Carnival: A Colorful Love Story with a Surprise

Introduction

Carnival is a short and fun book from Penguin Readers. It is written by Annette Keen and is part of the Easystarts level. This level is perfect for CEFR A1 students. The book uses simple English and tells an exciting story. It is about a boy named Jake and a beautiful girl at the carnival. But the story has a big surprise at the end!

Who is Jake?

Jake is a young boy. He is kind, curious, and likes taking photos. One day, Jake gets a job. He must take pictures of tourists with a special camera. He works in a place where many people come to have fun and see the carnival.

What is the Carnival?

The carnival is a big, happy event. People wear costumes and dance in the streets. There is music, food, colors, and fun everywhere. It is the perfect place for taking pictures. Jake is very excited. He wants to take great photos of the people and the parade.

Jake Sees a Girl

While working, Jake sees a girl in a beautiful carnival costume. Her name is Maria. She looks very pretty. Jake feels something special. He thinks, “Wow, I love this girl!” He wants to take her picture. But Maria is on a float, and it is moving fast.

Jake starts to run. He runs through the crowd. He wants to find Maria and take her photo. It is difficult because there are many people. But Jake does not stop. He wants to see Maria again.

The Big Surprise

Jake finally finds Maria. He is very happy. But something strange happens. They go to the police station. There, Jake learns something very surprising. Maria is not only a beautiful girl. She is also a policewoman!

She should not be at the carnival. She was supposed to be at the doctor’s. This is a big surprise for Jake. He did not know she was a police officer. But even with the surprise, Jake is still happy. He had a big adventure. He met someone special. And he learned something new.

Why is Carnival a Good Book?

There are many reasons why A1 learners should read this book:

1. Simple English – The story uses easy words and short sentences.
2. Fun Story – The carnival setting is full of color and life.
3. Surprise Ending – The ending makes the story more interesting.
4. Short Book – You can finish it quickly and enjoy it.

What Can You Learn from This Book?

Carnival is good for learning English. Here are some things you can learn:

• New Vocabulary – Words about people, festivals, and the police.
• Sentence Structure – How to make simple, clear sentences.
• Everyday English – The language people use in normal life.
• Feelings and Emotions – Love, surprise, excitement, and fun.

Practice Ideas

After reading the book, you can:

• Write a short story about your own carnival.
• Talk with a friend about the surprise ending.
• Draw a picture of Jake and Maria at the carnival.
• Make a list of new words from the book.

Conclusion

Carnival by Annette Keen is a sweet and surprising story. It is great for beginner English learners. The story is simple but fun. It is about love, surprise, and adventure. Jake’s day at the carnival changes his life. And maybe, reading this book will help change your English too.

Happy reading!

Annette Keen Winner of the Yeovil Literary Prize, Annette has been writing books from the age of 8, from short stories to educational & EFL to full novels 

Annette Keen: From Daydreams to Paperbacks — The Many Lives of a Passionate Writer

A Lifelong Love Affair with Words

Annette Keen’s journey as a writer began in childhood, with stories scrawled by hand and stapled together with the determination of a budding author. Though those early tales never left the exercise book pages, the seed of storytelling had been planted. For the next thirty years, Annette continued to write — silently and invisibly — in her mind. It wasn’t until the word processor arrived in her life that the daydreams she had long nurtured finally found their way onto the page.

Her rediscovery of writing was not just a return to childhood joy, but the start of a lifelong creative adventure. The machine that many saw as just another tool became, for her, a partner in creativity — one that launched her into the demanding but thrilling world of short stories. It was a form she grew to respect deeply, even as she mastered it through hard-earned experience, writing courses, and early recognition. Her very first serious short story won a competition, setting the tone for what would be an impressive career.

Short Stories, Long Impact

Short fiction can often be underestimated, but not by Annette. She embraced the form with discipline and enthusiasm. Over the years, her short stories have been featured in magazines and anthologies, each one a testament to her ability to create complete emotional and narrative experiences in a limited space.

Through these short pieces, Annette honed her skills in character development, pacing, and dialogue — all crucial tools that would later serve her as she ventured into the world of novels. But even in these smaller narratives, her voice was unmistakable: witty, observant, and deeply human.

Novels and New Beginnings

In 2008, Annette’s lifelong dream to become a novelist was realized when her debut novel The Generation Club won the prestigious Yeovil Literary Prize. This accolade didn’t just mark a personal milestone — it validated the voice of a writer who had spent decades crafting her narrative style in private.

Encouraged by this success, she went on to self-publish two more novels: Distant Cousins and Finding Bella. Each book reflects her gift for storytelling, her fascination with relationships, and her gentle humor. With vibrant characters and compelling plots, these novels have helped her connect with readers who appreciate her authenticity and warmth.

Her journey from unpublished dreamer to award-winning author is a testament to perseverance and passion. More importantly, it shows that it’s never too late to let the stories inside you come to life.

A Voice for Language Learners

Annette’s talents extend beyond original fiction. As a freelance writer for Penguin Longman, she contributed to their English Language Learner series, adapting more than a dozen novels and film tie-ins. These adaptations required not just an understanding of narrative, but a sensitivity to the needs of learners — making complex stories accessible without losing their emotional depth.

Two of her adapted works, The Kalahari Typing School for Men (2010) and The Cellist of Sarajevo (2014), were finalists in the Language Learners Literature Awards — prestigious honors in the field of ELT publishing. These adaptations are a testament to her ability to balance literary fidelity with educational clarity.

Lyrics, Jazz, and Creative Flow

Writing has never been Annette’s only passion. She is also deeply involved in the world of jazz — not just as a fan, but as a promoter and booking agent. For over twenty years, she has brought more than 200 jazz gigs to life in her hometown, enriching the cultural scene and connecting audiences with incredible music.

Her creative energy also finds expression in songwriting. She has written lyrics for songs that have been recorded by professional jazz singers and featured on critically acclaimed jazz albums. This lyrical work demonstrates her versatility — the ability to distill emotion and story into a few perfect lines.

Jazz, with its improvisational freedom and emotional honesty, mirrors Annette’s own approach to storytelling: fluid, expressive, and rooted in human experience.

A Creative Life Beyond the Page

Annette’s artistic talents don’t end with writing and music. In her spare time, she creates patchwork quilts and designs theatre costumes — crafts that require both patience and vision. These tactile, hands-on activities provide a counterbalance to the cerebral work of writing, allowing her creativity to flourish in new forms.

Her commitment to wellness and self-expression is also seen in her love of yoga and ballroom dancing, which provide both physical activity and joyful movement — and, no doubt, more than a few inspirations for future stories.

Inspiration by the Sea

Annette lives by the sea, and her daily walks along the coast are a vital part of her creative process. With the waves as her soundtrack and the horizon as her muse, she works out plot twists, develops characters, and lets the rhythm of the sea guide her thoughts. This natural setting — tranquil yet ever-changing — echoes the nature of her stories: reflective, dynamic, and always grounded in real emotion.

Her description of “plodding along, gazing out to sea and muttering to myself” is more than a charming image; it’s a portrait of a writer in her element, weaving the world around her into narratives that resonate with truth and tenderness.

Final Thoughts: A Storyteller’s Legacy

Annette Keen’s writing life is not defined by fame or flash, but by dedication, curiosity, and a deep love of story. She embodies the spirit of a true writer — someone who writes because they must, because the stories inside them are too strong to ignore.

From the first stapled pages of childhood to award-winning novels and language learner adaptations, from jazz lyrics to local theatre costumes, Annette’s creative life is rich and varied. It is an inspiration to anyone who has ever dreamed of telling stories — whether aloud, on paper, or in song.

Her work proves that creativity knows no bounds, and that with persistence, heart, and a bit of muttering by the sea, a lifelong dream can become a beautiful reality.