Neema's Birthday

Author: Godfrey Mishomari

Illustrator: Khalifa R. Khalifa

Translator: Alisha Berger

Neema thought a lot about her birthday. She asked her friends, “Is your birth date the same as mine? My mother told me I was born on February 29th.” None of her friends shared her birth date.

Neema asked her mother, “Ma! Last year we didn't celebrate my birthday. How is it that my friend Anna celebrates her birthday every year?”

Her mother said, “Be patient, Neema. Your birthday will come and when it does, we’ll throw a big party for you. We’ll invite all your friends.”

Neema said, “But Ma, I waited for it last year. The year ended without my birthday ever arriving.”

“For Anna’s birthday, we gave her so many presents and congratulated her. We ate and sang beautiful songs. We were all so happy. I also want to invite all my friends so that we can eat, play together and sing.”

“Don’t worry, Neema,” said her mother. "Your birthday is next week, isn't it? We’ll throw a big birthday party.” But Neema didn't believe her. What if her birthday never came, like last year?

The next week, it was 29th February! Neema was thrilled.

Her birthday had come after all! “It’s my birthday!” she shouted.

Neema’s friends had come. They had all brought her presents. Her parents also gave her a present: a colourful birthday hat. She looked lovely!

Neema looked at the presents. There were so many! Her mother told her, “Neema, your birthday is celebrated on a leap year, which happens only once in four years.”

“Thank you, Papa. Thank you, Ma. Goodbye, 29th February. We’ll meet again after four years!”

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Story Attribution:

This story:Neema's Birthdayis translated byAlisha Berger. The © for this translation lies with Room to Read, 2015. Some rights reserved. Released under CC BY 4.0 license.Based on Original story:'Siku Yangu ya Kuzaliwa', byGodfrey Mishomari. © Room to Read , 2015. Some rights reserved. Released under CC BY 4.0 license.

Other Credits:

This story 'Neema's Birthday' has been published on StoryWeaver by Room to Read.

Images Attributions:

Cover page:A girl with a present, byKhalifa R. Khalifa© Room to Read, 2015. Some rights reserved. Released under CC BY 4.0 license.Page 2:A woman cooking, a girl watching, byKhalifa R. Khalifa© Room to Read, 2015. Some rights reserved. Released under CC BY 4.0 license.Page 3:A girl and woman talking, byKhalifa R. Khalifa© Room to Read, 2015. Some rights reserved. Released under CC BY 4.0 license.Page 4:A woman consoles a crying girl, byKhalifa R. Khalifa© Room to Read, 2015. Some rights reserved. Released under CC BY 4.0 license.Page 5:A girl and woman argue, byKhalifa R. Khalifa© Room to Read, 2015. Some rights reserved. Released under CC BY 4.0 license.Page 6:A girl thinks of a birthday party, byKhalifa R. Khalifa© Room to Read, 2015. Some rights reserved. Released under CC BY 4.0 license.Page 7:A woman outside a house, byKhalifa R. Khalifa© Room to Read, 2015. Some rights reserved. Released under CC BY 4.0 license.Page 8:A birthday party, byKhalifa R. Khalifa© Room to Read, 2015. Some rights reserved. Released under CC BY 4.0 license.Page 9:A child and her friends at a birthday party, byKhalifa R. Khalifa© Room to Read, 2015. Some rights reserved. Released under CC BY 4.0 license.Page 10:A girl with a party hat and present, byKhalifa R. Khalifa© Room to Read, 2015. Some rights reserved. Released under CC BY 4.0 license.Disclaimer:https://www.storyweaver.org.in/terms_and_conditions

Some rights reserved. This book is CC-BY-4.0 licensed. You can copy, modify, distribute and perform the work, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. For full terms of use and attribution, http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Neema's Birthday (English)

Neema loves her birthday, but it takes too long to come. She thinks her parents are playing a trick on her and decides to find out. What does she discover?

This is a Level 3 book for children who are ready to read on their own.

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