Ages 5–7ReadingReading

Bia and the Butterflies

This book belongs to:

Bia loved football more than anything. Every afternoon she played on the sandy pitch near her home in Salvador, Brazil. She was the goalkeeper for her team, the Blue Parrots.

On the day of the big match, Bia’s tummy felt full of butterflies. “What if I miss every ball?” she whispered to her coach, Tio Rafa.

Tio Rafa knelt down beside her. “Being nervous means you care,” he said. “Take three deep breaths, watch the ball and do your best. That is all we ask.”

The match began. The other team, the Green Turtles, were fast. Their striker kicked the ball hard towards the corner of the goal. Bia breathed in, kept her eyes on the ball… and jumped! She caught it with both hands. The crowd cheered, and Bia’s mum waved a blue flag.

At the end, the score was one goal each. Nobody won, but both teams shook hands and shared slices of watermelon under a big mango tree.

“You were brave today,” said Tio Rafa. Bia grinned. “My butterflies were still there,” she said. “But today they flew with me!”

The End

Questions about the story

Name:

Colour in the circle next to the right answer.

1What was Bia’s job on the team?
CoachStrikerGoalkeeper

This is a preview. Print it for the full page.

Print or play free — create account

No card needed.I already have an account

Read the story, then answer the questions.

Make a new version

Play Print

Write on it

About this activity

What your child practises

Skills: Short story with questions and Reading comprehension: stories.

Reading a short story for meaning and answering questions about what happened and why.

What’s included

3 story pages
4 questions
An answer key you can print with the sheet or on its own
An on-screen version with instant marking and stars

Age and school year

Made for ages 5–7. That’s Kindergarten – Grade 2 in the US, Year 1–3 in England, Nursery 2 – Primary 2 in Nigeria and UKG – Class 2 in India.

How to use it

Print it at home or school – it fits a standard A4 or US Letter page.
Print the answer key too, so marking takes seconds.
Play it on screen: answers are marked instantly and children earn stars.
Write on it on a tablet or touchscreen with a finger or stylus – no printer needed.

Tips for parents and teachers

Before reading, look at the title and ask “What do you think will happen?” – predicting builds comprehension.
Ask your child to point to the sentence that proves each answer; finding evidence is a key reading skill.
Pick a regular time – after a snack, say – so practice becomes a habit rather than a battle.

Good to know

Time needed: About 15–25 minutes
You’ll need: A printer (or a tablet to work on screen) and a pencil
Answer key: Yes – print it with the sheet or on its own

Learn the ideas behind it

More for this age

United States

England (UK)

Nigeria

India