Rani's First Day at School: Learn English (US) with subtitles - Story for Children and Adults

What does Rani see in her first day of school? How does she feel?
Rani's First Day at School
By Cheryl Rao
Today is my first day of school.
Mummy is holding my hand
and walking with me.
“I am grown up now,” I say.
“Let go, let go!”
Mummy holds my hand
very tightly.
There are many children
near my new school.
Some come by bus.
Some come by car.
Others come by rickshaw.
A few of them cycle.
And some walk like me.
When we reach the gate,
Mummy lets go of my hand.
She stays at the gate,
so I have to go inside alone.
There are so many new faces
all around me!
I take one step.
I take another step.
I look back.
Mummy gets smaller and smaller
as I walk away.
Will she disappear?
I run back to her.
I don’t feel so grown up anymore.
I hold her hand.
“Please don’t go away,” I say.
Everyone but me is inside now.
I am the only one outside.
The teacher comes out
and smiles at me.
I smile back.
Mummy says,
"Rani, I will be here
when you come out."
I let go of her hand
and she waves goodbye to me.
I run inside thinking
“Mummy will be there after school!”
Story: Cheryl Rao
Illustrations: Mayur Mistry
Music: Rajesh Gilbert
Narration: Tara Kothari & Bernadette Joseph
Animation: BookBox
This story has been provided for free under the CC-BY license by Pratham Books, which is a not-for-profit children's books publisher with a mission to see "A book in every child's hand". Visit and to know more. Artwork has been adapted from the original book while the animation, music and narration have all been done by BookBox. This story artwork is originally illustrated by Mayur Mistry.
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