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 Voyage to Vegetable Land

Embarking on a magical adventure in Vegetable Land, Max discovers that vegetables are superheroes in disguise.

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Once there was a boy named Max who really didn’t like eating his vegetables. His mom and dad were farmers and grew lots of different veggies in their garden. They hoped Max would learn to love them too, but he wouldn’t even try the green ones. One day, when his parents weren’t around, Max found a secret map in his dad’s workshop. It showed the way to a place called “Vegetable Land.” Max was curious and decided to go on an adventure.

Max followed the map and ended up on a boat named the S.S. Veggie Cruise. The boat’s crew was made up of talking veggies like Captain Carrot and the happy Tomato Twins. They invited Max to look around the boat, and he thought it sounded like fun. So, he joined them to see what would happen.

When it got dark, the boat went through some really big waves and Max tripped over a box of magic vegetables. Suddenly, everything around him grew huge! Max, the crew, and the boat were all giant-sized in Vegetable Land. There were super big broccoli trees and enormous fields of lettuce. Max had never seen such a big vegetable garden before.

Max thought these giant veggies were cool. The Tomato Twins liked to play jokes, the broccoli was always working hard, and the lettuce was bouncy like happy clowns. Then, Max met a smart cauliflower who was actually a wizard. The cauliflower wizard taught Max that trying new things can be good, even if they seem scary.

After spending time in Vegetable Land, Max started to see vegetables in a new way. Eating them was fun and tasted good. Lettuce tickled his tongue, carrots were sweet, and tomatoes burst with juice in his mouth. He realized veggies were like superheroes for his body, making him strong and healthy.

When it was time to leave Vegetable Land, Max said goodbye to all his new friends and thanked them for showing him how great veggies can be. Back home, Max told his parents all about his adventure and started eating vegetables without any fuss. From then on, Max enjoyed trying all kinds of healthy foods and became a brave explorer of new tastes.

🎧 Listen:

Slow

Normal

📖 Vocabulary:

1vegetablesPlants that you can eat, which are often green and good for you
2curiousWanting to know more about something or someone
3adventureAn exciting and risky journey or experience
4crewA group of people who work together, usually on a ship or aircraft
5trippedLost your balance and almost fell
6enormousVery, very big
7wizardA person in stories who has magical powers
8scarySomething that makes you feel afraid or nervous
9superheroesCharacters in stories known for their powers and doing good deeds
10healthyBeing in good physical condition and not sick
11explorerSomeone who travels to unknown places to discover new things
12fussA lot of unnecessary worry or excitement about something
13lettuceA green leafy vegetable often used in salads
14burstExploded or popped open suddenly
15tickledCaused a light and funny sensation that makes you want to laugh

🤔 Comprehension Questions:

1. Who were Max’s parents and what did they grow in their garden?
2. What did Max find in his dad’s workshop?
3. What happened to Max and the boat when he tripped over the box of magic vegetables?
4. Who were some of the talking veggies that Max met on the boat?
5. What did Max learn from the smart cauliflower wizard?
6. How did Max’s perspective on vegetables change after his time in Vegetable Land?
7. How did Max’s attitude towards eating vegetables change after his adventure?
Go to answers ⇩

🎧✍️ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

Once there was a boy named Max who really didn’t like eating his (1)______. His mom and dad were farmers and grew lots of different veggies in their garden. They hoped Max would learn to love them too, but he wouldn’t even try the green ones. One day, when his parents weren’t around, Max found a secret map in his dad’s workshop. It (2)______ the way to a place (3)______ “Vegetable Land.” Max was (4)______ and decided to go on an adventure.

Max followed the map and ended up on a boat named the S.S. Veggie Cruise. The boat’s crew was made up of talking veggies like Captain Carrot and the (5)______ Tomato (6)______. They invited Max to look around the boat, and he thought it sounded like fun. So, he joined them to see what would (7)______.

When it got dark, the boat went through some really big waves and Max tripped over a box of magic vegetables. Suddenly, everything around him grew huge! Max, the crew, and the boat were all giant-sized in (8)______ Land. There were super big broccoli trees and enormous fields of lettuce. Max had never seen such a big vegetable garden before.

Max thought these giant veggies were cool. The Tomato Twins liked to play jokes, the broccoli was always (9)______ hard, and the lettuce was bouncy like happy clowns. Then, Max met a smart cauliflower who was actually a wizard. The cauliflower wizard (10)______ Max that trying new things can be good, even if they seem scary.

After spending time in Vegetable Land, Max started to see vegetables in a new way. (11)______ them was fun and tasted good. (12)______ tickled his (13)______, carrots were sweet, and tomatoes (14)______ with juice in his mouth. He realized veggies were like superheroes for his body, making him strong and (15)______.

When it was time to leave Vegetable Land, Max said goodbye to all his new friends and thanked them for showing him how great veggies can be. Back home, Max told his parents all about his adventure and started eating vegetables without any fuss. From then on, Max enjoyed trying all (16)______ of healthy foods and became a brave explorer of new tastes.
Go to answers ⇩

💬 Discussion Questions:

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

1. How do you feel about eating vegetables? Do you like them? Why or why not?
2. Have you ever tried any new foods that you were scared to eat? How did you feel afterwards?
3. What do you think it would be like to live in a place called “Vegetable Land”? Why?
4. How would you feel if you found a secret map that led you on an adventure? What would you do?
5. Do you think it’s important to try new things, even if they seem scary? Why or why not?
6. What is your favorite healthy food? Why do you like it?
7. Have you ever had an experience that changed the way you think about something? What happened?
8. If you could meet talking vegetables like Captain Carrot and the Tomato Twins, what would you say to them? Why?
9. How do you think Max’s parents felt when he started eating vegetables without any fuss? Why?
10. Do you think it’s important to eat healthy foods to stay strong and healthy? Why or why not?

📖💭 Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. vegetables
2. curious
3. adventure
4. crew
5. tripped
6. enormous
7. wizard
8. scary
9. superheroes
10. healthy
11. explorer
12. fuss
13. lettuce
14. burst
15. tickled

Meanings:
(A) An exciting and risky journey or experience
(B) A lot of unnecessary worry or excitement about something
(C) Plants that you can eat, which are often green and good for you
(D) Exploded or popped open suddenly
(E) A person in stories who has magical powers
(F) Caused a light and funny sensation that makes you want to laugh
(G) A green leafy vegetable often used in salads
(H) Something that makes you feel afraid or nervous
(I) Lost your balance and almost fell
(J) Wanting to know more about something or someone
(K) A group of people who work together, usually on a ship or aircraft
(L) Very, very big
(M) Someone who travels to unknown places to discover new things
(N) Characters in stories known for their powers and doing good deeds
(O) Being in good physical condition and not sick
Go to answers ⇩

🔡 Multiple Choice Questions:

1. What was the name of the boy in the story?
(a) Max
(b) Sam
(c) Jake
(d) Ben

2. What did Max find in his dad’s workshop?
(a) A treasure chest
(b) A secret map
(c) A magic wand
(d) A toy car

3. What was the name of the boat Max ended up on?
(a) S.S. Fruit Adventure
(b) S.S. Pirate Ship
(c) S.S. Veggie Cruise
(d) S.S. Ocean Explorer

4. What happened to Max and the boat when it got dark?
(a) They shrank to a tiny size
(b) They disappeared
(c) They turned into vegetables
(d) They grew giant-sized

5. Who did Max meet in Vegetable Land who was actually a wizard?
(a) The tomato
(b) The cauliflower
(c) The broccoli
(d) The lettuce

6. How did Max feel about vegetables after his adventure?
(a) He still didn’t like them
(b) He was scared of them
(c) He thought they were boring
(d) He enjoyed eating them

7. What did Max realize about vegetables after his adventure?
(a) They were useless and tasteless
(b) They were only good for decoration
(c) They were like superheroes for his body
(d) They made him sick

8. What did Max become after his adventure?
(a) A brave explorer of new tastes
(b) A professional chef
(c) A vegetable farmer
(d) A picky eater

Go to answers ⇩

🕵️ True or False Questions:

1. Max realized that trying new vegetables can be bad, even if they seem scary.
2. After his adventure, Max started eating vegetables without any fuss and became a brave explorer of new tastes.
3. Max found a secret map in his dad’s workshop.
4. Max met a smart cauliflower who was actually a wizard.
5. Max joined the crew of a boat called the S.S. Veggie Cruise.
6. Max’s parents were doctors who grew vegetables in their garden.
7. Max and everything around him shrank in Vegetable Land.
8. The map led Max to a place called “Fruit Land.”
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 Max’s parents and what did they grow in their garden?
Max’s parents were farmers and they grew lots of different veggies in their garden.

2. What did Max find in his dad’s workshop?
Max found a secret map in his dad’s workshop.

3. What happened to Max and the boat when he tripped over the box of magic vegetables?
When Max tripped over the box of magic vegetables, everything around him grew huge, including himself, the boat, and the crew.

4. Who were some of the talking veggies that Max met on the boat?
Some of the talking veggies that Max met on the boat were Captain Carrot, the Tomato Twins, and the smart cauliflower wizard.

5. What did Max learn from the smart cauliflower wizard?
Max learned from the smart cauliflower wizard that trying new things can be good, even if they seem scary.

6. How did Max’s perspective on vegetables change after his time in Vegetable Land?
After his time in Vegetable Land, Max saw vegetables in a new way. He found them fun and tasty, and he realized they were like superheroes for his body, making him strong and healthy.

7. How did Max’s attitude towards eating vegetables change after his adventure?
After his adventure, Max’s attitude towards eating vegetables changed. He started eating them without any fuss and enjoyed trying all kinds of healthy foods. He became a brave explorer of new tastes.
Go back to questions ⇧

🎧✍️✅ Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) vegetables
(2) showed
(3) called
(4) curious
(5) happy
(6) Twins
(7) happen
(8) Vegetable
(9) working
(10) taught
(11) Eating
(12) Lettuce
(13) tongue
(14) burst
(15) healthy
(16) kinds
Go back to questions ⇧

📖💭✅ Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. vegetables
Answer: (C) Plants that you can eat, which are often green and good for you

2. curious
Answer: (J) Wanting to know more about something or someone

3. adventure
Answer: (A) An exciting and risky journey or experience

4. crew
Answer: (K) A group of people who work together, usually on a ship or aircraft

5. tripped
Answer: (I) Lost your balance and almost fell

6. enormous
Answer: (L) Very, very big

7. wizard
Answer: (E) A person in stories who has magical powers

8. scary
Answer: (H) Something that makes you feel afraid or nervous

9. superheroes
Answer: (N) Characters in stories known for their powers and doing good deeds

10. healthy
Answer: (O) Being in good physical condition and not sick

11. explorer
Answer: (M) Someone who travels to unknown places to discover new things

12. fuss
Answer: (B) A lot of unnecessary worry or excitement about something

13. lettuce
Answer: (G) A green leafy vegetable often used in salads

14. burst
Answer: (D) Exploded or popped open suddenly

15. tickled
Answer: (F) Caused a light and funny sensation that makes you want to laugh
Go back to questions ⇧

🔡✅ Multiple Choice Answers:

1. What was the name of the boy in the story?
Answer: (a) Max

2. What did Max find in his dad’s workshop?
Answer: (b) A secret map

3. What was the name of the boat Max ended up on?
Answer: (c) S.S. Veggie Cruise

4. What happened to Max and the boat when it got dark?
Answer: (d) They grew giant-sized

5. Who did Max meet in Vegetable Land who was actually a wizard?
Answer: (b) The cauliflower

6. How did Max feel about vegetables after his adventure?
Answer: (d) He enjoyed eating them

7. What did Max realize about vegetables after his adventure?
Answer: (c) They were like superheroes for his body

8. What did Max become after his adventure?
Answer: (a) A brave explorer of new tastes
Go back to questions ⇧

🕵️✅ True or False Answers:

1. Max realized that trying new vegetables can be bad, even if they seem scary. (Answer: False)
2. After his adventure, Max started eating vegetables without any fuss and became a brave explorer of new tastes. (Answer: True)
3. Max found a secret map in his dad’s workshop. (Answer: True)
4. Max met a smart cauliflower who was actually a wizard. (Answer: True)
5. Max joined the crew of a boat called the S.S. Veggie Cruise. (Answer: True)
6. Max’s parents were doctors who grew vegetables in their garden. (Answer: False)
7. Max and everything around him shrank in Vegetable Land. (Answer: False)
8. The map led Max to a place called “Fruit Land.” (Answer: False)
Go back to questions ⇧

📚 How about these other Level 3 stories?

The Golden Egg Hunt in Fantasia turns into a heartwarming display of unity and selflessness.

The Golden Egg Hunt

In the magical land of Fantasia, everyone is excited for the Golden Egg Hunt, where they can make any wish they want if they find a golden egg, but this year, they learn that working together and being kind is even better than winning.

A llama farmer builds an obstacle course to keep his mischievous llamas entertained and happy.

The Llama Farmer

Mr. Thompson builds an obstacle course for his llamas, and Milo’s silly antics steal the show.

A little girl named Mia embarks on a magical adventure through the Candy Kingdom after awakening a Jelly Bean Tree.

The Jelly Bean Tree

Mia discovers a magical tree that turns into a creature and takes her on a sweet adventure to the Candy Kingdom.

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