NCERT Textbook: Malu Bhalu | English Marigold Class 5 PDF Download

 Page 1


Malu Bhalu
High up in an icy lair
Lived a little polar bear
Snow white, snow bright was her mane, 
Malu Bhalu was her name.
Very soon our Malu Bhalu
Learnt the things her parents knew. 
Fish to catch, big and small...
Malu was a clever girl.
Malu said to her mother one day: 
Ma, I’m going far out to play.
I want to see the things that lie 
There beyond the big blue sky.
A little patience, child, said Mum, 
In the summer when next it comes. 
Summer?... Patience?... What a test! 
Malu simply could not rest.
Marigold
1 5 7
Read and Enjoy
Unit 10
Reprint 2024-25
Page 2


Malu Bhalu
High up in an icy lair
Lived a little polar bear
Snow white, snow bright was her mane, 
Malu Bhalu was her name.
Very soon our Malu Bhalu
Learnt the things her parents knew. 
Fish to catch, big and small...
Malu was a clever girl.
Malu said to her mother one day: 
Ma, I’m going far out to play.
I want to see the things that lie 
There beyond the big blue sky.
A little patience, child, said Mum, 
In the summer when next it comes. 
Summer?... Patience?... What a test! 
Malu simply could not rest.
Marigold
1 5 7
Read and Enjoy
Unit 10
Reprint 2024-25
First things first! Malu’s mum 
Clasped Malu tight within her arms. 
Then she said — her voice was firm 
Now my dear you’ll have to swim.
But Ma! said Malu, what do I know?
How will I? I’ve never swum before!
Don’t worry dear, said Malu’s mother,
Do as I do, that’s all, she advised her.
She had no choice, no other way, 
Malu had to swim that day.
Tight she gripped her mother’s hand,
Into the water splash! to land.
Brave mother’s brave young daughter! 
Doubt and fear she left behind her. 
Malu swam with all her might,
It didn't matter wrong or right.
But swimming came so naturally,
Her mother knew this and all could see. 
Fearless was Malu, this she knew, 
Not just brave, but special too.
Translated from Hindi by SANDHYA RAO
Excerpts from Malu Bhalu by Kamla Bhasin 
Marigold
1 5 8
Reprint 2024-25
Page 3


Malu Bhalu
High up in an icy lair
Lived a little polar bear
Snow white, snow bright was her mane, 
Malu Bhalu was her name.
Very soon our Malu Bhalu
Learnt the things her parents knew. 
Fish to catch, big and small...
Malu was a clever girl.
Malu said to her mother one day: 
Ma, I’m going far out to play.
I want to see the things that lie 
There beyond the big blue sky.
A little patience, child, said Mum, 
In the summer when next it comes. 
Summer?... Patience?... What a test! 
Malu simply could not rest.
Marigold
1 5 7
Read and Enjoy
Unit 10
Reprint 2024-25
First things first! Malu’s mum 
Clasped Malu tight within her arms. 
Then she said — her voice was firm 
Now my dear you’ll have to swim.
But Ma! said Malu, what do I know?
How will I? I’ve never swum before!
Don’t worry dear, said Malu’s mother,
Do as I do, that’s all, she advised her.
She had no choice, no other way, 
Malu had to swim that day.
Tight she gripped her mother’s hand,
Into the water splash! to land.
Brave mother’s brave young daughter! 
Doubt and fear she left behind her. 
Malu swam with all her might,
It didn't matter wrong or right.
But swimming came so naturally,
Her mother knew this and all could see. 
Fearless was Malu, this she knew, 
Not just brave, but special too.
Translated from Hindi by SANDHYA RAO
Excerpts from Malu Bhalu by Kamla Bhasin 
Marigold
1 5 8
Reprint 2024-25
lair : wild animal’s lying-place
mane : long hair on the neck of some animals
clasped : (here) encircle, hold closely
might : great strength
New Words
1.  Where did the polar bear live with her family?
2. What did Malu learn to do from her parents?
3. Where did Malu want to travel?
4. What was it that Malu’s parents wanted her to learn?
5. Was Malu scared to swim? Did she learn it easily?
6. Read the last two stanzas of the poem. Whom does ‘she’ 
stand for in both?
7. See  the picture shown below and talk about it.
Marigold
1 5 9
Reprint 2024-25
Page 4


Malu Bhalu
High up in an icy lair
Lived a little polar bear
Snow white, snow bright was her mane, 
Malu Bhalu was her name.
Very soon our Malu Bhalu
Learnt the things her parents knew. 
Fish to catch, big and small...
Malu was a clever girl.
Malu said to her mother one day: 
Ma, I’m going far out to play.
I want to see the things that lie 
There beyond the big blue sky.
A little patience, child, said Mum, 
In the summer when next it comes. 
Summer?... Patience?... What a test! 
Malu simply could not rest.
Marigold
1 5 7
Read and Enjoy
Unit 10
Reprint 2024-25
First things first! Malu’s mum 
Clasped Malu tight within her arms. 
Then she said — her voice was firm 
Now my dear you’ll have to swim.
But Ma! said Malu, what do I know?
How will I? I’ve never swum before!
Don’t worry dear, said Malu’s mother,
Do as I do, that’s all, she advised her.
She had no choice, no other way, 
Malu had to swim that day.
Tight she gripped her mother’s hand,
Into the water splash! to land.
Brave mother’s brave young daughter! 
Doubt and fear she left behind her. 
Malu swam with all her might,
It didn't matter wrong or right.
But swimming came so naturally,
Her mother knew this and all could see. 
Fearless was Malu, this she knew, 
Not just brave, but special too.
Translated from Hindi by SANDHYA RAO
Excerpts from Malu Bhalu by Kamla Bhasin 
Marigold
1 5 8
Reprint 2024-25
lair : wild animal’s lying-place
mane : long hair on the neck of some animals
clasped : (here) encircle, hold closely
might : great strength
New Words
1.  Where did the polar bear live with her family?
2. What did Malu learn to do from her parents?
3. Where did Malu want to travel?
4. What was it that Malu’s parents wanted her to learn?
5. Was Malu scared to swim? Did she learn it easily?
6. Read the last two stanzas of the poem. Whom does ‘she’ 
stand for in both?
7. See  the picture shown below and talk about it.
Marigold
1 5 9
Reprint 2024-25
Now write a detailed character sketch of Malu Bhalu.
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
Malu Bhalu True or False Character Sketch
Malu’s hair was white.
Malu knew how to swim.
Malu was playing with 
the penguins.
Malu was good at 
catching fish.
Malu was a brave bhalu.
Malu did not love her 
mother.
Malu’s mother was firm.
brave, strong, 
hardworking, 
eager to learn more, 
smart, caring, impatient, 
female, affectionate, 
bold, playful, white, 
adventurous, clever, 
young, fearless
1. _____________________
2. _____________________
3. _____________________
4. _____________________
5. _____________________
6. _____________________
Marigold
1 6 0
Reprint 2024-25
Page 5


Malu Bhalu
High up in an icy lair
Lived a little polar bear
Snow white, snow bright was her mane, 
Malu Bhalu was her name.
Very soon our Malu Bhalu
Learnt the things her parents knew. 
Fish to catch, big and small...
Malu was a clever girl.
Malu said to her mother one day: 
Ma, I’m going far out to play.
I want to see the things that lie 
There beyond the big blue sky.
A little patience, child, said Mum, 
In the summer when next it comes. 
Summer?... Patience?... What a test! 
Malu simply could not rest.
Marigold
1 5 7
Read and Enjoy
Unit 10
Reprint 2024-25
First things first! Malu’s mum 
Clasped Malu tight within her arms. 
Then she said — her voice was firm 
Now my dear you’ll have to swim.
But Ma! said Malu, what do I know?
How will I? I’ve never swum before!
Don’t worry dear, said Malu’s mother,
Do as I do, that’s all, she advised her.
She had no choice, no other way, 
Malu had to swim that day.
Tight she gripped her mother’s hand,
Into the water splash! to land.
Brave mother’s brave young daughter! 
Doubt and fear she left behind her. 
Malu swam with all her might,
It didn't matter wrong or right.
But swimming came so naturally,
Her mother knew this and all could see. 
Fearless was Malu, this she knew, 
Not just brave, but special too.
Translated from Hindi by SANDHYA RAO
Excerpts from Malu Bhalu by Kamla Bhasin 
Marigold
1 5 8
Reprint 2024-25
lair : wild animal’s lying-place
mane : long hair on the neck of some animals
clasped : (here) encircle, hold closely
might : great strength
New Words
1.  Where did the polar bear live with her family?
2. What did Malu learn to do from her parents?
3. Where did Malu want to travel?
4. What was it that Malu’s parents wanted her to learn?
5. Was Malu scared to swim? Did she learn it easily?
6. Read the last two stanzas of the poem. Whom does ‘she’ 
stand for in both?
7. See  the picture shown below and talk about it.
Marigold
1 5 9
Reprint 2024-25
Now write a detailed character sketch of Malu Bhalu.
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
Malu Bhalu True or False Character Sketch
Malu’s hair was white.
Malu knew how to swim.
Malu was playing with 
the penguins.
Malu was good at 
catching fish.
Malu was a brave bhalu.
Malu did not love her 
mother.
Malu’s mother was firm.
brave, strong, 
hardworking, 
eager to learn more, 
smart, caring, impatient, 
female, affectionate, 
bold, playful, white, 
adventurous, clever, 
young, fearless
1. _____________________
2. _____________________
3. _____________________
4. _____________________
5. _____________________
6. _____________________
Marigold
1 6 0
Reprint 2024-25
  Read the following passage carefully. 
 One day Meena plucks a mango and brings it home. Her 
grandmother gives the larger piece to Raju because he is a 
boy. Meena protests. After all, she brought the mango and 
she is the elder of the two. She insists she has a greater 
right over her share. Her father comes to her help and 
divides the mango equally.
 Now answer the questions.
 (i) Who brought the mango home?
 (ii) Why did Meena’s grandmother give a larger piece 
  to  Raju?
 (iii) Who do you think should have got the larger piece?
1. Using the following clues write about yourself in the space 
below — name, place you live in, physical features, habits, 
likes and dislikes etc.
 ________________________________________________________
 ________________________________________________________
 ________________________________________________________
 ________________________________________________________
2. What are the things your mother asks you to do?
 Things you like to do     Things you do not like to do 
 _________________________  _________________________
 _________________________  _________________________
 _________________________  _________________________
 _________________________  _________________________
Let's Talk
Marigold
1 6 1
Reprint 2024-25