Adults may view the story as wistful, given that the innkeeper may or may not ever achieve his dream, but child readers will accept the possibility and view the potential journey with anticipation. As he imagines traveling by bicycle, car, plane, or train, he envisions being welcomed by friends around the world, with each day bringing unexpected pleasures. The lights are on in many of the animal neighborsÍ windows, so the bunny can see, hear and smell whatÍs happening inside: a pie being pulled out of the oven, a party, a goodbye hug. A mother rabbit carries her young bunny home through the dark, quiet streets. At night, when he dreams of packing a large suitcase and going far away, his thoughts are presented as large-scale spreads in full color. A gentle, dreamlike tale about heading home in the night. The innkeeper’s everyday existence is rendered in black and white, but these postcards and pictures appear as small spots of color that he carefully arranges on the wall of his room. Some travelers become his friends, and as their journeys continue, they send back letters. The ants have vanished the peacocks are dancing, and the banyan leaves shine. They enjoy the afternoon, noticing how the environment has changed once the rain stops. Everyone is busy, except for the boy’s Dadaji, grandfather. The solitary innkeeper of a hotel says he has “never known anywhere except this small town.” His days are all the same, as he greets guests-all anthropomorphic animals-provides refreshments, and resupplies rooms. A boy asks everyone in his family to join him outside in the Indian monsoon rain.
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