My Shadow1 / 3

Part One · Robert Louis Stevenson

I have a little shadow that goes in and out with me, And what can be the use of him is more than I can see. He is very, very like me from the heels up to the head; And I see him jump before me, when I jump into my bed. The funniest thing about him is the way he likes to grow-- Not at all like proper children, which is always very slow; For he sometimes shoots up taller like an india-rubber ball, And he sometimes gets so little that there's none of him at all.

About My Shadow

A free Grade 4 story from the Peabody library, Level 9. It has 3 short pages and about 204 words, so it reads in a few minutes.

Words this story teaches

At reading level 9, Peabody's practice works on vocabulary, spelling; the level page says what is in each.

The short version

My Shadow is a short poem about a child and the shadow who follows along. It was written by Robert Louis Stevenson and printed in his book A Child's Garden of Verses in 1885.

Quick facts

Who wrote My Shadow?

My Shadow was written by Robert Louis Stevenson. It was printed in his book A Child's Garden of Verses in 1885.

To print it or save it as a PDF, tap the ⓘ button above the story, then “Print this story”.

More stories at Level 9

All the Level 9 stories, or the whole library.

For teachers: read it to the class, questions and key
Questions and answer key (5)
  1. What does the shadow do when the child jumps into bed?
    • A. It jumps before the child
    • B. It stays home
    • C. It falls asleep
    Show answerA. It jumps before the child
  2. Why does the child call the shadow a coward?
    • A. It sticks too close to the child
    • B. It runs far away
    • C. It is afraid of the dark
    Show answerA. It sticks too close to the child
  3. In this poem, what does "notion" mean?
    • A. A kind of ball
    • B. An idea
    • C. A morning meal
    Show answerB. An idea
  4. Which two words rhyme at the end of the first two lines?
    • A. me and see
    • B. out and about
    • C. go and slow
    Show answerA. me and see
  5. Where was the shadow in the early morning?
    • A. Up on the roof
    • B. Next to the child
    • C. Behind, fast asleep in bed
    Show answerC. Behind, fast asleep in bed

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