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Getting Granny's Glasses
Mani’s Granny is seventy and can barely see through her old, scratched glasses. With only a hundred and fifty rupees in their pocket and a thirst for adventure, Mani and Granny set off to buy a new pair. On the way, they get drenched in rain, run into mules and encounter a terrible landslide. Will Granny ever be able to reach the town and get herself a new pair of glasses?
This beautifully illustrated edition brings alive the magical charm of one of Ruskin Bond’s most unforgettable tales.
This beautifully illustrated edition brings alive the magical charm of one of Ruskin Bond’s most unforgettable tales.
48 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 21, 1985
35 people are currently reading
450 people want to read
About the author
Ruskin Bond
682 books3,579 followersRuskin Bond is an Indian author of British descent. He is considered to be an icon among Indian writers and children's authors and a top novelist. He wrote his first novel, The Room on the Roof, when he was seventeen which won John Llewellyn Rhys Memorial Prize in 1957. Since then he has written several novellas, over 500 short stories, as well as various essays and poems, all of which have established him as one of the best-loved and most admired chroniclers of contemporary India. In 1992 he received the Sahitya Akademi award for English writing, for his short stories collection, "Our Trees Still Grow in Dehra", by the Sahitya Akademi, India's National Academy of Letters in India. He was awarded the Padma Shri in 1999 for contributions to children's literature. He now lives with his adopted family in Landour near Mussoorie.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews
December 18, 2022
One of the best by Ruskin Bond!
The illustrations are 10/10.
The story telling is perfect. The writing style is subtle and warm (this is his signature).
The simple life in the hills; how the old neglect their health and how difficult it is to get basic healthcare has been described well.
Totally worth it.
The illustrations are 10/10.
The story telling is perfect. The writing style is subtle and warm (this is his signature).
The simple life in the hills; how the old neglect their health and how difficult it is to get basic healthcare has been described well.
Totally worth it.
April 15, 2015
I know I may not be the appropriate person to read this book. But I did not have access to Ruskin Bond's books when I was growing up. And now when I do, I thought I should not pass up this opportunity. I bought this book as a gift for my niece and ended up reading it myself :) After all, if adults can read YA books, why not children's books? The book is Bond at its best - detailed, visual descriptions of life in the hills & relationships. Additionally, the book has some great illustrations on almost every page. I loved reading the book; it felt as if I was hiking up & down Mussoorie.
April 16, 2014
Every summer we migrate north, like a tiny little flock of birds. We pack our bags with our baggiest pants, flimsiest cottons, a bottle of sunscreen, a tube of Odomos, our laptops, and a couple of light summer reads.
We landed at the Delhi airport, greeted by my loving in laws. Our first couple of days were spent laughing over lunches and dinners, and vegetating in my father-in-law’s TV room. When we got bored, we retired to our room to pull out our books and catch up with all the lost reading time. And so, on the very first night, as Little P nestled into the gap between his Dadaji’s back and the bed and listened to his bedtime story, Big P and I pulled out our books, switched on the AC, gave each other a grateful, happy grin and spread ourselves out on our bed ready to sink into our fictional worlds. Except, I had chosen wrong. A book about the nature of my soul wasn’t exactly what this moment needed. I was dissatisfied and after a while of tossing and turning and then trying to irritate Big P, I looked at a pile of books my niece had left from her last visit here. This is how I came across a shiny new Ruskin Bond.
According to the blurb on the top of the book ‘His stories are an essential part of any Indian childhood’. And yet, somehow I seemed to have grown up without this essential childhood experience. In my late teens I did read The Room on The Roof but I cannot really remember it. In fact, at a writer’s workshop I once attended, I remember hearing a woman go on about Ruskin Bond, and I could not understand her point of view. Since then, I believed him to be an oversell. We tend to make much of the few international literary successes we have in our country, and somehow I felt he either fell in that category of uber-intellectual, serious Indian writers who seem to get so touted about nowadays. Or alternatively, I thought he might be a Chetan-Bhagat-like-writer who proves that success as a writer is one part skill and three parts marketing.
But now in this moment of craven desperation for a book fix I grabbed a tiny little book, Getting Granny’s Glasses that completely altered my opinion of Ruskin Bond. In the short story, Mani’s old Granny can’t see any more. Her scratchy old glasses simply won’t do, and Mani’s father thinks it is time that Granny makes the two day journey down from their village to Mussorie’s eye hospital to get a new pair of glasses. Granny can’t go alone and she won’t tolerate Mani being left alone at home to keep an eye on things, so Mani happily volunteers to accompany his spirited Granny to Mussorie. Off they go with a roll of bedding, a tattered umbrella to guard them from sun and rain, and a cloth shopping bag. Their journey down to Mussorie is hardly uneventful. They are met by boisterous mules, a landslide and pouring rain, but happily they reach their destination and finally Granny can see Mani’s cheerful “blackberry” eyes, fuzzy hair and delight in what a good looking boy she has brought up.
I finished the book in about 15 minutes flat and it left me so utterly satisfied, I was able to sleep a wonderful sleep as one must on a summer vacation. Since then I have read several of Bond’s short stories and all of them leave me feeling warm and happy. I think it is because it is such a relief to read such gentle writing. While my husband lies beside me, devouring an old and much read copy of Harry Potter, so full of excitement and adventure, Ruskin Bond shows that stories don’t always need fast pace, magic and spells, archetypical characters like a villain or a hero, and violence to hold the reader rapt. He makes you long for simplicity. He makes you ache for a place where you can be so in touch with nature that is merely an extension of your being, as he did in his short story The Blue Umbrella.
I am sure that there are some detractors who think Ruskin Bond is talking about an old India, or an India that no longer is. And perhaps that is true. I don’t know very much of the country I live in. These holidays when we went to Vrindavan and Mathura, I witnessed such extreme squalor and apathy, that I understand why one would not understand Bond and his soft and loving descriptions of the hills and meadows, springs, streams and rivers. But the truth is that India is not just one kind of place. It is not just poor. It is not just filthy. It does have beauty. It does have kindness, and gentility. We don’t see it in our cities so much. We can’t imagine it when we read about honour killings and some of the awful things that happen in our villages. But it is there. I have seen glimpses of it in my short myopic life.
Ruskin Bond does not ignore these essential problems of living in these different times. He does write about deforestation, conservation, urban migration, climate change, greed, poverty and all those topics which matter in the modern world. Yet he is a compassionate writer and his characters always seem to emerge the victorious. If a child is patient enough, and sensitive enough, then Ruskin Bond will transport them to this magical world of beauty and humanity; where poverty is not something to curl your lip up at, or feel sorry about, but something you very nearly envy for its simplicity.
So in the end, I had to agree with that little blurb. If you have an 8 or 9 year old, get them reading Ruskin Bond’s short stories, especially before a trip to the hills. I found this little anthology by Rupa on my father in law’s shelf and think it is a useful and evergreen book to have on your shelf, because you can read his stories anytime, anywhere, no matter how old you get.
http://jollylittlechatterbugs.blogspo...
We landed at the Delhi airport, greeted by my loving in laws. Our first couple of days were spent laughing over lunches and dinners, and vegetating in my father-in-law’s TV room. When we got bored, we retired to our room to pull out our books and catch up with all the lost reading time. And so, on the very first night, as Little P nestled into the gap between his Dadaji’s back and the bed and listened to his bedtime story, Big P and I pulled out our books, switched on the AC, gave each other a grateful, happy grin and spread ourselves out on our bed ready to sink into our fictional worlds. Except, I had chosen wrong. A book about the nature of my soul wasn’t exactly what this moment needed. I was dissatisfied and after a while of tossing and turning and then trying to irritate Big P, I looked at a pile of books my niece had left from her last visit here. This is how I came across a shiny new Ruskin Bond.
According to the blurb on the top of the book ‘His stories are an essential part of any Indian childhood’. And yet, somehow I seemed to have grown up without this essential childhood experience. In my late teens I did read The Room on The Roof but I cannot really remember it. In fact, at a writer’s workshop I once attended, I remember hearing a woman go on about Ruskin Bond, and I could not understand her point of view. Since then, I believed him to be an oversell. We tend to make much of the few international literary successes we have in our country, and somehow I felt he either fell in that category of uber-intellectual, serious Indian writers who seem to get so touted about nowadays. Or alternatively, I thought he might be a Chetan-Bhagat-like-writer who proves that success as a writer is one part skill and three parts marketing.
But now in this moment of craven desperation for a book fix I grabbed a tiny little book, Getting Granny’s Glasses that completely altered my opinion of Ruskin Bond. In the short story, Mani’s old Granny can’t see any more. Her scratchy old glasses simply won’t do, and Mani’s father thinks it is time that Granny makes the two day journey down from their village to Mussorie’s eye hospital to get a new pair of glasses. Granny can’t go alone and she won’t tolerate Mani being left alone at home to keep an eye on things, so Mani happily volunteers to accompany his spirited Granny to Mussorie. Off they go with a roll of bedding, a tattered umbrella to guard them from sun and rain, and a cloth shopping bag. Their journey down to Mussorie is hardly uneventful. They are met by boisterous mules, a landslide and pouring rain, but happily they reach their destination and finally Granny can see Mani’s cheerful “blackberry” eyes, fuzzy hair and delight in what a good looking boy she has brought up.
I finished the book in about 15 minutes flat and it left me so utterly satisfied, I was able to sleep a wonderful sleep as one must on a summer vacation. Since then I have read several of Bond’s short stories and all of them leave me feeling warm and happy. I think it is because it is such a relief to read such gentle writing. While my husband lies beside me, devouring an old and much read copy of Harry Potter, so full of excitement and adventure, Ruskin Bond shows that stories don’t always need fast pace, magic and spells, archetypical characters like a villain or a hero, and violence to hold the reader rapt. He makes you long for simplicity. He makes you ache for a place where you can be so in touch with nature that is merely an extension of your being, as he did in his short story The Blue Umbrella.
I am sure that there are some detractors who think Ruskin Bond is talking about an old India, or an India that no longer is. And perhaps that is true. I don’t know very much of the country I live in. These holidays when we went to Vrindavan and Mathura, I witnessed such extreme squalor and apathy, that I understand why one would not understand Bond and his soft and loving descriptions of the hills and meadows, springs, streams and rivers. But the truth is that India is not just one kind of place. It is not just poor. It is not just filthy. It does have beauty. It does have kindness, and gentility. We don’t see it in our cities so much. We can’t imagine it when we read about honour killings and some of the awful things that happen in our villages. But it is there. I have seen glimpses of it in my short myopic life.
Ruskin Bond does not ignore these essential problems of living in these different times. He does write about deforestation, conservation, urban migration, climate change, greed, poverty and all those topics which matter in the modern world. Yet he is a compassionate writer and his characters always seem to emerge the victorious. If a child is patient enough, and sensitive enough, then Ruskin Bond will transport them to this magical world of beauty and humanity; where poverty is not something to curl your lip up at, or feel sorry about, but something you very nearly envy for its simplicity.
So in the end, I had to agree with that little blurb. If you have an 8 or 9 year old, get them reading Ruskin Bond’s short stories, especially before a trip to the hills. I found this little anthology by Rupa on my father in law’s shelf and think it is a useful and evergreen book to have on your shelf, because you can read his stories anytime, anywhere, no matter how old you get.
http://jollylittlechatterbugs.blogspo...
June 23, 2022
Ruskin Bond is my go-to author whenever I am looking for comfort reads. The fact that his stories never fail to vow comes as an added bonus. While looking for Mr. Bond’s books for children, I came across the beautifully illustrated Getting Granny’s Glasses, a Puffin Chapter Book.
Read the review on India's No. 1 Blog to learn more about the book and my experience of reading it - https://www.bookgeeks.in/getting-gran...
Read the review on India's No. 1 Blog to learn more about the book and my experience of reading it - https://www.bookgeeks.in/getting-gran...
December 30, 2021
I loved the story. In the story the granny have too much strength which is amazing.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 3, 2013
A good read for children. One of Ruskin Bond's simple tales set in a village near Mussoorie . Mani and his grandmother ( maternal) , take a long trip to Mussorie, overcoming few obstacles . His grandmother though very old, is more enthusiastic and more hardy than Mani, as she is able to take a long and arduous hike about and around the mountain when the bus- which was taking them to Mussoorie, is no longer able to go forward because of a landslide. The visit to the doctor is successful and granny gets a new pair of glasses and she can see things clearly. She sees that her grandson has grown more than she had thought.On the journey back to her home , in the bus Granny admires the view outside. Things which are mundane to the rest of the travellers, are not the same to her. Her pair of new glasses have made her appreciate more of nature's gifts.
May 5, 2021
‘’A grandmother’s love is forever and always’’
This short story, Getting Granny’s glasses was made so famous at the time of its release that it was published as a standalone book altogether with beautiful illustrations.
Well, whenever our glasses are worn off, we go to an eye doctor and ask him to make new ones for the old ones. Right, easy as going for a morning walk. But this is not the case in the story, Getting Granny’s glasses written by Ruskin Bond.
The story takes us to the family of a Granny and her eleven-year-old grandchild, Mani who embarks on a journey to get her grandmothers glasses repaired so that she can see the beauty of world again.
They go across the vast fields, mountain brows, rocky stones; eating their breakfast under shade of papaya trees to reach Nain; staying at their Uncles House; taking a bus to early morning; facing landslides in their Journey and ultimately reaching Mussoorie for her glasses.
Pheww!! Well making spectacles is not an easy task for people in rural hills.
A children story that you all will remember all your life and makes you look at the outside world with more fascination as it did for Granny from her Bus window.
This short story, Getting Granny’s glasses was made so famous at the time of its release that it was published as a standalone book altogether with beautiful illustrations.
Well, whenever our glasses are worn off, we go to an eye doctor and ask him to make new ones for the old ones. Right, easy as going for a morning walk. But this is not the case in the story, Getting Granny’s glasses written by Ruskin Bond.
The story takes us to the family of a Granny and her eleven-year-old grandchild, Mani who embarks on a journey to get her grandmothers glasses repaired so that she can see the beauty of world again.
They go across the vast fields, mountain brows, rocky stones; eating their breakfast under shade of papaya trees to reach Nain; staying at their Uncles House; taking a bus to early morning; facing landslides in their Journey and ultimately reaching Mussoorie for her glasses.
Pheww!! Well making spectacles is not an easy task for people in rural hills.
A children story that you all will remember all your life and makes you look at the outside world with more fascination as it did for Granny from her Bus window.
November 21, 2018
A simple, heartwarming story. It's beauty lies in it's simplicity.
July 12, 2022
There are some feel-good things, places and moments in everyone's life. So are in my life. And this book is one of those. This is my feel-good book. I always keep this book near me and just stare at the pictures for long. Something in this story comforts me. This book is simply innocence at its best. Written basically for kids, the book introduces the readers with vast beauty of nature. Kids, in their very early years of life, can enjoy different colours of nature and learn to observe simple things around them that usually go unnoticed.
How responsible and strong the hill people are! The book presents visual descriptions of the life in hills and shows the simplicity and care of humble hill folks amidst the harsh conditions in the hills. The joy of enjoying the beauty of nature has been best portrayed ny Mr. Bond through granny. Aren't kids and old age people same? Yes, they are. Their outlook towards life is full of purity and innocence. They make life beautiful.
This book is one of those that will always remain close to my heart.
How responsible and strong the hill people are! The book presents visual descriptions of the life in hills and shows the simplicity and care of humble hill folks amidst the harsh conditions in the hills. The joy of enjoying the beauty of nature has been best portrayed ny Mr. Bond through granny. Aren't kids and old age people same? Yes, they are. Their outlook towards life is full of purity and innocence. They make life beautiful.
This book is one of those that will always remain close to my heart.
September 1, 2022
What a wholesome read..! I definitely got into the reading world quite late otherwise if I had read it at a young age it would have been one of those comfort stories. Ruskin Bond give a very desi touch (brown/south-asian) which absorbs me as a reader more into his work. I've always enjoyed reading him.
January 11, 2023
Ruskin Bond is one of the most acclaimed writers in India. His pieces don't fail to touch hearts and leave behind a lingering lesson to reflect upon. This collection of 15 tales is also all about nostalgia and gratitude for the more minor things in life.
From 'The Cherry Tree' which explores the growth and blossoming of a cherry tree to Chachi's Funeral which explores the pathos of losing a dear friend and the importance of relationships at large, each story has round characters that, quite often, sound relatable. There are some great pieces on nature and its omnipresence like Angry River and A Walk Through Garhwal. There's another short poem Granny's Tree-Climbing that encourages everyone to do what they desire irrespective of any invisible boundary that makes them question their decision. The stories are true in their appeal and offer genuine moments of introspection if read consciously. The writing, as always, is admirable- simple yet effective.
Hence, this is a great book for children. The only drawback I could see was the small font which doesn’t add to the reading experience.
From 'The Cherry Tree' which explores the growth and blossoming of a cherry tree to Chachi's Funeral which explores the pathos of losing a dear friend and the importance of relationships at large, each story has round characters that, quite often, sound relatable. There are some great pieces on nature and its omnipresence like Angry River and A Walk Through Garhwal. There's another short poem Granny's Tree-Climbing that encourages everyone to do what they desire irrespective of any invisible boundary that makes them question their decision. The stories are true in their appeal and offer genuine moments of introspection if read consciously. The writing, as always, is admirable- simple yet effective.
Hence, this is a great book for children. The only drawback I could see was the small font which doesn’t add to the reading experience.
January 23, 2023
“A grandparent is a little bit parent, a little bit teacher, and a little bit best friend.”
Having the love and guidance of a grandparent is always a blessing. Their stories, their nostalgic recollections, and their emotion-laced memories are a treasure to cherish.
In “Granny’s Tales”, the author presents to us a heart-warming collection of stories of grandfathers and grandmothers who are not only fun to be with but are also quite young at heart.
From grandfathers that are ready to fight ostriches to grandmothers who can climb trees, these stories are hilarious yet full of warmth. The bond between a grandparent and a grandchild has been beautifully portrayed by the author in these stories.
It’s always a treat to read stories written by Ruskin Bond as his stories always give me the feeling of listening to stories by my grandpa. The backdrop of Mussoorie in almost all of his stories is an added bonus because mountains are my calling and my dream place to live in the future.
Whenever you are looking for something to read that cheers you up, go for this book without any doubt. Actually, I think Ruskin Sir’s books are meant for any and every occasion.
Having the love and guidance of a grandparent is always a blessing. Their stories, their nostalgic recollections, and their emotion-laced memories are a treasure to cherish.
In “Granny’s Tales”, the author presents to us a heart-warming collection of stories of grandfathers and grandmothers who are not only fun to be with but are also quite young at heart.
From grandfathers that are ready to fight ostriches to grandmothers who can climb trees, these stories are hilarious yet full of warmth. The bond between a grandparent and a grandchild has been beautifully portrayed by the author in these stories.
It’s always a treat to read stories written by Ruskin Bond as his stories always give me the feeling of listening to stories by my grandpa. The backdrop of Mussoorie in almost all of his stories is an added bonus because mountains are my calling and my dream place to live in the future.
Whenever you are looking for something to read that cheers you up, go for this book without any doubt. Actually, I think Ruskin Sir’s books are meant for any and every occasion.
August 12, 2023
Mani lives in a tiny village in the Himalayas with his dad and granny. They have to travel for two days to reach a bigger town called Mussoorie. Granny's glasses are really old and broken, so they need to be replaced urgently.
Granny doesn't want to go without Mani, but he agrees to come along. They make plans to buy other things from the market in Mussoorie too. Their journey is difficult but beautiful. They see wild berries, pretty birds, and lots of mules. It's always raining, and they visit small temples in the villages they pass through.
The book makes you feel like you're in the Himalayas too. It reminds you of a simple and happy life. You can't help but feel like you're traveling with Mani and Granny. The author, Ruskin Bond, really loves nature and slow-paced living, which is clear in this story. The ending is heartwarming and simple, without any big surprises. It just leaves you wanting to experience that time and world for yourself.
I highly recommend this book for kids and grown-ups.
Granny doesn't want to go without Mani, but he agrees to come along. They make plans to buy other things from the market in Mussoorie too. Their journey is difficult but beautiful. They see wild berries, pretty birds, and lots of mules. It's always raining, and they visit small temples in the villages they pass through.
The book makes you feel like you're in the Himalayas too. It reminds you of a simple and happy life. You can't help but feel like you're traveling with Mani and Granny. The author, Ruskin Bond, really loves nature and slow-paced living, which is clear in this story. The ending is heartwarming and simple, without any big surprises. It just leaves you wanting to experience that time and world for yourself.
I highly recommend this book for kids and grown-ups.
March 18, 2019
The book entails the intriguing journey of a grandmother along with the grandson in the backdrop of Mussorie. The journey of the duo is with obstacles but entertaining. Illustrator Sayantan Haldar has made it colourful by his illustrations making it more fun to read for the children. the narration of the story is simple but still connects to the characters. The affection between the maternal grandmohter and grandson is heartfelt and touching. The book also effectively showcases the rustic side of rural India and its simplicity.
July 3, 2023
This kind of book is read by small children I know that anyone might say. The cover, the pages, the feel everything is so crazy baby-like.
But the inspiration and love it produces while reading will definitely take you to another world.
I loved the child's utmost love for his grandmother and the tasks he does to show it.
But the inspiration and love it produces while reading will definitely take you to another world.
I loved the child's utmost love for his grandmother and the tasks he does to show it.
August 14, 2018
This is an amazing short story for children ...loved reading it as an adult though :D
Loved it ... it's a sweet story n recommend it to all children to read...sure they will love it 😍
Loved it ... it's a sweet story n recommend it to all children to read...sure they will love it 😍
June 2, 2020
Such a small book, very good for growing children, as always Ruskin Bond never fails to allure us with his affection,
And the end , the end of the story even so small had Mr Bond's characteristic ambiguous open end , love it.
And the end , the end of the story even so small had Mr Bond's characteristic ambiguous open end , love it.
June 1, 2021
My very first book. It's my favorite book too. Ruskin Bond always writes simple and elegant. His writing style impress every soul. Life of a young boy living in hills with his grandparents. The journey of them were really amazing and i loved it.
September 7, 2025
absolutely love LOVE LOVE THIS BOOK, the story telling is PERFECT, loved the way ruskin bond made the story feel so warm, loved it sm, i read it when i was literally a kid, and its still one of my favs
October 25, 2025
As simple as Ruskin Bond’s personality and his every book…..loved it…. Sometimes as an adult we all need to pause & read some children classics….. like The Blue Umbrella🤩 Bond takes you in another simple yet peaceful world (which may heal your inner childhood)
September 25, 2017
Nice simple story, set in India, about a grandson and his grandmother.
August 20, 2018
Beautiful story written in a wonderful manner. He is simply superb.
October 11, 2018
It is a small story of a Boy and his old granny. As usual Ruskin bond in his full strength. A good story for kids as well as adults those who like their childhood. One can read it in one go.
November 5, 2019
This is such a sweet book about a boy and his grandmother. Would highly recommend for ages 7 +.
December 20, 2019
A very touching story about the tough, but inspiring life in the mountains. Very nice illustrations as well, for children to get interested in reading.
December 27, 2019
I have loved reading short stories written by Ruskin Bond. Simple, crisp and relatable. My favourite author :)
February 23, 2020
I love to be a kid again!
June 27, 2020
I really love to read all Ruskin Bond's book
Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews