ਕਾਂ ਬਣ!
The Cow Who Would Not Be a Crow
Book two in the ਗਾਂ ਤੇ ਕਾਂ series. The crow has decided the cow should be a crow — and he has instructions. The cow is very good at being a cow. Uses the words you already know, plus one new one: ਬਣ (become).
The whole book is free to read right here. Want it for bedtime, the car, or the classroom? Take it home as a printable PDF.
From $2.99 — pay more if it feels right. Every copy supports more free Punjabi readers for kids.
Words you'll read
- ਗਾਂ
- ਕਾਂ
- ਹਾਂ
- ਬਣ
How to read this book
This is a controlled-vocabulary reader — a little book your child can read on their own. It uses only a handful of Punjabi words, repeated often, so a brand-new reader succeeds from the very first page.
- Read it together first, pointing at each word as you say it.
- Then let them read it back to you — sounding out the Gurmukhi.
- Reread it. Kids reread what makes them laugh, and rereading is how reading becomes automatic.
- Turn the English captions off (button below) once they know the story, for pure Gurmukhi practice.
What this book is really about
For grown-ups: this one is quietly about being yourself. The crow is certain the cow would be better as a crow and tries everything to remake her — and the cow, cheerfully, stays exactly, completely herself. It's a gentle way to talk with your child about not having to change who you are to make someone else happy — and how “yes, I hear you” and “no, I won't” can live in the same calm smile. Funny first; the lesson is here for you, not printed over the fun.
“Cow!” says the crow.
“Become a crow!”
“A crow?”
“Yes! Become a crow!”
“Yes,” says the cow. (She does not change at all.)
“No! No!”
The crow shows her exactly how.
“Become! Become! Become!”
The cow is very, very good at being a cow.
“Yes.” (She will not be a crow.)
Words in this book
- ਗਾਂ gaan cow
- ਕਾਂ kaan crow
- ਹਾਂ haan yes
- ਬਣ ban become
After this book, your child can read 4 Punjabi words. Read it together, then let them read it back to you — the repetition is where the reading comes from.
The whole book is free to read right here. Want it for bedtime, the car, or the classroom? Take it home as a printable PDF.
From $2.99 — pay more if it feels right. Every copy supports more free Punjabi readers for kids.
Where to go next
- Sikh children's books Illustrated stories to read together — Fateh Singh, Simran Kaur, and the Gurus.
- Punjabi picture dictionary Hundreds of everyday Gurmukhi words with pictures, to grow the words they know.
- Learn Gurmukhi Letters, matras and tracing worksheets — the writing side of the same skill.