This is a beautifully illustrated storybook for eight to ten-year olds. Simi and her brother Toto complain about how their elders are allowed to do what they wish while they do no enjoy any freedom.
Simi and Toto run away into the jungle. Suddenly they hear a loud noise. They see a large number of animals, like the zebras, monkeys, rabbits, tigers, etc. sitting together with a serious look on their faces. On closer scrutiny they discover that none of the animals has its own tail but has the tail of another animal. A zebra has a peacock’s tail, the elephant has tiger’s tail and so on. All the animals look unhappy with the tails they have.
After sometime, the lion gets up and asks them if they have enjoyed exchanging their tails. They all express their dissatisfaction at it. The elephant points out that with the tiger’s tail he is unable to balance himself; the peacock says that without his original tail he is unable to attract the peahens. They all start clamouring for their own tails.
Simi and Toto then realise that it is better to be satisfied with what you have than to complain and cry for what others have. The grass always appears greener on the other side of the fence.
There are two pages of activity at the end of the book to add to the value of the text. It is the illustrations by Saumya Agrawal which are very eye-catching and beautifully supplement the text.
(Wisdom Tree, 4779/23 Ansari Road, Daryaganj, New Delhi-110 002.)
