Bani

Bani Herminder Ohri Taposhi Ghoshal

Bani by Herminder Ohri © Rajiv Gandhi Foundation – Pratham Books, 2007 First English Edition: 2007 Illustrations: Taposhi Ghoshal ISBN: XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX Registered Office: PRATHAM BOOKS 633-634, 4th “C” Main, 6th ‘B’ Cross, OMBR Layout, Banaswadi, Bangalore 560043 & 080-25429726 / 27 / 28 Regional Offices: Mumbai & 022-65162526 New Delhi & 011-65684113 Typsetting and Layout by: Pratham Books, Delhi Printed by: XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX Published by: Pratham Books www.prathambooks.org All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or distributed in any form or by any means, or stored in a database or retrieval system, without the prior written permission of the publisher.

Bani Written by

Herminder Ohri Illustrated by

Taposhi Ghoshal

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or. o d n e e th a gr i w e s u o oors. h d a d e n i r s d s an e live w h o S d . r n i u o w llow l of f e r i y g t e h l t g i t i r l ith b w l o Bani is a o h o a sc t s e o g Sh e

Bani loves her school. Along with lessons, she dances, sings and plays with her friends. 3

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One night, B ani wa s real her eyes to sle ly tired . As she closed ep, sh e felt herself out of the house, floating away, down the hi ll into a grove of trees.

Wake up ! Wake up Bani ! Bani woke up with a start. She saw many strange children with funny faces and hats standing in front of her. 5

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singing. n a g e b Th and i n a B e ch ildren made a ring around for nearly a year.” u o y r “W fo d e t i a elco me ! Welcome ! We have w “F n i. or a a B d e whole year !” whisper “Y es ! Yes !” they shouted.

h!” .” c p u e le s “O r , f u l yo se n r i e t h floa g n a n c hi .” c p “We know you e n ing.” e i h t l y s p n r i n ra ou y a o n i B d g n “May be si ai d ou . l s g c ” , n sa ,a sleep a y d t e o r n i th “But I am i. b ” , n p a a e B e sle r k d u i e o l y k n “Even fly i as fly ” , ? s e r he ng i w d w n a “Fly? How ike l t u so m r a r “Stretch you 7

Bani stretched

out h

They flew over

er a r

ms a

e

the f nd ores sh ta she saw hundr ew nd ds. n eds o e i as fr wh f li g w f e l ying with her n hts nB . an i lo oked down,

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llowed the ch ts. h g She fo i ildren d l the o w s n d r t a o w a w town al a . l m a de Bani s of giant mushrooms were green m There ushroom s, h i w t e , , w p o u l l r ple and ye red mushrooms. m u s h h c r a oo m w In e a s a h ou se.

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lew into one hou f i n se. Ba k e i l a s n a y othe se w u r ho o h e r e m w e u s s hroo use Th he floor mf , o f t t S e r . t t f h t o an an loor s u – b so y ca s s k i n p – e p r e d d o e chil and rpe s ran t. – Th e m h t u i s n h a r oo m gB n i tow w o h n. s

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“Come ! Le s. m t us oo eat,” r All Bani co h s said t u uld s . r m e he children togeth i ng “What funn ee wer k o e field y mu d lo d o f s o s a n d l d fie shro o. “Oh ! those o d oms,” d ar e l a l s a i d a addo Bani. Bani was su as o m w rpris u shrooms.” ed t om o There were r h o see th us yello m h c a a o. e t on top of w, g o t fis reen and white laddoos and bar

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t. h g u tho . e t h i ms te cious, s o a o r ush and doo–li s. e m o v l o e d w s lad ite lad he sa hem , e t n y o S u n ff Q gb d. w o . n e o s i l e l d k u n a r d o ro Bani b o...delici being c ere tu g up an w e in o... s s p m s e a a g m w It rn pa re ju e h e d h ear . T es we s k Bani h o bo ag e p k i e l s shaped s on the us.” ith ure g i w f e d h T rea e m co “Bani

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Bani went to the book mushrooms. The figures told her stories of kings, queens, fairies and brave warriors. She listened while eating mushroom chips. Soon she was very thirsty. The children took her to a stream of sparkling water. It was lemonade. The next stream was orange juice and another mango juice. Bani drank a little from all the streams. It was nice and cold.

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There was wonderful music coming from the music mushrooms. Bani found herself dancing with a little boy in a pointed hat and pointed shoes. “What is your name?” asked Bani. “I am Pointy,” said he. Even his face was pointed. Then Bani danced with a little girl who wore a heart-shaped hat and shoes to match her heart-shaped face. “I am Little Heart,” she sang. 15

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l the children. “I am l a h t i B an i sang and danced w No time ! Take a si tired,” said Ba n i, p of e! “Can m i t l emonade we rest?” “No er. t t e b .” t l e f B an i e h took a sip and s ” they said. , s n i a “Let t us fly to the moun made of cake, ice c ream They ns i a t n and cand flew past mou y.

in. a t m a c e y t o e n t h h t e u v ery last moun T he n s a toy mo a t a w i t n I . ad never seen so many toy h h i n a B s ! The children played wit y coloured magic balls tha brightl t bounced here a k i n m g e t h e children ju er and th mp. z i z h e d up to them a rs w nd took them for rides. Toy ca 17

There were magic jigsaw puzzles that spoke, “Put us together !” Coloured blocks shouted, “Build us up and you can knock us down.” Bani had a great time. Now it was time to go home. They all flew over the forest to Bani’s home.

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“Bye Bye Bani ! Come again !” The children flew back to mushroom town. 19

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Bani got into her bed and fell fast asleep. lovely dream, a n r i o n g h m s c h u e e s h t t d h a h n e h ought s I till she opened her hand and saw a .............. What do you think Bani saw in her hand? . about Bani. . . y t o ’ y u n o m r d a o t k y s e h e l t t y i l n o w u o r W

My name is Harnarayan and I really enjoy sports. I like people who invent new things. Comics are my favourite books. Thank you for buying this book. My friends and I will get to read many more books in our library because you bought this book.

hhh Herminder Ohri has been a professor of Zoology. She has always had an interest in painting and writing. Her grandsons have turned her into a popular author of children’s books.

hhh Taposhi Ghoshal graduated from the College of Art, New Delhi in 1989. She has illustrated several books for children as a freelance illustrator and designer. Presently she is working for many NGOs and leading publishing houses.

Bani can float in her sleep and reach the most amazing amusing places. Would you like to float along?

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Age Group : 7-10 years Bani (English) MRP: Rs. 25.00