A Sunny Morning
The morning sun peeped through the window.
“Sasha, Sasha, it’s getting late, dear.”
Mother called Sasha in a soft voice.
She was half asleep.
“Oh, Amma, let me sleep a little longer.”
“No dear, it’s already late.” Mother came in and gently patted her.
Sasha got out of bed, rubbing her eyes.
“What’s that smell? Lovely!” She took a deep breath.
She rushed to the kitchen. Mother followed her.
Questions
- Who peeped through the window in the morning?
The morning sun peeped through the window. - Who called Sasha?
Mother called Sasha. - How did Mother call Sasha?
Mother called Sasha in a soft voice. - How was Sasha when Mother called her?
Sasha was half asleep. - What did Sasha say to her mother?
Sasha said, “Oh, Amma, let me sleep a little longer.” - Why did Mother wake up Sasha?
Mother woke up Sasha because it was already late. - How did Mother wake Sasha up?
Mother came in and gently patted her. - What did Sasha do after waking up?
Sasha got out of bed, rubbing her eyes. - What did Sasha smell?
Sasha smelled something lovely.
Sasha’s Favourite Snack
Father was busy in the kitchen.
“Sasha, your favourite snack is ready.” He said.
“Amma, shall I take some of it to school?” Sasha asked.
“Sure dear, go and get ready.” Mother said.
She went to the washroom, humming a tune.
“Sasha, aren’t you ready yet?” It was Naveen, her friend.
He was waiting at the gate.
“Just five minutes!” Sasha hurried up.
Questions
- Where was Father busy?
Father was busy in the kitchen. - What did Father say to Sasha?
Father said, “Sasha, your favourite snack is ready.” - What did Sasha ask Amma?
Sasha asked, “Amma, shall I take some of it to school?” - What was Amma’s reply to Sasha?
Amma replied, “Sure dear, go and get ready.” - Where did Sasha go after talking to Amma?
Sasha went to the washroom, humming a tune. - Who called Sasha while she was getting ready?
Naveen, her friend, called Sasha. - Where was Naveen waiting?
Naveen was waiting at the gate. - What did Naveen ask Sasha?
Naveen asked, “Sasha, aren’t you ready yet?” - What was Sasha’s reply to Naveen?
Sasha replied, “Just five minutes!” - What did Sasha do after replying to Naveen?
Sasha hurried up.
The Surprise
Sasha and Naveen reached school just before the bell rang.
“It smells nice! What’s in your bag?” Naveen asked.
“It’s a surprise! Wait for a while.”
Sasha took out the tiffin box and opened it.
“Wow! Unniyappam!” Naveen exclaimed.
All the children rushed towards Sasha.
“Wait, don’t rush. There’s enough for everyone.” Naveen said.
At that moment, someone appeared at the window
“Hey, who is that?” Sasha asked.
Questions
- When did Sasha and Naveen reach school?
Sasha and Naveen reached school just before the bell rang. - What did Naveen say when he smelled something nice?
Naveen asked, “What’s in your bag?” - What was Sasha’s reply to Naveen’s question?
Sasha replied, “It’s a surprise! Wait for a while.” - What did Sasha take out of her bag?
Sasha took out the tiffin box. - What was inside Sasha’s tiffin box?
Sasha’s tiffin box contained Unniyappam. - What did Naveen exclaim when he saw the Unniyappam?
Naveen exclaimed, “Wow! Unniyappam!” - What did the children do when they saw the Unniyappam?
The children rushed towards Sasha. - What did Naveen say to the children?
Naveen said, “Wait, don’t rush. There’s enough for everyone.” - Who appeared at the window?
Someone appeared at the window. - What did Sasha ask when she saw someone at the window?
Sasha asked who that was.
A Girl at the Window
Naveen looked at the window and saw a girl.
“I have seen her somewhere,” he said.
The girl was looking at them curiously.
Her messy hair was swinging in the wind. She looked very tired.
Sasha went to the window. She offered an unniyappam to the girl.
But the girl ran away without taking it.
Sasha’s eyes followed the girl.
But the girl disappeared behind the bushes.
“Where does she live?” Sasha asked Naveen, who was enjoying
a big bite of unniyappam.
“I don’t know,” he said.
“Poor girl! Her clothes are torn.” Sasha said.
Questions
- Who did Naveen see at the window?
Naveen saw a girl at the window. - What did Naveen feel about the girl?
Naveen felt that he had seen the girl somewhere before. - How was the girl looking at them?
The girl was looking at them curiously. - What was unusual about the girl’s hair?
The girl’s messy hair was swinging in the wind. - How did the girl appear?
The girl appeared very tired. - What did Sasha do when she saw the girl?
Sasha went to the window and offered an Unniyappam to the girl. - What was the girl’s response to Sasha’s offer?
The girl ran away without taking the snack. - What did Sasha notice when the girl ran away?
Sasha’s eyes followed the girl, but she disappeared behind the bushes. - What did Sasha ask Naveen while he was eating?
Sasha asked Naveen where the girl lived. - How did Naveen respond to Sasha’s question?
Naveen said that he did not know where the girl lived.
The Girl Comes Again
“The best of friends
Can change a frown
Into a smile
When you feel down.”
Ms. Anupama, their teacher, was singing a song in the class.
Suddenly Sasha saw the girl again at the door.
“Poor girl… I think she wants to come in,” Sasha murmured.
“Listen,” said the teacher.
Hearing the teacher’s voice, the girl ran away.
Questions
- What was Ms. Anupama doing in the class?
Ms. Anupama was singing a song for the students. - What did the song describe about friendship?
The song described how true friends could turn sadness into happiness. - Where did Sasha see the girl again?
Sasha noticed the girl standing at the door. - What did Sasha feel about the girl?
Sasha thought the girl wanted to come inside. - What did Sasha say when she saw the girl?
Sasha murmured her thoughts about the girl’s wish to enter. - What did the teacher say to the class?
The teacher asked the students to listen. - What happened when the teacher spoke?
The girl ran away as soon as she heard the teacher’s voice. - How did the girl react to the situation?
The girl quickly fled after hearing the teacher.
A Lullaby
After school, Sasha and Naveen were walking home. On the way,
they heard someone singing a song.
The best of friends
Will understand
Your little trials
And lend a hand.
“Naveen, do you hear the song?” Sasha asked.
“That’s the song our teacher taught us today!” Naveen replied.
“But who’s singing?”
“Come, let’s find out.”
Questions
- What were Sasha and Naveen doing after school?
Sasha and Naveen were walking home after school. - What did they hear on their way home?
They heard someone singing a song. - What did the song describe about friendship?
The song described how true friends understand challenges and offer help. - What did Sasha ask Naveen about the song?
Sasha asked Naveen if he could hear the song. - What did Naveen say about the song?
Naveen said that it was the song their teacher had taught them earlier that day. - What did Sasha wonder about the song?
Sasha wondered who was singing the song. - What did Naveen suggest they do?
Naveen suggested that they find out who was singing. - What was Sasha and Naveen’s reaction to hearing the song?
They decided to investigate and discover the singer.
A Pleasant Surprise
Sasha and Naveen spotted the girl near a tree.
She was cradling her little brother, singing the song.
“How quickly has she learnt the song!” Naveen whispered to Sasha.
The girl saw them and smiled.
She tried to comb her dry hair with her fingers.
“You sing beautifully!” Naveen appreciated her.
Sasha wanted to give the girl a gift.
Questions
- Where did Sasha and Naveen spot the girl?
Sasha and Naveen spotted the girl near a tree. - What was the girl doing near the tree?
The girl was cradling her little brother and singing the song. - What did Naveen whisper to Sasha about the girl?
Naveen whispered to Sasha that the girl had quickly learned the song. - How did the girl react when she saw Sasha and Naveen?
The girl smiled when she saw them. - What did the girl try to do with her hair?
The girl tried to comb her dry hair with her fingers. - What did Naveen say to the girl about her singing?
Naveen appreciated the girl by saying she sang beautifully. - What did Sasha want to do for the girl?
Sasha wanted to give the girl a gift. - Who was the girl holding while singing?
The girl was holding her little brother while singing.
The Gift
Sasha opened her bag and took out a book.
It was a picture story book.
“Here’s a gift for you,”
Sasha handed it over to her.
The girl wiped her hands on her skirt.
She received the book with a smile.
“Kabitha, who is there?” Her mother called out.
“Let’s go,” Naveen hurried, hearing the voice.
“We should tell Anu teacher about Kabitha.
I think she will help her,” Sasha suggested.
Questions
- What did Sasha take out of her bag?
Sasha took out a picture storybook from her bag. - What did Sasha do with the book?
Sasha handed the book to the girl as a gift. - How did the girl prepare to receive the book?
The girl wiped her hands on her skirt before taking the book. - How did the girl react to receiving the book?
The girl received the book with a smile. - What did the girl’s mother call out?
The girl’s mother called out, asking, “Kabitha, who is there?” - What was Naveen’s reaction to hearing the mother’s voice?
Naveen hurriedly suggested that they leave. - What did Sasha propose to do about Kabitha?
Sasha suggested telling Anu teacher about Kabitha. - Why did Sasha want to inform Anu teacher about Kabitha?
Sasha believed that Anu teacher would help Kabitha. - What was the name of the girl?
The girl’s name was Kabitha. - What did Sasha give Kabitha as a gift?
Sasha gave Kabitha a picture storybook as a gift.
The Smile
“Dear children, today we have a new friend.
She belongs to a place far away. Let’s welcome her.”
The headmaster introduced Kabitha in the school assembly.
She came forward, dressed in the school uniform.
She smiled warmly at everyone.
The headmaster invited Kabitha’s parents to the stage.
All the children clapped.
“I congratulate Sasha and Naveen. They helped Kabitha to join us.”
“Sasha, Naveen, please come to the dais.”
The headmaster encouraged, clapping hands.
Questions
- What did the headmaster announce in the school assembly?
The headmaster announced that there was a new friend, Kabitha, who came from a faraway place. - How did the headmaster introduce Kabitha?
The headmaster introduced Kabitha as the new friend and welcomed her warmly. - What was Kabitha wearing when she came forward?
Kabitha was dressed in the school uniform when she came forward. - How did Kabitha greet everyone?
Kabitha smiled warmly at everyone. - Who did the headmaster invite to the stage?
The headmaster invited Kabitha’s parents to the stage. - What was the reaction of the children during the assembly?
All the children clapped to welcome Kabitha and her parents. - What did the headmaster say about Sasha and Naveen?
The headmaster congratulated Sasha and Naveen for helping Kabitha join the school. - What did the headmaster ask Sasha and Naveen to do?
The headmaster asked Sasha and Naveen to come to the dais. - How did the headmaster encourage Sasha and Naveen?
The headmaster clapped hands to encourage Sasha and Naveen. - Why were Sasha and Naveen congratulated?
Sasha and Naveen were congratulated for their efforts in helping Kabitha join the school.
Tears of Joy
Sasha and Naveen moved towards the stage.
The headmaster shook hands with them.
All the children applauded them again.
Kabitha looked at Sasha and Naveen.
Her eyes brightened with gratitude.
Anu teacher’s song was echoing in every mind.
The best of friends
Worth more than gold
Give all the love
A heart can hold.
Anupama teacher came forward and hugged Kabitha. The girl
smiled. A tiny drop of tear glittered in the corner of her eyes.
Questions
- What did Sasha and Naveen do after being called to the stage?
Sasha and Naveen moved towards the stage. - How did the headmaster greet Sasha and Naveen?
The headmaster shook hands with Sasha and Naveen. - What was the reaction of the children when Sasha and Naveen were on stage?
All the children applauded Sasha and Naveen again. - How did Kabitha look at Sasha and Naveen?
Kabitha looked at Sasha and Naveen with brightened eyes full of gratitude. - What was echoing in everyone’s mind during the assembly?
Anu teacher’s song about friendship was echoing in everyone’s mind. - What did Anupama teacher do when she came forward?
Anupama teacher hugged Kabitha warmly. - How did Kabitha react to Anupama teacher’s hug?
Kabitha smiled and a tiny drop of tear glittered in the corner of her eyes. - What did the song describe about friendship?
The song described that true friends are worth more than gold and give all the love a heart can hold. - What emotion did Kabitha’s eyes reflect?
Kabitha’s eyes reflected gratitude. - What was special about Kabitha’s tear?
A tiny drop of tear glittered in the corner of Kabitha’s eyes, showing her deep emotions.
Vocabulary
- Accept : to receive
- Applaud : to clap hands
- Appreciate : to congratulate
- Dais : a raised platform
- Echo : to repeat a sound
- Frown : a facial expression indicating displeasure or sadness
- Glitter : to sparkle
- Gratitude : feeling thankful and appreciative
- Hug : an act of holding somebody tightly to show love
- Humming : making a low, continuous sound with closed lips
- Hurry : to move quickly
- Introduce : to make known to others for the first time
- Lend a hand : to offer help
- Lullaby : cradle song
- Murmur : to speak in a low, soft voice
- Peep : to look secretly
- Rush : to move quickly
- Search : to look for
- Suggest : to give an idea
- Surprise : something unexpected
- Tender : soft
- Trial : a test of the performance
- Wipe : to clean
