Aahana's Safari Festival
A personalised storybook starring Aahana, age 6
During a lively animal safari festival at the park, Aahana walks from stop to stop, meeting elephants, birds, sneaky monkeys, and a wise old guide, collecting small wonders and one big surprise along the way, before joining the festival's evening lantern circle with a heart full of stories.
The safari festival buzzed with drums and bells. Aahana held her mother's hand tight. Flags flapped in every color. A man painted tiger stripes on cheeks. Aahana got two orange stripes on hers. She grinned at her reflection in a puddle. Today, she would see real animals. Today was going to be a very good day.
Page 1
First stop, the elephant field. Big gray elephants swayed slowly. One elephant curled her trunk around a mango. Aahana watched, really quiet. A keeper named Raju smiled. He said elephants hum low rumbles to talk. Too deep for people to hear. Aahana pressed her ear to the fence. She still could not hear it. But she believed him completely.
Page 2
Next came the bird garden. Peacocks strutted like little kings. One peacock spread his tail wide open. Green and blue feathers shimmered in the sun. Aahana counted the eye-shaped spots. She got to twenty before losing count. A girl next to her laughed and helped her start again. Together they counted forty-two.
Page 3
Near the fig trees, monkeys chattered loudly. One monkey snatched a boy's snack bag. Everyone gasped and laughed at once. Aahana held her own snack close. She stepped back, slow and careful. The monkey climbed high with his prize. Aahana learned something small right then. Watch first, then decide what to do.
Page 4
Something rustled hard in the bushes. Aahana froze, sure it was a lion. She grabbed her mother's arm tight. The bushes shook again, closer now. Out popped three wild piglets, snorting. They rolled and tumbled over each other. Aahana burst out laughing with relief. Not scary at all, just silly and small.
Page 5
An old guide named Meena sat by the tortoise pen. She moved slow, like the tortoises did. Aahana sat beside her on a rock. Meena said tortoises take their time always. Nobody rushes a tortoise, not ever. Aahana tried walking slow like one. It felt strange, but kind of peaceful too.
Page 6
Evening came with lanterns and soft music. Families gathered in a big circle. Aahana saw Raju, Meena, and the girl from the birds. Everyone shared what animal they liked best. Aahana chose the humming elephant, no question. She told the story of the piglets too. Everyone laughed together under the string lights.
Page 7
The last lantern rose into the dark sky. Aahana watched it float higher and higher. Her cheeks still wore faded tiger stripes. Her pockets held a peacock feather, striped and soft. She yawned, tired in the best way. Tomorrow she would tell everyone at home. About elephants who hum secrets to each other.
Page 8