Leo's Big Pumpkin

PicoBuddy1st GradeFiction1 min read222 words
Image for Leo's Big Pumpkin

It was Halloween night. Leo put on his bright green frog suit.

He had big yellow eyes on top of his hood. He hopped around the kitchen.

"Are you ready to go, my little frog?" Dad asked with a smile.

Leo nodded and grabbed his orange bucket. Before they left, they had one more job.

They walked out to the front porch. A round pumpkin sat on the wooden steps.

Dad had cut a funny face into it earlier that day. It had three teeth and triangle eyes.

Dad put a small battery light inside the pumpkin. Then he placed the lid back on top.

The pumpkin began to glow in the dark. It looked happy and warm.

Suddenly, a cold wind blew down the street. Red and brown leaves danced across the yard.

Tap, tap, tap! Something hit the bottom of the porch steps.

Leo froze and held Dad's hand tight. Was it a spooky ghost?

They looked down at the walk. A fat gray squirrel sat by the steps.

It was rolling a little acorn across the wood. Tap, tap, tap went the nut.

Leo started to laugh. "Happy Halloween, squirrel!" he said.

The squirrel twitched its bushy tail and ran up an oak tree.

Leo swung his orange bucket. Now he was ready to get some treats with Dad.

Glossary
porch:
A covered area with steps at the front entrance of a house.
glow:
To shine with a warm, steady light in the dark.
spooky:
Scary and strange in a way that might make you jump.
acorn:
A small, smooth nut that grows on an oak tree.
bushy:
Thick, fluffy, and full of fur.

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Preview questions from this passageShow
  1. 1What costume does Leo wear on Halloween night?
  2. 2Where does Leo hop around at the beginning of the story?

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About this fiction passage for 1st Grade

“Leo's Big Pumpkin” is a fiction reading passage about Halloween, written for 1st Grade. It takes about 1 minute to read (222 words) and comes with an interactive quiz and a printable worksheet with comprehension questions and an answer key.

Is this passage free?

Yes. With a free account, you can read “Leo's Big Pumpkin” online and download a printable PDF worksheet with comprehension questions and an answer key.

What reading level is “Leo's Big Pumpkin”?

It’s written for 1st Grade — a fiction text about Halloween, about a 1-minute read (222 words).

What’s included with this passage?

An illustrated reading passage, a glossary of key terms, comprehension questions with an answer key, and an interactive quiz.

Can I adapt it for my students?

Yes. Remix is included with Pro and Max for adapting it to another grade level or language.