Neelu’s great escape
Written and Illustrated By Ananya Singh
‘Neelu’s Great Escape’ Original text, design and illustration in English by Ananya Singh. Printed by Kolor Kode Published by Srishti Press Srishti School of Art, Design and Technology, P.O. Box No. 6430, Yelahanka New Town, Doddabalapur Road, Bangalore - 560 106. T: +91 80 40447000 Ananya Singh designed this book on ‘growing up’ as a student of the Storybook Lab at Srishti School of Art, Design and Technology, Bangalore. Run by Matt Lee and Krupa Thimmaiah, the aim of this lab has been to re-evaluate stereotypical notions of creating books for Indian children, that make reading enjoyable, meaningful and inexpensive. Copyright © Srishti School of Art, Design and Technology 2012 Illustrations Copyright © Srishti School of Art, Design and Technology 2012 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 Srishti School of Art, Design and Technology.
Neelu’s great escape
Written and Illustrated By Ananya Singh
Neelu would help chop vegetables to cook, and between her work, she would read a book.
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One lazy afternoon, while Neelu was reading, she heard a deep, low voice pleading.
She heard a crack, she heard a roar, and suddenly, the page of her book tore!
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Out jumped a lion from his cage Just like that, out of a torn-up page!
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His hair was big and long, His body was yellow and strong.
His teeth were sharp and white, Neelu dropped the book in fright!
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Then she saw his eyes were sad, so sad, that she began to feel bad.
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Mr. Lion with a tear on his cheek, sat on the floor and began to speak:
“They made me dance, They made me sing. Juggle and jump, through a fire-ring.
I do not want to be told what to do. I want to be free And try something new.� 7
Neelu told Mr. Lion, “I know, it’s cruel; even I was stopped from going to school. I love to read and write on my slates, not buy vegetables, and clean the plates!”
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“Many times we are told what to do, I will help you to try something new,
Think of a place where you are happy, not sad. For me, reading books was what I had.�
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Maybe what you need is the jungle, your home, where with your friends you can play and roam!
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“I have an idea! Mr. Lion you should swing, into this book of forests where you are king!”
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Mr. Lion was happy! And Neelu began to read a book where a lion had just been freed!
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When her work in the kitchen becomes tiring, Neelu likes to escape into a book! Find out about the surprise waiting inside a book that she is reading one lazy afternoon.
MRP : ` 20.00