The Cat Who Stole the List
Leo had a very funny problem on Christmas Eve. He had lost the family holiday list! His mother had asked him to guard the paper with his life. The long yellow paper listed all the fun games and holiday treats they needed to buy. Leo checked under the soft rug in the front hall. He looked inside his warm winter boots. He even checked behind the big green sofa cushions. All he found was an old peanut and a silver jingle bell.
Leo called his little sister, Maya, to help him solve the case. Maya loved to play detective. She put on a silly plaid holiday hat and took out a plastic magnifying glass. She said that every great mystery left a trail of clues. First, they looked under the tall pine tree in the corner. Next, they checked the kitchen counter near the gingerbread cookies. Maya pointed to the shiny wood floor and gasped. A trail of red ribbon led right down the dark hallway!
- guard:
- To watch over and protect something so it stays safe.
- cushions:
- Soft pads or pillows used on chairs and sofas to make sitting comfortable.
- detective:
- A person who looks for clues to solve a mystery or puzzle.
- clues:
- Hints or facts that help someone find an answer or solve a problem.
- traded:
- Gave something away in exchange for something else.
More sheets from this passage
Built from the text itself — answer key included where it counts.
fix the sentence
Sentences from the passage with the capitals and punctuation removed — rewrite each one correctly.
vocabulary worksheet
Match the passage words to their meanings, then fill the missing words back into real sentences.
writing prompts
Two writing tasks that build on the passage, with plenty of lines to write on.
- All 4 sheets as one workbookPro
One PDF with a cover, contents page and every answer key at the back.
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About this short story passage for 2nd Grade
“The Cat Who Stole the List” is a short story reading passage about Holiday Problem Solving, written for 2nd Grade. It takes about 2 minutes to read (256 words) and comes with an interactive quiz and a printable worksheet with comprehension questions and an answer key.