The Colorful Treasure – Class 4, SCERT

The story is about some poor children who live near a garbage dump. They cannot go to school, but they really want to learn. One day, a kind woman called Didi comes to them with colourful books. She reads stories and teaches them letters. The children slowly learn to read and become very happy.

One day, Didi stops coming because she is sick. The children find her house and visit her. Didi feels joyful and promises to return. After she gets better, she comes every day again. Now the children and Didi read, laugh, and enjoy the magic of books together.

Tears of Joy

The children in the village do not go to school. They live near a garbage dump and spend their days wandering. They laugh and play, but deep inside they feel sad because they also want to study like other children. Their hearts carry a quiet longing for a better life through learning.

1. Why didn’t the children go to school?
   They didn’t go to school because they were very poor and had no chance to study.
2. Where did the children live?
   They lived near a big garbage dump in the village.
3. What colourful things did they see in the garbage?
   They saw bright papers, shiny bottles, and torn clothes in the garbage.
4. How did the children feel while playing?
   They laughed and played happily, but they were sad inside.
5. Why did their laughter sound like bells?
   Their laughter was natural and joyful, even though their life was difficult.
6. What sadness stayed in their hearts?
   They were sad because they wanted to study like other children.
7. Do all children get a chance to study?
   No, many children do not get the chance because of poverty or family problems.
8. What might stop children from going to school?
   Lack of money, no support, or no nearby school may stop them.
9. How would you feel if you could not go to school?
   I would feel sad and left out because learning is important.
10. Why is school important for every child?
    School helps children learn, grow, and build a better future.

A Thirst to Read

Every morning, the children watch school kids travelling in a bus wearing neat uniforms and reading books. The poor children feel curious and wish they could read too. They hold crumpled papers from the garbage and pretend to read, showing their strong desire to learn.

1. What did the village children see every morning?
   They saw school children travelling in a bus.
2. How did the school children look?
   They looked neat and clean in their ironed uniforms.
3. What were some children doing inside the bus?
   Some children were reading books.
4. Why didn’t the school children notice the poor children?
   They were busy reading or talking and didn’t look outside.
5. Why did the village children look curiously at the bus?
   They were curious because they wished to study like the school children.
6. What did the village children hold in their hands?
   They held crumpled pieces of paper found in the garbage.
7. Why did they collect crumpled papers?
   They collected them because they loved looking at letters and pictures.
8. How did they imitate the school children?
   They pretended to read the papers just like the children in the bus.
9. What does this show about the village children?
   It shows they had a strong desire to read and learn.
10. How would you help these children if you were there?
    I would give them books, teach them letters, and encourage them to learn.

The Hidden Treasure

A woman wearing a red dupatta visits the children. She smiles kindly and sits with them. The children are surprised because no one usually talks to them. She opens her bag, and the children eagerly wait to see what she has brought.

1. Who came to visit the children one day?
   A woman wearing a red dupatta and white kurta came to visit them.
2. Why were the children surprised?
   They had never seen her before.
3. How did the lady behave toward the children?
   She smiled kindly and spoke gently to them.
4. Where did she sit?
   She sat on a broken plastic can near the children.
5. Why were the children confused?
   They were not used to strangers sitting and talking with them.
6. Who do you think the lady might be?
   She might be a teacher or a social worker.
7. Why do you think she came there?
   She came to help the children or teach them something.
8. What did she take out from her bag?
   She took out something that looked like books or learning materials.
9. Why did the children look at her bag eagerly?
   They were excited and curious to see what she brought.
10. How might her visit change the children’s lives?
    Her visit might give them hope and a chance to learn.

We too have Names

The woman shows them colourful books. She asks for their names, something no one had ever done before. The children shyly tell her their names. She tells them to call her “Didi,” and they feel happy and valued.

1. Why were the children curious about Didi’s bag?
   They were curious because they thought she had something special inside it.
2. What did the woman take out from her bag?
   She took out colourful books in blue, yellow and red.
3. Why did the children move closer to her?
   They moved closer because they wanted to see the books clearly.
4. What did Didi ask the children?
   She asked them to tell her their sweet names.
5. Why were the children surprised when she asked their names?
   They were surprised because no one had ever asked their names before.
6. How did the children say their names?
   They said their names slowly and shyly.
7. What were the names of the children?
   Their names were Muthu, Ninnu and Taju.
8. What did the children want to know about the woman?
   They wanted to know her name too.
9. What name did the woman tell them to call her?
   She told them to call her “Didi.”
10. Did the children like Didi’s presence?
    Yes, they liked her because she was kind and brought colourful books.

World of Wonders

Didi gives the children the colourful books. They are excited and look at the pictures, imagining stories. When Didi leaves, they watch her red dupatta until it disappears. The books fill their minds with wonder even though they cannot read yet.

1. What did Didi give the children?
   She gave them beautiful books.
2. How did Ninnu react when Didi gave the books?
   Ninnu was surprised and asked, “For us?”
3. What did the children do with the books?
   They turned the pages and looked at the pictures.
4. Why did Didi say she had to leave?
   It was time for her to go home.
5. How did the children say goodbye to Didi?
   They waved and said, “See you Didi.”
6. Why did the children keep watching her red dupatta?
   They watched because they didn’t want her to leave.
7. What did the books contain?
   They had wonderful stories and colourful illustrations.
8. Could the children read the stories?
   No, they couldn’t read yet.
9. How did they enjoy the books even without reading?
   They imagined stories by looking at the pictures.
10. Why were the books special to the children?
    They were the first books the children ever owned.

Our Didi

Didi visits every day and reads stories to the children. Slowly, they learn letters and begin reading on their own. They love Didi and decorate a special seat for her. But one day, Didi stops coming, and the children worry and wait for her.

1. How often did Didi visit the children?
   She came every day.
2. What did the children do when Didi read stories?
   They sat with her and listened happily.
3. What happened as they listened to stories daily?
   They slowly learned letters and words.
4. What did the children begin to do soon?
   They began to read stories on their own.
5. How did the children feel about Didi?
   They loved her very much.
6. What did they bring to decorate Didi’s seat?
   They brought a chair, a carpet and curtains.
7. How did Didi’s space look after decorating?
   It looked neat and beautiful.
8. What happened one day when they waited for Didi?
   She did not come.
9. How did the children feel when she didn’t come?
   They were worried but kept waiting.
10. What might have happened to Didi?
    She might have fallen sick or had some problem.

A Clue

The children find Didi’s address in one of the books. They travel by bus and search the whole day. Finally, they spot a red dupatta on a terrace and find Didi sick in bed. They feel sad but relieved to have found her.

1. Where did the children find Didi’s address?
   They found it written on the last page of a book.
2. What did they do after finding the address?
   They noted it down and went to search for her.
3. How did they travel to her place?
   They took a bus after reading its number and destination.
4. How long did they search for her house?
   They searched from morning to evening.
5. How did the children feel when they couldn’t find her?
   They felt tired and sad.
6. What did they see while returning?
   They saw a red dupatta on a terrace.
7. Why did they run to that house?
   They thought it might be Didi’s house.
8. Where did they find Didi?
   They found her lying in bed.
9. What was Didi’s condition?
   She looked very ill.
10. How do you think Didi felt on seeing them?
    She must have felt happy, loved and comforted.

The Magic of Words

Didi is happy to see the children. They read stories to her, and she feels proud and joyful. After she recovers, she visits them every day again. Now, the children and Didi read, laugh, and enjoy the magic of books together.

1. How did Didi react when she saw the children?
   She was happy and surprised.
2. What did the children do for Didi?
   They sat around her and read stories to her.
3. Why did tears fill Didi’s eyes?
   She felt joyful and proud of them.
4. What promise did Didi make?
   She promised to meet them next week.
5. How did the children feel when returning home?
   They felt happy and relieved.
6. What happened after Didi recovered?
   She began to come every day again.
7. What can you see every evening now?
   You can see them laughing, reading and enjoying together.
8. How did Didi change the children’s lives?
   She taught them to read and filled their lives with joy.
9. What did the children gain through books?
   They gained knowledge, imagination and confidence.
10. What is the message of the story?
    The story teaches that love, learning and kindness can change lives.