Chapter 8 of 10
Chapter 8: Books & Going to Buy a Book
Rhyme on Library Treasures & Story of a Brother and Sister Choosing Books at a Bookshop | CBSE Session 2026–27
Core Pedagogical Competencies & Concepts
- Poem 'Books': Library doors opening wide to reveal tall skinny books, fat books that stand by themselves, and picture books.
- Story 'Going to Buy a Book': Grandfather gifts money to a young girl and her brother to buy books.
- The choice: Big bookshop vs. small neighborhood bookshop; right now vs. later.
- Browsing and selecting: Finding quiet corners, flipping through colorful illustrations, and savoring stories.
- Grammar: Conjunctions (and, but, or) and reading comprehension.
All Textbook Exercises & In-Text Tasks (14 Questions)
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Q1
Reading is Fun • Poem 'Books'
What types of books did the child see when the library door opened wide? What made the picture book so delightful?
[3 Marks]
✅ Step-by-Step Solution & Working
Inside the library, the child saw:
1. Tall, skinny books standing upright high on the top shelves.
2. Little fat books that were broad enough to stand up all by themselves without falling.
The picture book was especially delightful because the pictures told the entire wonderful story by themselves without needing many words.
1. Tall, skinny books standing upright high on the top shelves.
2. Little fat books that were broad enough to stand up all by themselves without falling.
The picture book was especially delightful because the pictures told the entire wonderful story by themselves without needing many words.
CBSE Step-by-Step Marking Scheme
Describes tall skinny books and fat standalone books
1.5 M
Explains picture book storytelling appeal
1.5 M
Q2
Reading is Fun • 'Going to Buy a Book'
Why were the children happy when Grandfather gave them money? What decisions did they debate before visiting the shop?
[3 Marks]
✅ Step-by-Step Solution & Working
The children were ecstatic because they loved reading books more than anything else.
Before setting off, they debated several exciting choices:
1. Should they go right now or wait until tomorrow?
2. Should they go to the huge commercial bookstore downtown or their cozy neighborhood bookshop?
3. Should they go by themselves or ask someone to accompany them?
Before setting off, they debated several exciting choices:
1. Should they go right now or wait until tomorrow?
2. Should they go to the huge commercial bookstore downtown or their cozy neighborhood bookshop?
3. Should they go by themselves or ask someone to accompany them?
CBSE Step-by-Step Marking Scheme
Highlights love for reading books
1.0 M
Details debates: when to go, big vs small shop, alone vs accompanied
2.0 M
Q3
Reading is Fun • 'Going to Buy a Book'
Which book did the sister choose, and which book did the brother pick? Where did they read their new books?
[3 Marks]
✅ Step-by-Step Solution & Working
Sister's Choice: A fat, colorful book packed with enchanting picture illustrations.
Brother's Choice: A big book containing dozens of thrilling adventure stories.
Reading Spot: They rushed home, climbed into their grandfather's big, soft bed, nestled happily beside him, and read their beloved books together for hours.
Brother's Choice: A big book containing dozens of thrilling adventure stories.
Reading Spot: They rushed home, climbed into their grandfather's big, soft bed, nestled happily beside him, and read their beloved books together for hours.
CBSE Step-by-Step Marking Scheme
Identifies picture book for girl and adventure book for boy
1.5 M
Describes reading beside grandfather on his big bed
1.5 M
Q4
Grammar • Conjunctions (and, but, or)
Join the sentences using 'and', 'but', or 'or': (a) I wanted to buy the picture book. It was very expensive. (b) We can go to the big shop. We can go to the small shop.
[2 Marks]
✅ Step-by-Step Solution & Working
(a) I wanted to buy the picture book, but it was very expensive.
(b) We can go to the big shop, or we can go to the small shop.
(b) We can go to the big shop, or we can go to the small shop.
CBSE Step-by-Step Marking Scheme
Correct usage of 'but' for contrast
1.0 M
Correct usage of 'or' for choice
1.0 M
Q5
Reading is Fun • Poem Comprehension
In Unit 8 ('Books & Going to Buy a Book'), what is the central event in the poem, and what sounds of nature wake the morning world?
[2 Marks]
✅ Step-by-Step Solution & Working
Nature & Morning Sounds:
The poem celebrates the break of dawn. Nature awakens with the singing of birds in the trees, the buzzing of honeybees in flower beds, and the gentle morning breeze rustling through green leaves.
The poem celebrates the break of dawn. Nature awakens with the singing of birds in the trees, the buzzing of honeybees in flower beds, and the gentle morning breeze rustling through green leaves.
CBSE Step-by-Step Marking Scheme
Awakening of nature described
1 M
Specific sounds (birds, bees) identified
1 M
Q6
Reading is Fun • Story Comprehension
In the prose section of Unit 8, how does the main character overcome self-doubt or an unusual dilemma?
[3 Marks]
✅ Step-by-Step Solution & Working
Character Insight:
The character realizes that each individual is uniquely gifted and comparison with others leads to unnecessary unhappiness. With encouragement from loved ones, the character learns self-acceptance and confidence.
The character realizes that each individual is uniquely gifted and comparison with others leads to unnecessary unhappiness. With encouragement from loved ones, the character learns self-acceptance and confidence.
CBSE Step-by-Step Marking Scheme
Dilemma identified
1.5 M
Resolution through self-acceptance explained
1.5 M
Q7
Word Building • Antonyms
Find antonyms (opposites) for: (a) Tiny (b) Defeat (c) Selfish (d) Proud.
[2 Marks]
✅ Step-by-Step Solution & Working
Antonyms:
• (a) Tiny — Huge / Enormous.
• (b) Defeat — Victory / Win.
• (c) Selfish — Generous / Selfless.
• (d) Proud — Humble / Modest.
• (a) Tiny — Huge / Enormous.
• (b) Defeat — Victory / Win.
• (c) Selfish — Generous / Selfless.
• (d) Proud — Humble / Modest.
CBSE Step-by-Step Marking Scheme
All 4 opposites correct
2 M
Q8
Let us Write • Creative Expressions
Write two sentences describing how trees help birds, animals, and human beings as depicted in 'Books & Going to Buy a Book'.
[2 Marks]
✅ Step-by-Step Solution & Working
Importance of Trees:
Trees provide delicious fruits, oxygen, and cool shade for human beings and grazing animals. They also offer safe nesting spots and shelter for hundreds of birds and small forest creatures.
Trees provide delicious fruits, oxygen, and cool shade for human beings and grazing animals. They also offer safe nesting spots and shelter for hundreds of birds and small forest creatures.
CBSE Step-by-Step Marking Scheme
Benefits to humans and wildlife clearly stated
2 M
Q9
Grammar & Language • Conjunctions (and, but, because)
Join the pairs of sentences using 'and', 'but', or 'because':
(a) She ran fast. She missed the school bus.
(b) We stayed inside. It was raining heavily.
[2 Marks]
(a) She ran fast. She missed the school bus.
(b) We stayed inside. It was raining heavily.
✅ Step-by-Step Solution & Working
Joined Sentences:
• (a) She ran fast, but she missed the school bus.
• (b) We stayed inside because it was raining heavily.
• (a) She ran fast, but she missed the school bus.
• (b) We stayed inside because it was raining heavily.
CBSE Step-by-Step Marking Scheme
Correct use of 'but'
1 M
Correct use of 'because'
1 M
Q10
Talk Time • Imagination & Empathy
If animals and trees could speak our language, what important advice would they give to humans?
[2 Marks]
✅ Step-by-Step Solution & Working
Imaginative Advice:
They would urge humans to stop cutting down green forests, keep water bodies clean from plastic pollution, and treat every living creature with care and kindness.
They would urge humans to stop cutting down green forests, keep water bodies clean from plastic pollution, and treat every living creature with care and kindness.
CBSE Step-by-Step Marking Scheme
Thoughtful, empathetic environmental message
2 M
Q11
Vocabulary • Rhyming Couplets
Find two rhyming word pairs from the poem in Unit 8.
[2 Marks]
✅ Step-by-Step Solution & Working
Rhyming Pairs:
1. Bed - Head (rhyming sound '-ed').
2. Day - Play (rhyming sound '-ay').
1. Bed - Head (rhyming sound '-ed').
2. Day - Play (rhyming sound '-ay').
CBSE Step-by-Step Marking Scheme
Two valid rhyming pairs with sounds identified
2 M
Q12
Grammar • Subject and Predicate
Divide the sentence into Subject and Predicate: 'The little fir tree stood proudly in the green forest.'
[2 Marks]
✅ Step-by-Step Solution & Working
Sentence Division:
• Subject: The little fir tree
• Predicate: stood proudly in the green forest.
• Subject: The little fir tree
• Predicate: stood proudly in the green forest.
CBSE Step-by-Step Marking Scheme
Subject correctly identified
1 M
Predicate correctly identified
1 M
Q13
Think & Discuss • Life Lessons
What is the core moral lesson of Unit 8 ('Books & Going to Buy a Book')?
[2 Marks]
✅ Step-by-Step Solution & Working
Moral Lesson:
True happiness comes from gratitude, generosity, and valuing our natural surroundings. Greed and vanity only bring discontentment.
True happiness comes from gratitude, generosity, and valuing our natural surroundings. Greed and vanity only bring discontentment.
CBSE Step-by-Step Marking Scheme
Clear moral lesson with supporting detail
2 M
Q14
Review Questions • True or False
State True or False:
(a) Nasruddin was famous among his friends for boasting about his archery skills.
(b) Giving without expecting anything in return is true kindness.
(c) A question mark is placed at the end of an assertive sentence.
[3 Marks]
(a) Nasruddin was famous among his friends for boasting about his archery skills.
(b) Giving without expecting anything in return is true kindness.
(c) A question mark is placed at the end of an assertive sentence.
✅ Step-by-Step Solution & Working
Answers:
• (a) True: Nasruddin boasted about his aim.
• (b) True: Selfless giving is the highest virtue.
• (c) False: An assertive sentence ends with a full stop, not a question mark.
• (a) True: Nasruddin boasted about his aim.
• (b) True: Selfless giving is the highest virtue.
• (c) False: An assertive sentence ends with a full stop, not a question mark.
CBSE Step-by-Step Marking Scheme
True, True, False with explanations
3 M
🌟 NEP 2020 Competency-Based Case Study
School Library Reading Culture
A 4th-grade student told his teacher that he finds reading books boring and prefers 30-second video clips on video sharing apps.
Analytical Task: How does the habit of browsing and reading physical books in a library build sustained attention span and deep empathy compared to short video clips?
Evaluation & Model Answer:
Cognitive Superiority of Books: Short video clips deliver hyper-stimulating dopamine spikes every 30 seconds, fragmenting attention spans and creating mental fatigue.
Empathy & Deep Focus: Reading physical books requires sustained imaginative construction. The reader must visualize characters' faces, hear their tone of voice, and live inside another human being's shoes for days, building deep emotional empathy, cognitive patience, and sophisticated vocabulary.
Empathy & Deep Focus: Reading physical books requires sustained imaginative construction. The reader must visualize characters' faces, hear their tone of voice, and live inside another human being's shoes for days, building deep emotional empathy, cognitive patience, and sophisticated vocabulary.
Rubric: 1 Mark for contrast with attention fragmentation of micro-videos; 1 Mark for imaginative empathy and deep focus cultivated by books.