A Dark, Dark Tale: questions to ask and activities to try
Once upon a time there was a dark, dark moor... A Dark, Dark Tale follows a black cat through a spooky house to a gentle surprise.
What age is A Dark, Dark Tale for?
A Dark, Dark Tale is best for ages 3–6.
Only £1.00A Dark, Dark Tale activity sheet3 printable pages: questions to talk about, a drawing and writing page, and notes for the grown-up. Instant PDF.
Just want the questions? Get the free question card ↓
Read it slowly and quietly, building suspense, then enjoy the surprise. Spooky-but-safe stories help children practise feeling a bit scared.
Is this book right for your child?
- Age
- 3–6 (nursery to Year 1)
- What they'll enjoy
- Once upon a time there was a dark, dark moor... A Dark, Dark Tale follows a black cat through a spooky house to a gentle surprise.
- Helps with
- A spooky story with a gentle surprise
- Buy or borrow?
- Borrow it from the library first if you can. If your child asks for it again and again, it’s one worth owning, and the questions and activities on this page work best with the book open next to you.
What it helps with
- Feeling a little bit scared safely
- Building suspense
- Repetition for early readers
- Spotting the cat
Comprehension and discussion questions for A Dark, Dark Tale
Pick two or three, not all of them. “I don’t know” is a fine answer, and you can always come back to it another day.
- “Where did the cat go?”
- “What did it find in the house?”
- “How did you feel as we read?”
- “What was in the box?”
- “Was it scary?”
- “What makes a story spooky?”
For the full list of questions and more, download the PDF below.
Print these questions: free question card for A Dark, Dark Tale
All 6 questions for A Dark, Dark Tale on one printable page, each marked with the reading skill it practises. Enter your email and download it straight away.
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5-minute activities to try together
Spot the cat
Find the black cat on every page.
Dark, dark story
Make up your own dark, dark story about your home with a funny ending.
A Dark, Dark Tale activity sheet: printable worksheet and questions
All the questions and activities above on a ready-to-print activity sheet: questions tagged by reading skill with space to answer, a drawing and writing page with a self-check, and notes for the adult with curriculum links and a 20-minute session plan. Pay by card, PayPal or Payhip and download straight away.
- Page 1, talk about it: questions about the story, each tagged with the reading skill it practises, with space to answer or tick
- Page 2, my favourite part: a drawing box, a sentence starter and a “how did I do?” self-check
- Page 3, notes for the adult: curriculum links, a 20-minute session plan, extension activities, and support and challenge ideas
- Read it togetherEnjoy the story first.
- Ask 2 or 3 questionsFrom the list above, while everyone is calm.
- Print the activity sheetAn activity sheet with questions, a drawing page and notes for you.
Halloween Reads bundleAll 15 activity sheets, this one includedThe 15 books:A Dark, Dark TaleAmara and the BatsBedtime for MonstersFunnybonesIt's Only StanleyMeg and MogPumpkin SoupRoom on the BroomSam Wu Is NOT Afraid of Ghosts!The DarkThe Jolley-Rogers and the Ghostly GalleonThe Owl Who Was Afraid of the DarkThe Worst WitchWe Planted a PumpkinWigglesbottom Primary: The Toilet Ghost£1.49 3 sheets for £2.50A Dark, Dark Tale + Amara and the Bats + Bedtime for MonstersThe 3 books:A Dark, Dark TaleAmara and the BatsBedtime for Monsters£2.50 Pick your own books: build a bundle with this one, up to 15% off →
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Use it as a lesson plan
Children can listen to A Dark, Dark Tale, answer questions about it and give a reason for their ideas, and talk about feeling a little bit scared safely.
A 20-minute session for ages 3–6 (nursery to Year 1), for a class, a small group or one child at home.
- Warm up (2 minutes). Show the cover and read the title. Ask: “What do you think this story will be about?”
- Read aloud (6 minutes). Read it all the way through. Tip: Read it slowly and quietly, building suspense, then enjoy the surprise. Spooky-but-safe stories help children practise feeling a bit scared.
- Talk about it (4 minutes). Pick two or three of the comprehension and discussion questions above. “Where did the cat go?” works well to start.
- Activity (6 minutes). Do Spot the cat. Find the black cat on every page. Children who finish early can try Dark, dark story.
- Wrap up (2 minutes). Ask each child for one thing they will remember from the story, and why.
Want to go further? The A Dark, Dark Tale activity sheet has these questions with space to answer, a drawing and writing page, and notes for the adult.
If your child liked this, try
Funnybones (Janet and Allan Ahlberg)
- Best for
- A funny-not-scary classic about skeletons
- Age
- 3-7
Orion and the Dark (Emma Yarlett)
- Best for
- Being scared of the dark, and making friends with it
- Age
- 3-7
Owl Babies (Martin Waddell and Patrick Benson)
- Best for
- Missing a parent, and trusting they'll come back
- Age
- 2-5
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By the Growing Wise team · Last reviewed: 10 October 2026
Growing Wise offers educational ideas for parents and carers. It is not a substitute for professional medical, developmental or mental-health advice. As an Amazon Associate, Growing Wise earns from qualifying purchases.