Short stories for kids with comprehension questions

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Inference questions are short answer; the rest are multiple choice.
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2nd grade story reading comprehension passage with questions and an answer key · 2 pages + answer key

NameDateGrade 2 readingThe Library CardRead the story. Then answer the questions. Fill in the bubble or write your answer.Fiction · 2nd grade · 174 wordsKwame stared at the shiny blue card in his hand. It had his name printed1on it: KWAME ASANTE. It was his very own library card.“You can borrow up to five books,” said Ms. Ortiz, the librarian. “Just2bring them back in three weeks.”Kwame walked slowly down the rows of shelves. There were books about3trains, books about volcanoes, and a whole shelf of joke books. Howcould he choose only five?First he picked a book about the ocean, because he loved sharks. Then he4grabbed two joke books to share with his little sister. He added a mysterywith a dog on the cover. For his last book, he asked Ms. Ortiz for help.She handed him a thick book about a boy who builds a robot.That night, Kwame read until his mom said, “Lights out.” He tucked the5robot book under his pillow so it would be the first thing he saw in themorning.Three weeks later, he brought all five books back and borrowed five6more.Questions1.How many books could Kwame borrow?AfiveBtenConeDthreeedulist.com/worksheets/reading-comprehension/short-storiesPage 1 of 2

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Original short stories for kids, each followed by six comprehension questions. The 2nd grade set includes a lemonade stand that's hidden behind a bush, a first night of camping full of strange sounds, and a boy choosing books with his first library card. Switch grades for younger stories, like a hat that blows into a tree, or longer ones, like a chess club underdog or a gingerbread house that collapses.

Every story has a clear problem and a satisfying ending, so kids can practice story elements: character, setting, problem and solution. Read them at bedtime, use them for reading practice, or print several for a road trip. To turn a story into a writing project, follow it with a creative writing prompt, or find more reading in the full passage collection.

Tips for using it

  • After reading, ask your child to retell the story in three sentences. Beginning, middle, end.
  • Ask what the character learned. That's the theme.
  • Let your child write a new ending as a bonus.

Variations

All reading comprehension worksheets

Questions

Are these stories free to print?

Yes. Print as many as you like for home or classroom use. Each page carries a small edulist.com footer.

What makes a good short story for kids?

A relatable character, one clear problem, a few vivid details and an ending that resolves the problem. Stories at the right reading level let kids focus on meaning instead of decoding.

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