Summer Camp At The Zoo

By Kanthalakshmi Chandramouli

In my childhood, one of the most interesting games that I played was to assimilate children for storytelling sessions and act out the sequences.

Many a time, I would enact clearly my imaginative stories with much emotion.

Though I have been writing ever since my college days, it was only after the birth of my daughter that children’s literature attracted my attention.

I have written children’s stories in English, and I also enjoy writing for children in Tamil as well. When my Tamil Books on children’s literature were published, I was very much motivated.

Whenever I narrate stories to school children, I feel as if I belong to their age group and enjoy doing so.

Although I have written many novels and short stories in English and Tamil, the pleasure I receive in writing for children is something that is close to my heart and cannot be explained.

As I enter the children’s world and envisage events from their viewpoints, I tend to learn a lot.

As I mingle with them, I have absorbed certain matters and written many short stories based on them.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Pustaka Digital Media
• Release date: Dec 11, 2021
• ISBN: 6580525907860

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Summer Camp At The Zoo

(Short Stories for Children)

Author:

Kanthalakshmi Chandramouli

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Digital/Electronic Copyright © by Pustaka Digital Media Pvt. Ltd.

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All rights reserved. This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the publisher except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

AUTHOR’S NOTE

In my childhood, one of the most interesting games that I played was to assimilate children for storytelling sessions and act out the sequences.

Many a time, I would enact clearly my imaginative stories with much emotion.

Though I have been writing ever since my college days, it was only after the birth of my daughter that children’s literature attracted my attention.

I have written children’s stories in English, and I also enjoy writing for children in Tamil as well. When my Tamil Books on children’s literature were published, I was very much motivated.

Whenever I narrate stories to school children, I feel as if I belong to their age group and enjoy doing so.

Although I have written many novels and short stories in English and Tamil, the pleasure I receive in writing for children is something that is close to my heart and cannot be explained.

As I enter the children’s world and envisage events from their viewpoints, I tend to learn a lot.

As I mingle with them, I have absorbed certain matters and written many short stories based on them.

I thank the publishers wholeheartedly for encouraging me by publishing these stories.

Kanthalakshmi Chandramouli

FOREWORD

Iam extremely happy to write the foreword. I congratulate Smt. Kanthalakshmi Chandramouli, for writing the children’s storybook.

I have known Smt. Kanthalakshmi well over four decades. Have always found her to be a socially conscious and responsible person. This is reflected in all her works, and this book is no exception. She has carved a niche in the literary circle by her unique style and content, without compromise.

There are 36 stories in all in this book. Each story has a message – moral, that is the need of the day. With micro families, the old grandma is not there to narrate stories. Kanthalakshmi, in her inimitable style, has penned stories to substitute the missing grandma.

The first story, ‘Beauty Queen,’ humourously shows through a beauty contest the need to accept oneself as he or she is. It also drives home the need to be united.

‘Gift’ shows, where there is a will, there is a way irrespective of the circumstances.

I wish there had been writers like Kanthalakshmi in our youth. Maybe the environment would not have lost its greenery. "The Wedding in the Forest ‘Neem Tree’, ‘Summer Camp at the Zoo’ shows in a subtle manner the need for growing and preserving trees.

The story about the tree roots focuses on the need for unity. ‘The Lost Book’ teaches us to be neat and tidy.

It is said in the United States, segregation of perishable and non-perishable waste is taught at the elementary school level. So that the future is saved. Kanthalakshmi is trying to teach the children what society has failed through her stories. Not only Pavithra, but the readers too, learn the harms of plastics. The parrot tells us that it can remember the routes like a computer. It is really these touches with the present-day world that will endear this book.

With both humour and grace, Kanthalakshmi’s stories teach many lessons about the values in life. The message conveyed is the need of the day. Her language and style are simple, lucid, and child-friendly.

I am sure sharing this book with friends and family will be worthwhile. New stories are always welcome. I wish Kanthalakshmi pens more and more books of this kind.

My best wishes to her.

Dr. C.V. Geetha

Retd. Principal

Government College

Kerala

KANTHALAKSHMI AS A CHILDREN WRITER

As all of us know, there is no need for an advertisement for a flower shop. Likewise, there is no need for the introduction of Smt. Kanthalakshmi Chandramouli and her powerful writings. I am in connection with her family from my 17th year, nearly for 42 years. I have never seen her just as an average woman cooking, doing regular household activities, and relaxing. Taking utmost care of her family, she used to be busy undertaking intellectual works like writing books, conducting interviews with popular personalities and doing social services, and be active always with a beaming face.

She has translated many books from Tamil to English and vice-versa. As a glittering star in the world of Publications, she has written social books like ‘Suttum Vizhichudar’ ‘Oru Thozhi Deivamagiral’ ‘Sadhanai Sandhippugal’ ‘Tholai Dhoora Pasam’ ‘Nile Nadhi Kanavu’ and ‘Engal Veettu Maadiyilae’ and spiritual books in the name ‘Pen Ennum Mahasakthi’ and ‘Prarthanaiyum Palangalum’. Her ‘Sri Annaiyin Vazhviyal Vazhikattudhal’ is a notable book for self-improvement. She did not leave romance also. ‘Naanum Angae Unnodu’ and ‘Nadhavadivanavalae Kannamma’ are two romantic subject-oriented books.

While reading ‘Petrorgalae Gavaniyungal’ book, we can realize how responsible she is towards society. Crown of all these is ‘Needhi Bodhanai Kathaigal’ published for children. For her valuable writings, she got awarded with the titles Nandha Deepam, Siruvar Ilakkiya Ratna, Ezhuthu Chudar, and Arul Valar Nangai.

Understanding the quote, There can be no keener revelation of a society’s soul than the way in which it treats its children, she is very keen in writing children’s stories. She got a Diploma in ‘Child Psychology,’ and while writing for children, she used to become a child by herself.

In this book, she has compiled 36 short stories. These are not only entertaining but also teaching a lesson and moral for the kids. She is to be very well appreciated for having given these stories in such a way it reaches the tender mind of the kids.

In the first story, Beauty Queen itself, she insists that in a family, we must act with Unity. And highlighted the moral You are what you are. Not what others think you should be. In the succeeding story, the kids are indirectly

advised to keep their belongings safe and tidy. The author took historical events also and made stories interesting for the kids.

We should stand as an example for the kids. We cannot insist or compel anything on them which they don’t like or accept. Keeping it in mind, the author formatted the stories in such a way that they themselves realized their mistakes and corrected them.

In ‘The Summer Camp at the Zoo’, she has effortlessly explained how to behave inside the Zoo while visiting animals. Even elders can learn how to treat the animals and how to keep the place clean during their visit. It is so impressive.

I was touched by the story ‘The Lantern’ in which the story covered about the orphans staying in the orphanage, their feelings – how they had an opportunity to celebrate Deepavali in a VIP’s house instead of getting sweets and dresses from them on their visit to the orphanage.

With her imagination, she created the Banian Tree as the friend of a family, thereby stood an example for living together as one family.

In the story ‘Independence and Discipline’, a brilliant student – because he was the son of a poor farmer, not able to spend money for his education. But he did not want to continue education with the help of others. So he worked hard with his father, earned money, and then with that, he continued his studies. That shows how much is the boy responsible and strong in his views and decisions.

In few stories like ‘Helpful Friends’, she included comedy by introducing Washing Machine, Fridge, TV, Fans, and Tubelights as characters and made children understand how they are helpful to mankind and how we should not misuse those electric and electronics. In the story ‘Lady Lamps’, she specified the moral ‘Sincerity, Truthfulness and Honesty are Real Jewels for Girls’.

Even a delicate issue has also been handled carefully, and she expressed how a stammering boy, with the guidance of encouragement of his teacher, was able to give a thundering speech on the ‘Teacher’s Day Celebration’.

Through the ‘Queen’s Necklace,’ she claims one should speak only the truth under any circumstances and like that it goes… just enter the treasure land.

I wish the author a colourful and meaningful career.

With warm wishes,

S. Vasumathi, B.Sc., BLIS

CHENNAI

Contents

1. BEAUTY QUEEN

2. THE WEDDING IN THE FOREST

3. THE SUMMER CAMP AT THE ZOO

4. LIFE AND BEHAVIOUR

5. A LESSON FOR VICKY

6. THE QUEEN’S NECKLACE

7. GARUDA THE GENIE

8. UNITED WE STAND. DIVIDED WE FALL

9. FRIENDS OF THE FAMILY

10. PUSHPA AND HER BOOKS

11. VANILLA ICE-CREAM

12. THE GIFT

13. ROHIT AND HIS CLEANLINESS

14. TEACHER’S DAY

15. ALL WORK AND NO PLAY

16. HEALTHY COMPETITION

17. SUCHI’S DREAM

18. FREEDOM STRUGGLE

19. HELPFUL FRIENDS

20. INDEPENDENCE AND DISCIPLINE

21. THE CAMEL AND OTTOMON

22. THE LANTERN

23. MYSTERIOUS LADY AND THE GOLD COIN

24. LADY LAMPS

25. A PLENTIFUL LIFE

26. THE VIOLIN STRINGS

27. HERE LIES AMERICA

28. THE GENIE AND THE BRASS POT

29. PAVITHRA AND SNAKE UNCLE

30. PANJANNA AND BRASS POT

31. HELP ME, PAVITHRA!

32. DON’T TELL LIES

33. PEACOCK AND ITS EYES

34. THE LAZY SOLDIERS

35. THE GREEK EMPEROR AND THE INDIAN KING

36. THE RED LANTERN AND CHINESE NEW YEAR

1. BEAUTY QUEEN

One day in the forest, little elephant Pia was looking at herself in the mirror.

Pia’s mother called out, Pia, get ready for school. Why are you always looking at yourself in the mirror?

Pia replied haughtily, Mom, I also want to participate in the Beauty Queen Pageant to be held in our forest school. So, I am looking in the mirror.

Sorry! Pia, your father, will never agree to this at all. Mother said as she stirred the soup with her trunk.

Mom, do we have to tell father about everything that I do?

Her mother replied sternly, In a family, we must act with unity. We three should be an ideal elephant family in the forest. Everything that we do should be shared.

Pia was not in a favourable mood to listen to the words of wisdom from her mother.

I must slim down. A beauty queen should be tall and slim, thought Pia. Hence, she exercised and