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Here Be Dragons co-curated by Cressida Cowell and Toothless - opens 13 July. Admission included with ticket to the Galleries

1001 Stories Collection

Handa's Surprise

1001 Handa Surprise
Added on 05th October 2020

Author and Illustrator Eileen Browne
First published 1994
Publisher Walker Books

Animals Friends
1001

Handa takes a basket of fruit to her friend as a surprise.

Story

Set in south-west Kenya, Handa decides to walk to her friend Akeyo’s village to bring her a basket of fruit. On her journey the fruit is stolen from the basket on her head by a series of crafty animals. Will there be anything left for Akeyo?

Why we chose it

A colourful picture book where the text tells a simple story while a different story unfolds in the pictures – a visual joke much enjoyed by children.

Where it came from

Eileen Browne was a teacher before starting to write and illustrate children’s books. She noticed how certain groups of people were not well represented in children’s books and gave them priority in her books.

Where it went next

In 2004, Handa’s Surprise was turned into a successful theatre show using songs and puppetry.

Associated stories

There are two further books about Handa, Handa’s Hen (2002) and Handa’s Noisy Night (2019) which was published in time to celebrate the 25 year anniversary of Handa’s Surprise.

Added on 05th October 2020

Author and Illustrator Eileen Browne
First published 1994
Publisher Walker Books

Animals Friends
1001