First, study any unfamiliar words here:
| 😡 anger 😡 Definition: A strong feeling of being upset or mad. Example 1: He shouted in anger when he saw the broken window. Example 2: She tried to control her anger and speak calmly. 😤 frustration 😤 Definition: A feeling of being upset or annoyed because something is hard or not working. Example 1: I felt great frustration when I couldn’t fix the computer. Example 2: Her frustration grew when no one listened to her idea. 🥜 nuts 🥜 Definition: Hard fruits with a shell that some animals and people eat. Example 1: Squirrels collect nuts in the fall. Example 2: I like eating mixed nuts as a snack. 🐾 tail 🐾 Definition: The long part at the back of an animal’s body. Example 1: The dog wagged its tail when it saw me. Example 2: The cat’s tail was up in the air. 🏃 run away 🏃 Definition: To leave quickly because of fear or danger. Example 1: The mouse tried to run away from the cat. Example 2: He wanted to run away from the scary noise. 😒 annoy 😒 Definition: To make someone a little angry or bothered. Example 1: The buzzing fly started to annoy me. Example 2: Please stop tapping your pen. You annoy me! 🌰 acorns 🌰 Definition: Small nuts from oak trees that squirrels love to eat. Example 1: The squirrel hid some acorns under the leaves. Example 2: In the fall, acorns fall from the trees. 🐿️ squirrel 🐿️ Definition: A small animal with a big tail that climbs trees and eats nuts. Example 1: The squirrel ran up the tree with an acorn. Example 2: We saw a squirrel jumping from branch to branch. 🌲 pine tree 🌲 Definition: A tall tree with needles instead of leaves and pine cones. Example 1: The forest was full of pine trees. Example 2: A bird made a nest in a pine tree. 🌳 oak tree 🌳 Definition: A strong tree that lives a long time and grows acorns. Example 1: The big oak tree gives us lots of shade. Example 2: Oak trees are home to many animals. 💪 strength 💪 Definition: The power to do hard things or lift heavy things. Example 1: She used all her strength to carry the box. Example 2: His strength comes from working out every day. |
Word Count: 816
Reading Level: CEFR B1
A Squirrel Story
(A retelling of one of Beatrix Potter’s famous stories)
This story is about a little red squirrel, and his name was Nutkin. He had a brother called Twinkleberry and many squirrel friends, and they all lived in a beautiful forest near a big lake.
In the middle of the lake, there was an island with many trees and many nuts; and one big tree was a very old oak tree. This tree was the home of an owl named Old Brown.
One day in Autumn, when all the nuts were perfectly delicious, and when the falling leaves were yellow and orange, all the squirrels came out of the forest, and they went to the edge of the lake. They made some little boats, and they went across the water to Owl Island to get some nuts.
Each squirrel took a little bag.They took a gift for Old Brown, and they asked him with very kind words, “May we get some nuts from your island, please?”
Twinkleberry and the others waited quietly for an answer. They were very polite. But Nutkin was not polite, and he was not so quiet. He sang a song and danced; and he laughed and played with Old Brown’s beard!
Old Brown did not like Nutkin, but the other squirrels were very kind, and he was happy with his gift. “Yes, you may have some nuts from my island,” he said. Nutkin continued to sing, but the other squirrels quickly filled their bags with delicious nuts, and they all got onto their boats and went home to the forest.
The next morning, the squirrels returned to the island with another gift. And again, they asked Old Brown with kind words, “May we please have some more nuts from your island?”
And again, while the other squirrels were polite and quietly waiting for Old Brown’s answer, Nutkin sang and danced, and he played with Old Brown’s beard again.
“You can fill your bags again with nuts from the island,” said Old Brown, and he quickly went inside his house and shut the door.
He did not want to spend another minute with Nutkin.Twinkleberry and the others quickly left to search the island and fill up their bags with all the biggest nuts; but Nutkin was bored, so he found some acorns and played a game of marbles! On the third day, the squirrels woke up early and went fishing.
They caught several fish because they needed another gift for Old Brown. After catching enough fish, they got onto their boats and went to the island again.Twinkleberry and the other squirrels carefully carried the fish, but Nutkin ran in front, dancing and singing loudly.
Old Brown was not happy to hear or see Nutkin again, but he took the fish, and the squirrels got more nuts.The next day, Twinkleberry and the other squirrels worked hard to find even better gifts for Old Brown.
They found some wild honey, and they got some tasty beetles and wrapped them in leaves. so sweet ! so crunchy ! Old Brown loved the honey, and he saved the beetles for another day.
Of course, he let the squirrels fill their bags with island nuts, even though Nutkin was terribly rude and annoying.While his friends were working so hard to find and collect delicious nuts, Nutkin continued dancing, singing, and playing.
He used an apple and some green pine cones to play a game of bowling.On the fifth day, for the last trip to the island, the squirrels brought Old Brown’s favorite food, a big white egg.
Old Brown was excited to see the big white egg, but Nutkin was excited too.He danced and sang more loudly than before, and after a minute of this, he was not being careful, and he kicked the owl’s head! Finally, Old Brown could not hide his anger and frustration anymore.
He screamed and kicked and jumped and screamed!
The squirrels were terribly frightened and ran away.
Poor Nutkin!
After a few minutes of quiet, the squirrels came back to Old Brown’s front door. They looked and saw Nutkin. Nutkin was not singing or dancing anymore; Old Brown was holding him with his right foot, and he was scared and crying.
“I think I’ll eat you now, and I’ll eat the egg tomorrow,” said Old Brown.The owl took Nutkin inside, and all the other squirrels were worried and scared, but Nutkin found a way out!
He used all his strength to kick and free himself, and he jumped out of the kitchen window.But Nutkin lost his tail in the fight with Old Brown, and he never danced or sang the same songs again.
And if you go to a forest in the lake district, and you see a squirrel with a short tail, you will know his name.
That is the end of the story.
Questions about the story:
1. Where did Nutkin and the other squirrels live?
A) In a forest near a big lake
B) On Owl Island
C) In Old Brown’s tree
D) On a tall mountain
2. Why did the squirrels go to Owl Island?
A) To play with Nutkin
B) To look for honey
C) To build tree houses
D) To collect delicious nuts
3. What kind of tree did Old Brown live in?
A) A pine tree
B) A maple tree
C) An oak tree
D) A cherry tree
4. How was Nutkin different from the other squirrels?
A) He was quiet and polite
B) He always followed the rules
C) He was rude and noisy
D) He never went to the island
5. What happened when Nutkin kicked Old Brown’s head?
A) Old Brown gave him more nuts
B) Old Brown smiled
C) Nutkin sang another song
D) Old Brown became very angry
6. How did Nutkin escape from Old Brown?
A) He used his strength and jumped out the window
B) Old Brown let him go
C) The squirrels helped him
D) He dug a tunnel
7. What happened to Nutkin at the end of the story?
A) He became Old Brown’s best friend
B) He grew a new tail
C) He built a house on the island
D) He lost his tail and never danced the same again
Answer Key:
1. Where did Nutkin and the other squirrels live?
A) In a forest near a big lake ✅
B) On Owl Island
C) In Old Brown’s tree
D) On a tall mountain
2. Why did the squirrels go to Owl Island?
A) To play with Nutkin
B) To look for honey
C) To build tree houses
D) To collect delicious nuts ✅
3. What kind of tree did Old Brown live in?
A) A pine tree
B) A maple tree
C) An oak tree ✅
D) A cherry tree
4. How was Nutkin different from the other squirrels?
A) He was quiet and polite
B) He always followed the rules
C) He was rude and noisy ✅
D) He never went to the island
5. What happened when Nutkin kicked Old Brown’s head?
A) Old Brown gave him more nuts
B) Old Brown smiled
C) Nutkin sang another song
D) Old Brown became very angry ✅
6. How did Nutkin escape from Old Brown?
A) He used his strength and jumped out the window ✅
B) Old Brown let him go
C) The squirrels helped him
D) He dug a tunnel
7. What happened to Nutkin at the end of the story?
A) He became Old Brown’s best friend
B) He grew a new tail
C) He built a house on the island
D) He lost his tail and never danced the same again ✅
Conversation Starters:
Working with a partner or small group, please discuss a few of these questions, and try to reference the content of the story as much as possible. Also, please try to use any grammar or vocabulary that you are studying recently, and take notes when you hear a new word or learn a new way to say something.
- Why do you think Nutkin behaved differently from the other squirrels?
- Was he brave, silly, or something else?
- Old Brown was very patient at first. What would you do if someone like Nutkin kept bothering you every day?
- If you lived near Owl Island, what kind of gift would you bring to Old Brown? Why?
- Nutkin lost his tail. Do you think he learned a lesson? What lesson could it be?
- Who do you think was the most clever character in the story? Explain why.
- Have you ever met someone who acted like Nutkin—funny but rude? What happened?
- In your culture, how important is it to be polite when asking for something? What do you usually say or do?
If you are completing these conversations for a class activity, please share your group’s most interesting ideas and opinions with the rest of the class.
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