Our latest graded reader “Wall of Secrets” (Level 3 – A2/B1) is now available from Amazon and Kobo.
Joshua grew up believing that his father died in a boat accident. One day, he finds something in an old book which changes his life. It leads him to a woman who knew his father. Or did she? Who was his real father? Why won’t his mother tell him the truth? As Joshua tries to find out, the wall of secrets surrounding his father, and his own life, comes crashing down.
I went to a fireworks display over the weekend. There is a big lake in the middle of my city. Every summer, a fireworks display his held over the lake.
In summer, many cities in Japan hold fireworks displays. When I first came to Japan, this was unusual for me. In the UK, we have fireworks displays on 5th November, when it is cold. But in Japan, fireworks are associated with summer.
There were many stalls selling food and drinks around the lake. There were also many people! Luckily my friend and I found a good spot to watch the fireworks from. Here are some photos I took.
A short story for learners of English! The text is below!
Text:
Candice was an artist. She liked to paint pictures. She sent her paintings to an art shop. Sometimes people bought them, but Candice did not get a lot of money.
Candice saved all her money and bought a house. She was very pleased. It was small and old, but it was cheap. Candice planted roses in the garden. She painted the walls of the house and made new curtains.
For a few months it was perfect. But when winter came, it rained and rained. Water came through the roof. There was water on the floor. Her bed was wet.
Candice called a builder. He came and looked at the house. “You need a new roof,” he said.
“How much will a new roof cost?” asked Candice.
“Maybe $20,000 or $30,000,” said the builder.
“Oh no!” Candice was very worried. “I don’t have the money.”
“I’m sorry,” said the builder. “I can’t help you.” The builder went away.
The house was very cold and wet. Candice put buckets and pots under the places where the rain was coming into the house. It was very difficult.
One morning when Candice woke up, there was a cat sitting on the table in the kitchen. The cat was black.
Where did the cat come from? Candice thought. I never saw that cat before.
Candice put some milk in a bowl for the cat. She put some small pieces of meat on a plate for the cat. But the cat didn’t eat anything. It sat on the table and looked at her.
This cat is very strange, thought Candice. Who does this cat belong to?
Candice called her neighbour. “Hi,” said Candice. “There is a cat in my kitchen. I never saw it before. Do you know someone who owns a black cat?”
“No,” said her neighbour.
“Oh,” said Candice. “I wonder where it came from. It doesn’t want to eat. It just looks at me.”
“I wonder…” said her neighbour slowly. “I think you should talk to the woman who owned your house before. Her name is Mrs Watkins. I will give you her telephone number.”
Candice called Mrs Watkins. “You don’t know me,” she said. “But I bought your house.”
“Yes,” said Mrs Watkins. “Is there a problem?”
Candice didn’t want to tell Mrs Watkins about the holes in the roof. But she said, “There is a cat in the kitchen. I found it this morning. It doesn’t want to eat. It doesn’t move or make any noise. It just looks at me. I think it is very strange.”
Mrs Watkins said, “I know about that cat. I saw it sometimes.”
“Does it mean bad luck?” asked Candice.
“Oh no!” Mrs Watkins laughed. “It means the cat likes you. It is good luck to see that cat.”
“Thank you,” said Candice.
“You’re welcome,” said Mrs Watkins. “Don’t worry. The cat looks after the house. The cat likes you. Something good is going to happen.”
Candice made a cup of tea and went to sit in her living room.
I need something good to happen, thought Candice. The roof has holes in it. There is water in the house. The carpets are wet. The floor is wet. I have buckets and pots all over the floor. They are full of water.
Just then the phone rang.
Candice answered the phone. “Hello,” she said.
It was the owner of the art shop. He was very excited. “Good news!” he said. “They have built a big new hotel near here. The decorator for the hotel came to the shop this morning. He likes your pictures. He bought all your paintings I had in the shop! He wants more. He wants to put one of your paintings in every bedroom!”
Candice could not believe the news. When she finished talking to the owner of the art shop, she went to the kitchen.
I must thank the cat, she thought. But the cat was gone.
A Level 1 graded reader from I Talk You Talk Press.
Janet is working alone one night. She hears a noise. What is it? Is someone else in the office? She looks around the office, but no one is there. Then, she receives some strange emails…Someone is watching her. Who is it? What do they want?
Suzie and Chantelle go to a Halloween party. After the party, they find a taxi to take them home, but the taxi driver doesn’t plan to take them home…
He drives faster and faster.
“Stop! Stop! You are going to kill us!” shout the girls, but the taxi driver does not stop…Can the girls escape before it is too late?
Enjoy these stories plus three more of mysterious visitors, danger and romance!
Candice was an artist. She liked to paint pictures. She sent her paintings to an art shop. Sometimes people bought them, but Candice did not get a lot of money.
Candice saved all her money and bought a house. She was very pleased. It was small and old, but it was cheap. Candice planted roses in the garden. She painted the walls of the house and made new curtains.
For a few months it was perfect. But when winter came, it rained and rained. Water came through the roof. There was water on the floor. Her bed was wet.
Candice called a builder. He came and looked at the house. “You need a new roof,” he said.
“How much will a new roof cost?” asked Candice.
“Maybe $20,000 or $30,000,” said the builder.
“Oh no!” Candice was very worried. “I don’t have the money.”
“I’m sorry,” said the builder. “I can’t help you.” The builder went away.
The house was very cold and wet. Candice put buckets and pots under the places where the rain was coming into the house. It was very difficult.
One morning when Candice woke up, there was a cat sitting on the table in the kitchen. The cat was black.
Where did the cat come from? Candice thought. I never saw that cat before.
Candice put some milk in a bowl for the cat. She put some small pieces of meat on a plate for the cat. But the cat didn’t eat anything. It sat on the table and looked at her.
This cat is very strange, thought Candice. Who does this cat belong to?
Candice called her neighbour. “Hi,” said Candice. “There is a cat in my kitchen. I never saw it before. Do you know someone who owns a black cat?”
“No,” said her neighbour.
“Oh,” said Candice. “I wonder where it came from. It doesn’t want to eat. It just looks at me.”
“I wonder…” said her neighbour slowly. “I think you should talk to the woman who owned your house before. Her name is Mrs Watkins. I will give you her telephone number.”
Candice called Mrs Watkins. “You don’t know me,” she said. “But I bought your house.”
“Yes,” said Mrs Watkins. “Is there a problem?”
Candice didn’t want to tell Mrs Watkins about the holes in the roof. But she said, “There is a cat in the kitchen. I found it this morning. It doesn’t want to eat. It doesn’t move or make any noise. It just looks at me. I think it is very strange.”
Mrs Watkins said, “I know about that cat. I saw it sometimes.”
“Does it mean bad luck?” asked Candice.
“Oh no!” Mrs Watkins laughed. “It means the cat likes you. It is good luck to see that cat.”
“Thank you,” said Candice.
“You’re welcome,” said Mrs Watkins. “Don’t worry. The cat looks after the house. The cat likes you. Something good is going to happen.”
Candice made a cup of tea and went to sit in her living room.
I need something good to happen, thought Candice. The roof has holes in it. There is water in the house. The carpets are wet. The floor is wet. I have buckets and pots all over the floor. They are full of water.
Just then the phone rang.
Candice answered the phone. “Hello,” she said.
It was the owner of the art shop. He was very excited. “Good news!” he said. “They have built a big new hotel near here. The decorator for the hotel came to the shop this morning. He likes your pictures. He bought all your paintings I had in the shop! He wants more. He wants to put one of your paintings in every bedroom!”
Candice could not believe the news. When she finished talking to the owner of the art shop, she went to the kitchen.
I must thank the cat, she thought. But the cat was gone.
A short story for learners of English! See below for the text.
Toby loved his grandfather very much. When he was young, his parents took him to see his grandfather every Sunday.
His grandfather’s name was Josiah. He lived in a retirement village with many other older people. Josiah couldn’t walk. He had a wheelchair. His legs were very bad and he was always in pain, but he was a very cheerful man.
Toby helped his father push the wheelchair. They would walk from the retirement home to a café. They would have afternoon tea together. Josiah told Toby many stories about his life. Josiah’s life was very interesting. He had had many adventures in different countries. Every Sunday, when they left Josiah at the retirement home, Josiah said to Toby. “I don’t have money to buy you presents now, but when I die, you will be very rich.”
Toby’s parent’s died in a car crash when Toby was only 18 years old. Toby went to university. He was very busy but he always went to see Josiah on Sundays.
One Sunday, Toby was very worried and nervous. He pushed his grandfather’s wheelchair to the café and they ordered tea and cakes.
“What’s wrong?” Josiah asked Toby. “You look worried.”
“I don’t know what to do,” answered Toby. “I have a chance to go to Japan. I have a scholarship. But I must go for one year. It is a very long time. I won’t see you. You will be lonely and I will miss you.”
“You must go,” said his grandfather. “It is your life and you must have your own adventures. I have my friends at the retirement home and you can call me and write to me, I will be OK. Go to Japan!”
Toby was very happy in Japan, but he missed his grandfather, and he worried about him. Then one day, he got a telephone call from the retirement home.
“I am very sorry,” said the manager from the retirement home. “Your grandfather died last night.”
Toby was very sad. He took and plane and traveled back home. He went to the retirement home. There were many things to do. He talked to his grandfather’s lawyer. The lawyer said, “Don’t worry about money. There is enough money in the bank to pay for your grandfather’s funeral. Everything will be OK.”
“Thank you,” said Toby. But Toby was surprised.
My grandfather always said I would be rich when he died. I don’t mind about the money. I have enough for my life. But why did he say I would be rich? There is only a little money in the bank.
Toby was very sad at his grandfather’s funeral, but it was very nice. Many of Josiah’s old friends were there. They talked about his life. “He was a very interesting man,” they said. “He travelled and did exciting things. He was also a man with many secrets.”
After the funeral, the manager of the retirement home said, “Toby. You must come to the retirement home. You must take your grandfather’s things from his room. It must be empty because someone new will come here and use that room.”
Toby went to empty Josiah’s room. A kind nurse helped him. They put Josiah’s clothes into boxes to go to the charity shop. Toby chose some books he wanted to keep. They gave other books to Josiah’s friends. The last thing to do was to empty the drawers of the desk. Toby opened the top drawer. Inside were all the letters he had written to his grandfather from Japan. Josiah had kept them all. Toby felt very sad. Then he saw an envelope. It had his name on it. He opened the envelope. Inside was a small piece of paper. It had a postage stamp on it and there were a few words. When you see this, I will be dead. Sell the stamp, it will make you rich,
Love Josiah
The stamp was very old and very rare. Toby sold the stamp for a lot of money.
He thought, I am rich, but I would rather have my grandfather than all this money.
Toby loved his grandfather very much. When he was young, his parents took him to see his grandfather every Sunday.
His grandfather’s name was Josiah. He lived in a retirement village with many other older people. Josiah couldn’t walk. He had a wheelchair. His legs were very bad and he was always in pain, but he was a very cheerful man.
Toby helped his father push the wheelchair. They would walk from the retirement home to a café. They would have afternoon tea together. Josiah told Toby many stories about his life. Josiah’s life was very interesting. He had had many adventures in different countries. Every Sunday, when they left Josiah at the retirement home, Josiah said to Toby. “I don’t have money to buy you presents now, but when I die, you will be very rich.”
Toby’s parent’s died in a car crash when Toby was only 18 years old. Toby went to university. He was very busy but he always went to see Josiah on Sundays.
One Sunday, Toby was very worried and nervous. He pushed his grandfather’s wheelchair to the café and they ordered tea and cakes.
“What’s wrong?” Josiah asked Toby. “You look worried.”
“I don’t know what to do,” answered Toby. “I have a chance to go to Japan. I have a scholarship. But I must go for one year. It is a very long time. I won’t see you. You will be lonely and I will miss you.”
“You must go,” said his grandfather. “It is your life and you must have your own adventures. I have my friends at the retirement home and you can call me and write to me, I will be OK. Go to Japan!”
Toby was very happy in Japan, but he missed his grandfather, and he worried about him. Then one day, he got a telephone call from the retirement home.
“I am very sorry,” said the manager from the retirement home. “Your grandfather died last night.”
Toby was very sad. He took and plane and traveled back home. He went to the retirement home. There were many things to do. He talked to his grandfather’s lawyer. The lawyer said, “Don’t worry about money. There is enough money in the bank to pay for your grandfather’s funeral. Everything will be OK.”
“Thank you,” said Toby. But Toby was surprised.
My grandfather always said I would be rich when he died. I don’t mind about the money. I have enough for my life. But why did he say I would be rich? There is only a little money in the bank.
Toby was very sad at his grandfather’s funeral, but it was very nice. Many of Josiah’s old friends were there. They talked about his life. “He was a very interesting man,” they said. “He travelled and did exciting things. He was also a man with many secrets.”
After the funeral, the manager of the retirement home said, “Toby. You must come to the retirement home. You must take your grandfather’s things from his room. It must be empty because someone new will come here and use that room.”
Toby went to empty Josiah’s room. A kind nurse helped him. They put Josiah’s clothes into boxes to go to the charity shop. Toby chose some books he wanted to keep. They gave other books to Josiah’s friends. The last thing to do was to empty the drawers of the desk. Toby opened the top drawer. Inside were all the letters he had written to his grandfather from Japan. Josiah had kept them all. Toby felt very sad. Then he saw an envelope. It had his name on it. He opened the envelope. Inside was a small piece of paper. It had a postage stamp on it and there were a few words. When you see this, I will be dead. Sell the stamp, it will make you rich,
Love Josiah
The stamp was very old and very rare. Toby sold the stamp for a lot of money.
He thought, I am rich, but I would rather have my grandfather than all this money.
Last week, I went on a business trip. I went to Kyoto. It took four hours to travel from my city to Kyoto. I went by train. I was tired when I arrived.
I stayed at a hotel near Kyoto Station. The hotel had a tower on top of it. I had some free time, so I went to the top of the tower. The views were amazing.
The next day, I went to a university. I attended a conference for English teachers. I had a table at the conference. I introduced my graded readers for learners of English.
It was a long day. I arrived at the university at 8:00am and left at 6:00pm. I spoke to many English teachers about graded readers and their English classes.
At night, I went out for dinner. I had tofu and tempura and other food. It was good.
The next day, I went to the university at 8:00am. I decided to give away all of my graded readers. I had about 50 books. Many teachers wanted a book for their university library. By 1:00pm, all my books had gone. I left the university at about 2:30pm.
I got the train back to my city. I arrived home at 9:00pm. I was very tired, but very satisfied. It was a good conference, and I could talk to many teachers. I hope the teachers and their students enjoy my graded readers.
By Heather @ I Talk You Talk Press
Our new level 1 graded reader Around Town is now available!
Glasstown is a small town in the north of England. Read five stories about life in Glasstown.
Terry owns a restaurant. Tonight he plans to cook a meal for some very important people. But he has a big problem in the kitchen! Will anyone help him?
Fred is 81 years old. Every Thursday, he goes shopping and to the library. One Thursday there is a big crisis in the library. Is the trouble connected to Fred?
Dave owns a jewellery shop. When robbers come to his shop, he is lucky. A famous local customer helps to save Dave and the jewellery.
Enjoy these stories and two more from Glasstown!
Our new level 3 graded reader “Travellers’ Tales” is now available!
Travelling is exciting. We can see new places, try new food, and meet new people. But sometimes, unexpected things happen.
There are five stories about travelling in this book. Fernanda is travelling in the UK. She has a bad experience with a bus company, but luckily someone helps her, and she makes some new friends.
Justin is backpacking around Japan. He is lonely, but one night in Kyoto, an unexpected meeting changes his life.
Laura and Greg are enjoying their honeymoon in Italy, when an unlucky encounter means they lose their bags and all their money. Will they be able to solve their problems? Can they find someone to help them?
Enjoy these stories and two more in Travellers’ Tales!
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