February 14, which is also Valentine’s Day, is the International Book Giving Day. This annual event aims at encouraging individuals, schools, organisations, etc. to give books as gifts to children and adult as well as celebrating the power of books that inspire, educate and entertain. Aunty ‘Yemi spoke with some students of TOYOSI SCHOOLS, BASORUN, Ibadan, on their experiences with the books they had read.
Bastian Arobadi, 8 yrs old, Pry 4
I have read the following books: ‘Three Thunder Stories’, ‘Milly Molly and Little Dot’, ‘Tobi, The Young Boy’ and ‘Boby The Bird’. The ‘Three Thunder Stories’ taught me not to take what does not belong to me and I should not do evil to people. ‘Milly Molly and Little Dot,’ helped me to know the importance of being kind and generous. The third book, ‘Tobi, The Young Boy,’ taught me a great lesson not to play pranks on people because it can run one into trouble like it did to Tobi in the story. I must always say my real name or any other information about myself so that people can help with the information if need be.
Demilade Asubiojo, 9 yrs old. Pry 4
One of our proprietor’s children, Sophie Dayo-Oke, gave me a storybook titled ‘Remi’s Dangerous Adventure’, written by Henry Bedfley. It is a book full of great lessons but the ones that have been helping me since I read the book are about hard work and being good. I understood the advantage of hard work and being good to people.
Ebube Samuel, 9 yrs old, Pry 4
On Wednesday which marked International Book Giving Day and Valentine’s Day, my friend Opeyemi Olajimoh, gave me a book gift. The book is titled “The Saints” from which I learnt more about contentment, being useful, hard work and being helpful in the society. Another book from which I gained wisdom is ‘Remi’s Dangerous Adventure’. It transformed my action and thinking about embarking on adventures that I must not be too curious.
Praise Owo-Egbeleke, JSS 3
On my 11th birthday, my best friend gave me a storybook titled ‘Somayina, The Little Orphan’, authored by Chigbo Ugwuoke. The story centres on a little boy who lost his parents when he was a toddler so he had to live with his aunt and sister. The storybook taught me that God answers prayers in His own time not according to human calculations. To err is human, to forgive is divine. Also, we should be kind to people and take education seriously.
Tolulope Olugbemi, 9 yrs old
My thinking about who we are and what we should do in our society changed when I read the book titled ‘The Saint’. As human beings, we should teach others the good that we know how to do and we should prevent others from doing evil. The second book I drew knowledge from is ‘The Perfect Family’, where I learnt that we should care for our family members no matter the situation because one might need their help in the journey of life. One good turn deserves another.
Tobiloba Olugbemi, JSS 2
I read a book ‘Grandma Must Leave’ which is the story of a couple who were both bankers and had no time for themselves and their only child. However, one of the grandmothers took ill and had to live with them in the city. So many things happened in the story but the major orientation I got from it is that wives should not choose their careers over their families; else, there would be negative impact on the members of the family. In addition, young ones should respect elders and food should be cooked in homes rather than bought as it saves money.
Tofunmi Osasuni, JSS 3
On my 10th birthday, my dad gave me a storybook titled ‘Who Wears The Crown’. It is my most favourite book that taught me many lessons. The story taught me that whenever I am given an opportunity, I should make wise choices, love my siblings as myself and that no matter how hard the journey of life is, I should not give up rather endure until I achieve my goal(s).
Temilade Asubiojo, JSS 3
One of my favourite books, ‘Mirror On the Wall’, was given to me when I was entering secondary school. I cannot count the number of times I have read it. It revolves round a girl named Tamilore, who with her sister, went to their grandmother’s for the 3rd term holidays and was able to free a girl from a magical mirror but mistakenly trapped her sister. The courageous Tamilore got into the trouble for eating bad food but she did not tell her grandmother. I learnt that it is dangerous to keep things from my parents, grandparents, or relatives in order not to run into trouble because they know more than I do.
and then