortoise
(c) Max the monkey
(d) Sherlock the squirrel

3. Where did Benny and Max chase each other?
(a) Through the desert
(b) Across the ocean
(c) Up the mountains
(d) Into the jungle

4. Who did Benny and Max meet in the jungle?
(a) Sherlock the squirrel and Polly the parrot
(b) Timmy the tortoise and Sherlock the squirrel
(c) Polly the parrot and Timmy the tortoise
(d) Max the monkey and Benny the squirrel

5. Where did Benny, Max, Polly, and Timmy corner Max?
(a) In a dark cave
(b) By a beautiful waterfall
(c) On top of a tall tree
(d) Near a busy street

6. What did Benny suggest they do with the tangerine?
(a) Throw it away
(b) Hide it
(c) Eat it alone
(d) Share it

7. What did Benny, Max, Polly, and Timmy learn from their adventure?
(a) Unexpected events can lead to amazing friendships
(b) Stealing is fun
(c) Adventures are dangerous
(d) Sharing is not important

8. What did Benny, Max, Polly, and Timmy become after their adventure?
(a) The best of friends
(b) Enemies
(c) Strangers
(d) Foes

Go to answers ⇩

🕵️ True or False Questions:

1. This frenzied pursuit brought Benny, Max, Polly, and Timmy together, establishing an indestructible connection and resulting in numerous more thrilling escapades.
2. After dropping the tangerine, Benny was shocked when a playful monkey named Max snatched it away.
3. Determined not to give up, Benny chased Max into the jungle, encountering other animals along the way.
4. Benny, the cheeky chipmunk, couldn’t resist nabbing a glossy tangerine from someone’s doorframe.
5. Benny proposed they cease arguing, divide the apple, and set off on escapades together.
6. The pursuit became more hazardous but also exhilarating, leaving everyone feeling thrilled.
7. Finally, they cornered Max by a stunning waterfall, where Benny came up with a plan.
8. Max agreed to the idea, and they all enjoyed the fruit, laughing and having a great time.
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 was the main character in the story?
Benny was the main character in the story.

2. What did Benny take from someone’s window?
Benny took a shiny tangerine from someone’s window.

3. What happened to the tangerine after Benny dropped it?
After Benny dropped the tangerine, a playful monkey named Max caught it.

4. Who did Benny chase into the jungle?
Benny chased Max, the playful monkey, into the jungle.

5. Who did Benny and Max meet in the jungle?
Benny and Max met Polly the parrot and Timmy the tortoise in the jungle.

6. What did Benny suggest they all do when they cornered Max?
Benny suggested they all stop fighting, share the tangerine, and have adventures together.

7. What did Benny, Max, Polly, and Timmy learn from their adventure?
Benny, Max, Polly, and Timmy learned that unexpected events can lead to amazing friendships and that doing things together is much more fun.
Go back to questions ⇧

🎧✍️✅ Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) little
(2) Benny
(3) tangerine
(4) window
(5) monkey
(6) trouble
(7) stunned
(8) going
(9) chase
(10) suggested
(11) share
(12) adventures
(13) friends
(14) events
(15) amazing
(16) doing
Go back to questions ⇧

📖💭✅ Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. squirrel
Answer: (E) A small animal with a bushy tail that climbs trees

2. tangerine
Answer: (M) A type of small, sweet orange fruit

3. window
Answer: (F) An opening in a wall, usually filled with glass, that lets light and air into a room

4. prize
Answer: (I) Something that is won or given as a reward

5. monkey
Answer: (G) A type of animal that is similar to humans but smaller and with a tail, often found in trees

6. stunned
Answer: (O) Very surprised or shocked

7. jungle
Answer: (L) A dense forest in tropical areas with lots of rain

8. dangerous
Answer: (D) Likely to cause harm or injury

9. thrilling
Answer: (B) Extremely exciting and enjoyable

10. waterfall
Answer: (K) A place where water flows over a vertical drop in the course of a stream or river

11. plan
Answer: (A) A detailed proposal for doing or achieving something

12. adventures
Answer: (J) Exciting and often risky journeys or experiences

13. unexpected
Answer: (H) Not planned or expected

14. challenges
Answer: (C) Difficult tasks or problems that test a person’s abilities

15. opportunities
Answer: (N) Chances for something better to happen
Go back to questions ⇧

🔡✅ Multiple Choice Answers:

1. What did Benny take from someone’s window?
Answer: (b) A shiny tangerine

2. Who caught the tangerine after Benny dropped it?
Answer: (c) Max the monkey

3. Where did Benny and Max chase each other?
Answer: (d) Into the jungle

4. Who did Benny and Max meet in the jungle?
Answer: (c) Polly the parrot and Timmy the tortoise

5. Where did Benny, Max, Polly, and Timmy corner Max?
Answer: (b) By a beautiful waterfall

6. What did Benny suggest they do with the tangerine?
Answer: (d) Share it

7. What did Benny, Max, Polly, and Timmy learn from their adventure?
Answer: (a) Unexpected events can lead to amazing friendships

8. What did Benny, Max, Polly, and Timmy become after their adventure?
Answer: (a) The best of friends
Go back to questions ⇧

🕵️✅ True or False Answers:

1. This frenzied pursuit brought Benny, Max, Polly, and Timmy together, establishing an indestructible connection and resulting in numerous more thrilling escapades. (Answer: False)
2. After dropping the tangerine, Benny was shocked when a playful monkey named Max snatched it away. (Answer: True)
3. Determined not to give up, Benny chased Max into the jungle, encountering other animals along the way. (Answer: True)
4. Benny, the cheeky chipmunk, couldn’t resist nabbing a glossy tangerine from someone’s doorframe. (Answer: False)
5. Benny proposed they cease arguing, divide the apple, and set off on escapades together. (Answer: False)
6. The pursuit became more hazardous but also exhilarating, leaving everyone feeling thrilled. (Answer: False)
7. Finally, they cornered Max by a stunning waterfall, where Benny came up with a plan. (Answer: True)
8. Max agreed to the idea, and they all enjoyed the fruit, laughing and having a great time. (Answer: True)
Go back to questions ⇧

📚 How about these other Level 3 stories?

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.

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 little girl named Lily discovers a jar of magical marmalade that brings everything to life.

The Magical Marmalade

Lily and Bubbles discover that real magic comes from being happy, having friends, and enjoying simple things.

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