🌟 Chapter 4 – The Book of Wonders
Lakshmi loved her mornings. She woke up early, chanted with peace, and drank water like a river.
Her days already felt brighter than before.
But one evening, while playing in the courtyard, she felt a little different.
Her heart whispered, “There must be something more… something magical waiting for me.”
She didn’t know that very soon, she was going to find her new treasure—
a treasure that did not shine like gold or glitter like jewels…
but opened a doorway to countless worlds.
It was the treasure of books.
🌸 The Hidden Book
One Sunday afternoon, Amma asked Lakshmi to help her clean the old wooden cupboard.
It was tall, brown, and had been standing in the corner of their house for many years.
“Careful, Lakshmi,” Amma said, “there are many old things here. Some are very special.”
Lakshmi dusted the shelves. She found tiny boxes, faded photographs, and shiny bangles that once belonged to her grandmother.
Suddenly, behind a pile of old clothes, she noticed a thick, dusty book.
Its cover was brown with golden edges.
Spiders had made webs around it, and it looked as though nobody had opened it for years.
“Amma, what is this?” Lakshmi asked curiously.
Amma smiled. “Ah, that is your grandfather’s book. He used to call it The Book of Wonders.”
Lakshmi’s eyes grew wide. “Book of Wonders? What’s inside it?”
Amma laughed softly. “Stories. Many, many stories. They are like magic doors. Open one, and you will enter a new world.”
Lakshmi’s heart skipped a beat. A new world? Just by opening a book?
She quickly wiped off the dust and hugged the book close to her chest.
📖 Opening the First Door
That night, after finishing her dinner, Lakshmi sat near the lamp.
The yellow light fell gently on the book.
She slowly opened the first page.
The paper was old, but the words danced before her eyes.
She began to read aloud, her soft voice filling the quiet room.
“Once upon a time, in a forest full of singing birds, there lived a rabbit who wanted to fly…”
Lakshmi’s eyes sparkled. She could almost hear the birds.
She imagined the rabbit looking up at the sky with longing eyes.
As she kept reading, she forgot everything around her.
She felt like she was walking beside the rabbit, hearing its dreams, and cheering it on.
When the story ended, Lakshmi closed the book and whispered,
“Wow… this book is really magical.”
🌍 Traveling Without Moving
The next day, Lakshmi opened the book again.
This time, the story carried her to the ocean.
She saw dolphins jumping high, turtles gliding slowly, and colorful fish swimming together.
“Amma!” she ran to her mother excitedly, “I just went to the sea!”
Amma chuckled. “But, Lakshmi, you were sitting right here.”
Lakshmi shook her head. “No, Amma. The book took me there. I could see the blue waves, I could hear them splash. I was really there!”
Amma kissed her forehead. “That is the power of reading, my child. It gives you wings stronger than any bird.”
Lakshmi hugged the book again. “Then I will fly every day!”
🎒 Sharing with Friends
At school, Lakshmi could not stop thinking about the book.
During lunch break, she told her friends Arjun and Meena,
“Do you know what happened yesterday? I met a rabbit that wanted to fly! And today, I swam with dolphins!”
Arjun laughed. “Lakshmi, are you dreaming in the daytime?”
Meena tilted her head. “How can you meet dolphins in our village? We don’t even have a sea!”
Lakshmi grinned. “It’s true. Not with my feet, but with my book. The Book of Wonders can take us anywhere.”
Her friends’ eyes widened. “Can we also read it?”
“Of course!” Lakshmi said proudly. “Come to my house tomorrow evening. We will travel together.”
🏡 The Evening Reading Circle
The next day, Lakshmi spread a mat in her courtyard.
Arjun, Meena, and her younger brother all sat around her.
She placed the big brown book in the center like a treasure chest.
“Are you ready?” she asked with a twinkle in her eye.
“Yes!” they shouted together.
Lakshmi opened the book and began reading aloud.
This time, the story was about a little bird who was afraid to sing.
It felt shy, but slowly, with courage, it sang the sweetest song in the forest.
As Lakshmi read, her friends listened with shining eyes.
They imagined themselves in the forest, hearing the bird’s song echo among the trees.
When the story ended, Meena clapped.
“I felt like I was really there!”
Arjun nodded. “It was better than any game. Lakshmi, let’s do this every day.”
Lakshmi smiled. “Yes! From today, we are the Book of Wonders Club.”
🌟 Amma’s Wisdom
Later that night, Lakshmi asked her mother,
“Amma, why do books feel so magical? Why do I see everything so clearly in my mind?”
Amma stroked her hair. “Because books are like mirrors and windows, Lakshmi. They are windows to see the world outside. And they are mirrors to see yourself inside.”
Lakshmi thought for a moment. “So, every time I read, I see both the story and myself?”
“Yes,” Amma said gently. “And slowly, these stories will shape you into a kinder, braver, and wiser person.”
Lakshmi hugged her mother tightly. “Then I want to keep reading forever.”
⚡ The Struggle
But not every day was easy.
Some stories were long, with big words that Lakshmi did not understand.
Sometimes she felt sleepy while reading.
Sometimes she wanted to run outside and play instead.
One evening, she frowned and pushed the book away.
“This is too hard! Why can’t all stories be easy?”
Her brother teased, “Maybe the book doesn’t want you anymore.”
Lakshmi pouted. “No! I want the book. But it makes my head hurt sometimes.”
Amma heard her and smiled.
“Do you remember how waking up early felt hard at first? And drinking water too? Reading is the same. If you keep going, one day it will feel natural.”
Lakshmi sighed. “So, discipline again?”
“Yes,” Amma said softly. “Discipline is the key to all doors.”
Lakshmi picked up the book again. “Okay, Book of Wonders. I won’t give up on you.”
🏫 The School Project
A week later, her teacher announced,
“Children, our next project will be about hobbies. You must share what you love doing the most.”
Everyone whispered excitedly—some would talk about drawing, others about cricket, some about dancing.
Lakshmi’s face lit up. She knew her answer.
On the project day, she walked to the front of the class holding her big brown book.
“My hobby is reading stories,” she said proudly. “This is my Book of Wonders. When I read it, I can travel to forests, seas, mountains, and even the stars. Books give me courage, kindness, and joy. They make me dream big.”
She showed the book to everyone.
The class clapped loudly.
Her teacher smiled warmly. “Lakshmi, you have inspired many children today. Reading is truly a treasure.”
That day, three of her classmates went home and asked their parents for storybooks.
🌼 The Power of Stories
As weeks passed, Lakshmi read more and more.
She met clever foxes, brave kings, funny monkeys, and kind children in her stories.
She learned new words and new ideas.
She also learned lessons—how to be honest, how to be kind, how to be brave.
Sometimes, when she faced a small problem in real life, she remembered a story and found a solution.
One evening, Meena felt sad because she lost her pencil box.
Lakshmi remembered a story where a boy shared his toys with his friends.
So she said, “Meena, you can use my pencil box until you get a new one.”
Meena’s eyes filled with gratitude. “Thank you, Lakshmi. You are like the kind boy in your story.”
Lakshmi smiled proudly. Books don’t just give me worlds, they also help me live better in my own world.
🌙 The Lesson
One night, before sleeping, Lakshmi held the book close and whispered,
“Dear Book of Wonders, you are my new friend.
You teach me that inside every page is a light.
You make me stronger, kinder, and wiser.”
She closed her eyes with a smile.
Her dreams were filled with stars, forests, rivers, and endless stories.
And so, the Book of Wonders became a part of her life forever.
🌟 Moral of the Chapter
Reading is like opening a magic door.
Every story gives us a new world, a new friend, and a new lesson.
Just like water gives health, books give wisdom.
Discipline makes both possible.
