Judul Buku: What If? – Bagaimana Jika?
Penerjemah: Risman Wildan
Teks Bahasa Sumber
My name is Shyam, I am ten years old.
I am a little skinny, but very bold!
Waking up for school is no fun at all
I am so sleepy as I get up, I think I will fall.
My eyes close as I begin to brush,
I hear Amma making dosas in a rush.
My mind slowly begins to wander away,
And many, many ideas come into play.
What if my neck was ten times as long?
Half in school, half at home, where would I
belong?
What if my legs were as tall as trees?
My school building would only come up to
my knees?
What if my arms were strong enough?
Then, lifting Amma would not be tough!
What if there was nothing too hard for my
teeth?
Think of all the things I could eat?
Teks Bahasa Sasaran
Namaku Shyam, Aku berusia 10 tahun.
Aku sedikit kurus, tapi rambutku tak bisa
lurus!
Bangun untuk ke sekolah sangat tidak
menyenangkan.
Aku masih mengantuk, sampai-sampai
badanku tak bisa menahan!
Aku mulai menyikat gigi, namun mataku
masih tertutup.
Di luar Aku dengar Amma sedang membuat
dosas dengan tergesa-gesa.
Tiba-tiba pikiranku terbang kemana-mana,
Dan banyak ide-ide mulai bermunculan
seketika.
Bagaimana ya, jika leherku bisa memanjang
10 kali lipat?
Ada dimana ya aku? Mungkin setengah di
rumah, setengah di sekolah!
Bagaimana ya, jika kakiku setinggi pohon-
pohon?
Bangunan sekolahku nanti mungkin hanya
setinggi lututku, kan?
Bagaimana ya, jika aku punya lengan yang
sangat kuat?
Tentu, akan mudah mengangkat Amma yang
sangat berat!
Bagaimana ya, jika gigiku tak pernah merasa
sakit?
Pasti semua benda bisa kugigit, kan?
What if my belly was as round as could be? Apa jadinya ya, bila perutku bisa membulat?
All my friends could jump and bounce off me! Tentu perutku bisa membuat teman-temanku
meloncat dan melompat!

What if I had big and floppy ears? Apa jadinya ya, jika aku punya sepasang
I could hear everything, far and near! telinga yang sangat besar?
Tentu jauh dan dekat, aku bisa dengar!

What if—I begin, but Amma shouts, Bagaimana ya, jika aku—aku mulai, tapi suara
“Shyam, you’ll be late, what are you thinking Amma membangunkan lamunanku,
about?” “Sedang apa kamu, Shyam? Kau akan
terlambat. Apa yang sedang kau lakukan?”

I find myself still standing with my brush in Aku tersadar, ternyata Aku masih berdiri
my hand, memegang sikat gigi.
And I smile and think of my secret little land. Seketika Aku tersenyum, dan memikirkan
petualangan ke pulau kecil rahasiaku.