Graphic Novel

GYAN BHARATI SCHOOL

• Children will be encouraged to identify different features like beaks and claws of birds. • Children will be encouraged to acquire awareness about birds and their eating habits. • Their observational skills will be nourished and they will be urged to become keen bird watchers. • Children will be acquainted with the bird calls. GRADE: 3 and 4 TOPIC: BEAKS OF BIRDS AUTHORS: RATIKA KAPUR SANSKRITI AGARWAL ILLUSTRATOR: PINKI BURMAN GYAN BHARATI SCHOOL

Bindu Dada - The Owl Bindu dada is a quiet and a calm owl who is always very well groomed. He believes to have developed a reputation for himself in the sanctuary for his intelligence and for his quest to seek perfection in everything he does. He is assertive. He is handsome and he owns a demeanour which is proud. Buzzy- The Woodpecker Buzzy with a unique fashion sense never ceases to amaze his friends at the sanctuary. He is loyal, faithful and dependable. He is always a bird call away. He is easily approachable. One can always find him buzzing around the other birds so much so that it is almost impossible to not acknowledge his presence.

Mishthi- Koel As the name suggests, Mishthi is sweet and full of positivity, a polite bird with good manners. She is sensitive towards others feelings and very understanding. Her melodious voice adds to her warm and loving nature. Golu- The Parrot The cute and cuddly Golu is the heartthrob of the sanctuary. He is always up for a conversation. He exudes positivity and owns a very easy going attitude. He is bubbly and always engrossed in his own world. He knows how to spice up the ambience with his cuteness and his aura. Olga- The Siberian crane Olga - It is of Old Norse and Scandinavian origin, and the meaning of Olga is \"blessed, holy\". Olga is a charismatic and charming crane. She is Sensitive, practical, maternal, graceful and wise. Having travelled from the faraway wetlands of western Siberia all the way to India (Rajasthan) she loves to share her experiences with the other birds. Loki- Black Kite Loki definition is - a Norse god who contrived evil and mischief for his fellow gods. Loki is cunning and serious in nature. She uses subtlety and trickery to manipulate others and get what she wants. Being an opportunist, she prefers being a scavenger.

1. Pecking- (of a bird) strike or bite something with its beak. 2. Chiming in- to join in harmoniously with someone or something 3. Chisel- a tool with a long metal blade that has a sharp edge for cutting wood, stone, etc. 4. Slumber- sleep 5. Enlighten- give (someone) greater knowledge and understanding about a subject or situation 6. Scrumptious - extremely tasty; delicious. 7. Swoop- move rapidly downwards through the air (especially of a bird). 8. Amla- Indian gooseberry 9. Diverse- showing a great deal of variety; very different 10. Sniggering- laughing in a half suppressed way/manner

Early morning, Mishthi, the Koel is sitting on a branch and singing her favorite song. Mishthi: Coo cooo Buzzy flies in and starts pecking the Ki ki ki ki ki ki tree branch giving Mishthi’s song a beat. Buzzy: tuk tuk tuk tuk tuk

Mishthi turns around excitedly and says. MISHTHI: Hi Buzzy! Buzzy: Thanks Mishthi! I Thanks for chiming in, I have a beak of my own kind… a Chisel like beak! love the sound your sharp and long beak That’s how I can drill makes while pecking. holes in tree branches. Oh! Look at all the I was so hungry and I holes that you’ve made knew I’ll find insects here in the tree branch. so I…. tuk tuk tuk tuk tuk… (he continues pecking the wood)

Bindu Dada: MISHTHI: Look at my Too- Hwit sharp and pointed beak, it Too- Hwoo helps me relish berries and ripened fruits. I was not really in a mood to have insects today! Listening to all this chitter- chatter, Bindu Dada, the owl came out of his tree hole disturbed.

MISHTHI: Hi Bindu Bindu Dada: Oh dear lord! dada! What is this cooing all about? Did we disturb you It’s disturbing my slumber... with our beak talk? Don’t you have anything better to discuss…. Fruits and insects UGHHH!

Suddenly, Bindu dada, Mishthi and Buzzy hear Bindu Dada: giggles. On looking around they spot Golu sitting on What’s with an Amla tree having a hearty giggle. all those Bindu dada gazed up with his big yellow black eyes . giggles? Golu: Heheheh.. Nothing really! I was just admiring your beak. It looks like a hook.

Bindu dada turns around with pride, fluffs his feathers and replies Bindu Dada:Oh Bindu Dada: I relish Yes! I use my frogs, lizards, squirrels sharp, pointed hooked beak to eat and snakes with the food that I grab help of my beak. with my sharp claws. Bindu Dada: My friends Eagles, hawks, Kites and falcons also have hooked and sharp beak like mine!

Golu: Meat ewwww… Me and my friends Macaw and Parakeet have strong and curved beak which we use to crack seeds, nuts and fruits. Meanwhile, Mishthi cooes and calls out to Olga whose standing tall by the lake sunbathing her beautiful snowy white feathery body. Olga: Hey Mishthi! Want to join me in soaking up the sun?

Before Mishthi could respond, Golu interrupts and says Golu: No thanks Olga! But do you want to join me for a quick snack? Olga: Oh dear… Nuts must be so crunchy. I use my long and thin beak to catch fresh and soft fish from the water. Herons and Egrets too have beaks like mine.

Suddenly Loki, the black Kite Loki (with a smirk on her swooshed in flapping her strong face): angled wings. Fish alone? With my sharp, pointed and hooked beak, I can eat mice, hamsters and more.. Just like Bindu Dada! Buzzy: Ooh Loki! Where have you been? We’ve missed chatting with you.

Loki (showing off her beak): Like I Golu: Oh! How the said … I just relished a six of us have discussed our scrumptious hamster with the help beautiful and of my sharp beak. diverse beaks. While I was soaring high up in the sky, I spotted it, swooped down and grabbed it with my sharp claws. Golu starts sniggering and says

Mishthi: Let’s meet tomorrow again to discuss our claws and feathers. He he he he...

And they all had a chirping hearty laughter!