1 / 2Handa's Surprise picture book
Handa's Surprise is a picture book about a girl carrying seven fruits to her friend, while animals quietly take them from her basket. Its repeating pattern and surprise ending give young children plenty to follow during a shared read-aloud.
At a glance
- Seven fruits are carried in a basket as animals take them one by one, building anticipation towards a surprise ending.
- Set in south-west Kenya, the story features Handa, who is part of the Luo tribe, and her friend Akeyo.
- A 28-page English-language picture book from Walker Books.
Reference price: £7.99
Price checked: 12 Nov 2026
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Pros and cons
Pros
- A repeating sequence and visible animal antics offer children natural opportunities to predict what happens next.
- Customer feedback highlights vivid illustrations and opportunities to learn fruit names and new vocabulary.
Technical specifications
10 specifications| Publisher | Walker Books |
|---|---|
| Publication date | 24 July 2006 |
| Edition | First Edition |
| Language | English |
| Print length | 28 pages |
| ISBN-10 | 0744536340 |
| ISBN-13 | 978-0744536348 |
| Dimensions | 26 x 0.5 x 21.5 cm |
|---|---|
| Weight listed | 140 g |
| Reading age listed | 2 - 4 years, from customers |
|---|
Who is it for?
Customer reviews on Amazon
- 5 stars
89% 89% - 4 stars
9% 9% - 3 stars
2% 2% - 2 stars
0% 0% - 1 star
0% 0%
Customer feedback highlights the simple, repeating story, vivid illustrations, humour and opportunities to name fruit and learn vocabulary. The reported surprise ending and animal antics may be useful hooks for a shared read-aloud. The aggregate ratings are strongly positive, though ratings alone do not show how the book suits a particular child.
Positive themes
- Customer feedback praises the repeating story pattern and surprise ending.
- Readers appreciate the vivid illustrations, humour and opportunities to learn fruit names and new vocabulary.
- Feedback also describes the book as good value.
Frequently asked questions
What is Handa's Surprise about?
Handa carries seven fruits to her friend Akeyo, while animals take the fruit from her basket along the way. The story builds to a surprise when she arrives.
How long is the book?
The listing gives a print length of 28 pages.
What ages is it listed for?
The listing gives a reading age of 2 to 4 years and attributes this age range to customers.
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