Free family resource · 15–20 minutes · Ages approximately 4–8, with adult support
Enjoy a short story, practice reading skills and make kindness part of the day. This original mini-story is a free activity, not an excerpt from a published Little Mike book. No purchase, account or child information is required.
1. Read together: Little Mike and the Helpful Leaf
Little Mike the Ant spotted a bright red leaf beside a garden path. His friend looked worried.
“I lost the leaf I was saving for my picture,” the friend said.
“Would you like help?” Little Mike asked.
They searched near the flowers, beside a tree and under a bench. At last they found a beautiful yellow leaf.
“Thank you for helping,” the friend said with a smile.
“Friends can solve a problem together,” Little Mike replied.
They carried the leaf back to the garden table and made a colorful picture. Little Mike learned that even a small act of kindness can make a big difference.
2. Ask and answer: Reading comprehension
- What did Little Mike find beside the path?
- Why was the friend worried?
- Name two places they searched.
- What did Little Mike do to help?
- How did the friends feel at the end?
Grown-up tip: Let children answer in their own words. For emerging readers, reread each question slowly and point to the relevant sentence.
3. Word hunt and sound play
Find these story words: leaf, help, friend, garden, smile. Clap the syllables in garden and colorful. Draw a picture of one of the words and label it.
4. Try a kindness challenge
Choose one small helpful action you can do today: put away shared toys, say “thank you,” invite someone to play or help a family member with a simple chore. Ask a grown-up before helping.
Talk together: “How did your action help someone? How did you feel afterward?”
5. Make your own ending
Draw or write two sentences about another kind thing Little Mike could do tomorrow. Younger children can tell the story aloud while a grown-up writes down their words. Older children can write a short paragraph with a beginning, middle and end.
Caregiver and educator notes
Learning goals: listening and vocabulary, sequencing, comprehension, early writing, empathy and cooperative problem-solving. For a shorter activity, read the story and answer the first two questions. For older readers, ask for evidence from the passage and a new ending.
Use your browser's Print command if you would like a paper copy. You may print this free activity for personal, family or classroom use. Do not reproduce official Little Mike character artwork or book interiors without permission.
Continue exploring Little Mike Learning Adventures, meet Little Mike's story or visit the official Little Mike education website. Adults can explore books and merchandise in the Little Mike Universe Shop.
Little Mike the Ant™ is part of the MEET3G family. Activities should be supervised and adapted by a parent, caregiver or educator; no personal information from children is requested.
Little Mike the Ant™ Companion Library
Read and print the free Helpful Leaf mini-book · Practice with 20 free printable flashcards · Use the daycare and preschool teaching kit · Read the official Learning & Kindness Blog announcement.
Video companion storyboard prepared; playable video not yet published or certified.
Read, Learn & Grow with Little Mike the Ant™
Enjoy the free Helpful Leaf mini-book and 20 printable learning and kindness cards. For families and educators who would like more adventures, these separately priced Little Mike the Ant™ products are available to adults in our shop.
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A Little Mike the Ant™ children's book.
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Little Mike the Ant™ Activity Box
Creative play and reading activities.
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The story and printable activity are free; the book and activity box are optional paid products. Shopping and all purchase information are intended for adults. Product availability and pricing may change.