The Gifts of Wali Dad: A Tale of India and Pakistan

by Aaron Shepard, Daniel San Souci (Illustrator)

A simple grass cutter named Wali Dad gives a bracelet to the queen of Khaistan, whose lavish return gift he sends to the king of Nekabad, whose gift he sends to the queen, prompting a meeting of the two by-now-fascinated rulers. Based on a tale in Andrew Lang's Brown Fairy Book.

Genres: Picture Books, India, Fairy Tales, Cultural

32 pages, Hardcover

First published May 1, 1995

About the author

Aaron Shepard is the author of many books, stories, and scripts for young people, as well as professional books and resources for writers and educators. He has also worked professionally in both storytelling and reader's theater, as a performer, director, and teacher trainer. Aaron's lively and meticulous retellings of folktales and other traditional literature have found homes with more than a dozen children's book publishers, large and small, and with the world's top children's literary magazines, winning him honors from the American Library Association, the New York Public Library, the Bank Street College of Education, the National Council for the Social Studies, and the American Folklore Society. His extensive Web site, visited by thousands of teachers and librarians each week, is known internationally as a prime resource for folktales, storytelling, and reader's theater, while his stories and scripts have been featured in textbooks from publishers worldwide, including Scholastic, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, SRA, The College Board, Pearson Education, National Geographic, Oxford University Press, Barron's, Hodder Education, and McGraw-Hill.

Reviews

[Abigail]

A humble grass-cutter named Wali Dad, finding that he has everything he needs, uses his savings to buy a beautiful golden bracelet, which he asks a local merchant to bring as a gift to the noblest woman in the world - the queen of Khaistan. When she reciprocates with a lavisg gift, Wali Dad, who has no use for wealth, sends it via the merchant to the noblest man in the world - the king of Nekabad. This royal in turn sends a gift to Wali Dad, who forwards it to the queen, who responds in kind. So an exchange of progressively more lavish presents is sent back and forth, until finally the two royals set out to meet Wali Dad - and each other...

Originally found in the pages of Andrew Lang's Brown Fairy Book, this traditional tale was related to a British Army officer by an Indian, in the 19th century, in a region of that country that is now part of Pakistan. Given that history, Aaron Shepard has credited his retelling of the tale to both India and Pakistan. Leaving aside the issue of origin, the story here is immensely engaging, and Wali Dad's distress at the gifts he receives is amusing. Illustrator Daniel San Souci's accompanying artwork accentuates the humor of the tale, and is likewise appealing. Recommended to young folklore enthusiasts, and to picture-book readers looking for tales set in South Asia.

[Michael Fitzgerald]

Did not like the illustration style which made Wali Dad a caricature. Oddly, the other people were depicted normally. The story is told rather simply and in the process, excises a great deal of interesting verbiage. I prefer Lang's version.

[Janine Weston]

The Gifts of Wali Dad: A Tale of India and Pakistan by Aaron Shepard (1-4)Fall Booklegger Program

[Radhika]

I loved this picture book and suggest that everyone should read it!!!

[Antonia Benetti]

Wali Dad is a poor but happy grass-cutter who ends up saving so much money he doesn’t know what to do with it all. He decides to buy a bracelet for the Queen as a kind gesture but he ends up receiving an even more extravagant gift in return. The gift exchanges continue to occur and eventually Wali Dad finds himself owning more than he could even imagine, including a beautiful palace. However, Wali Dad prefers the simple life he had before and is rewarded his old life back for being such a kind man with the heart of a King. I loved this book and it teaches readers about giving back and being thankful for the simple things in life. It’s a great book for children of any ages because it has a positive lesson of being kind. I would use this book in a kindergarten classroom to talk about moral of the story. I enjoyed the plot of the story because it’s about a poor man giving back even though he doesn’t have much to give.

[Guen]

Has a magical ending.

[Ruqayya Jarad]

Wali Dad is a simple grass-cutter. Each day he returns from the marketplace with thirty small coin. He uses ten for his food, ten for his other needs, and saves ten in a clay pot. Wali Dad has more money than he needs so he decided to buy a gold bracelet.He asks a traveling merchant to deliver this bracelet to the queen of Khaistan. The queen loves the gift, and returns the favor with a better gift, but Wali Dad has no use for luxurious gifts and sends the queen's gift to the king of Nekabad. As a thank you, the king also sends him a gift, but a simple grass-cutter doesn't know what to do with these gifts. As the gift-giving continues to grow more expensive,the king and queen ultimately meet after understanding who the originators of these gifts were, and get married. Wali Dad continued on his way,feeling satisfied that these luxurious gifts could bring a greater good. The story is for grade level K-2.

[Meena Gupta]

Count your blessings

[Bianca]

One of my favorite books as a kid! Gorgeous illustrations.

[Angela]

A good story with a happy ending. The illustrations are just not my style.