Synopsis: Handa puts seven different mouth watering fruits in a basket to take to her friend Akeyo as a surprise. Handa’s walk takes her (unknowingly) past many hungry wild animals. Handa as well as Akeyo are surprised when they discover exactly what fruits are left in the basket when Handa reaches the village.

Review:  Handa’s Surprise is set in Africa. Handa places seven different delicious fruits in a basket to take to her friend Akeyo. As Handa walks along carrying her basket on her head, various mischievous animals steal all the fruit! Oblivious to the fact that she now has an empty basket, a goat charges into a tree and fills Handa’s basket with tasty tangerines - a surprise for Akeyo and an even bigger surprise for Handa.

Eileen Browne’s warm, bright and vivid illustrations will capture the imagination of many children. The beautifully executed illustrations of wild animals and luscious fruit invite the reader into Handa’s Surprise and could be enjoyed during an art lesson as much as during story time. Children will keep on enjoying the joke in this story and will enjoy remember the animals that stole the fruit.

Handa’s Surprise could be used in many curricular areas - counting, sequencing, naming fruits and animals and also expressive arts, but above all will be a favourite at story time.

Also available in a big book version and in an edition with accompanying CD.