Handa's Surprise Big Book

Handa's Surprise Big Book is a joyful and visually engaging classic set in a Kenyan village. It follows Handa as she carries a basket of seven delicious fruits to her friend Akeyo, balanced carefully on her head. Unbeknownst to Handa, a series of cheeky animals help themselves to her fruits along the way. The story builds anticipation as readers spot each animal and guess which fruit it will take. With its multicultural context, vibrant illustrations, and simple storyline, this Big Book edition is perfect for early years classrooms to explore healthy eating, sequencing, and African culture. Its large format makes it ideal for group discussions and interactive storytelling, prompting children to anticipate and identify animals and fruits as they appear.

Educational Benefits:

• Encourages knowledge of healthy foods and nutrition through fruit vocabulary.
• Supports cultural awareness with African setting and customs.
• Reinforces sequencing and recall through repetitive story structure.
• Promotes early inferencing and observational skills.

Classroom Ideas:

• Set up a fruit tasting inspired by the story and describe each fruit using senses.
• Sequence the story using fruit or animal cut-outs on a felt board.
• Introduce a map activity showing where Kenya is located.
• Encourage children to write or draw their own version of a surprise journey.

Information:

• Ages: 3+ years
• Measurements: 45.7 cm (L) x 37.7 cm (H)
• Pages: 32