Surprise Gifts -Making Someone feel Special

If someone asks me What will be the sweetest surprise for you? my reply will always be Receiving Gifts. It makes us feel special. And even more special when we receive surprise gifts from special ones. Gifting is always a self-fulfilling experience. This story Surprise Gifts written by Asha Nehemiah, illustrated by Sujata Bansal and published by CBT Publication gives us such an experience.

Surprise Gifts written by Asha Nehemiah

Synopsis:

Aunt Farida lives in a place which is far away from town and it will take two days for her to arrive at the nearest shop. She is not bothered about that because she learnt to create things with material found around her place. From furniture or shoes, clothes or bedsheets she made it on her own. She never minded about her creations, even if it's shabby or rocky.

One day she realises that her favorite niece Bina’s birthday is on next month and decides to send her a gift, not only for Bina but for the entire brother’s family. She carefully handcrafts gifts for all four, wraps them, sticks a name tag in every gift and packs it in a parcel. Due to more number of days in travel, the name tags on the gifts inside the parcel get removed. The gifts get mixed up! Which gifts are sent to whom and how they are used, is the rest of the story.

My thoughts :

This book is a great resource in classrooms to teach self-reliance. It is a very beautiful story of learning how nature and resources can be used wisely without affecting the environment. The story helps to learn not only that giving makes someone happy but also how giving to others is the greatest gift to oneself. Beautiful and expressive illustrations are apt for the story. So what is the best gift that you gave or have received?