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All-Time Favourite Friendship Stories
230 pages, Paperback
Published January 1, 2026
About the author
Ruskin Bond
748 books3,677 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 - 6 of 6 reviews
June 8, 2026
"We are born with our families... our friends come to us by chance or by choice."
Reading these lines from the introduction completely changed the way I looked at the cover of this book. This book is a heartwarming collection of 25 illustrated tales that celebrate the people we choose to keep in our lives—the friends who quietly become family.
What I loved most about these stories is how they take us back to a time when friendships weren't shaped by screens, notifications, or packed schedules. In *The Hidden Pool*, three boys from very different backgrounds discover a secret water hole in the hills, make a pact of friendship, and set off on an unforgettable adventure together. Then there's the gentle nostalgia of *Rusty and Somi*, which perfectly captures the bittersweet beauty of childhood friendships—the kind built on shared bicycles, roadside chaat, secrets, and the unspoken promise that distance can never really change what you mean to each other.
One of my favourite pieces in the collection was *My First Typewriter*, where the author reflects on how the kind-hearted Mr. Bromley helped him buy his very first typewriter. It's a simple yet touching reminder of how a single person's belief in us can quietly shape the course of our lives.
Throughout this book, the author writes about friendships forged during long walks in the mountains, through shared struggles, unexpected encounters, and moments of quiet companionship. And it isn't just human friendships that find a place here. Many stories celebrate our connection with animals and nature, reminding us that comfort, loyalty, and understanding can often be found in the most unexpected corners of the world.
What makes this collection so comforting is the warmth and sincerity woven into every page. The author mentions that he has made friends in the most unlikely places—hospital wards, school dormitories, railway platforms, and lonely boarding houses—and that spirit of unexpected yet deeply meaningful connection runs through the entire book.
Paired with David Yambem's charming illustrations, this book feels like a warm cup of tea on a rainy afternoon. It's the kind of book you keep by your bedside and return to whenever life feels a little too rushed, simply to be reminded of gentler days, genuine friendships, and the quiet beauty of human connection.
Reading these lines from the introduction completely changed the way I looked at the cover of this book. This book is a heartwarming collection of 25 illustrated tales that celebrate the people we choose to keep in our lives—the friends who quietly become family.
What I loved most about these stories is how they take us back to a time when friendships weren't shaped by screens, notifications, or packed schedules. In *The Hidden Pool*, three boys from very different backgrounds discover a secret water hole in the hills, make a pact of friendship, and set off on an unforgettable adventure together. Then there's the gentle nostalgia of *Rusty and Somi*, which perfectly captures the bittersweet beauty of childhood friendships—the kind built on shared bicycles, roadside chaat, secrets, and the unspoken promise that distance can never really change what you mean to each other.
One of my favourite pieces in the collection was *My First Typewriter*, where the author reflects on how the kind-hearted Mr. Bromley helped him buy his very first typewriter. It's a simple yet touching reminder of how a single person's belief in us can quietly shape the course of our lives.
Throughout this book, the author writes about friendships forged during long walks in the mountains, through shared struggles, unexpected encounters, and moments of quiet companionship. And it isn't just human friendships that find a place here. Many stories celebrate our connection with animals and nature, reminding us that comfort, loyalty, and understanding can often be found in the most unexpected corners of the world.
What makes this collection so comforting is the warmth and sincerity woven into every page. The author mentions that he has made friends in the most unlikely places—hospital wards, school dormitories, railway platforms, and lonely boarding houses—and that spirit of unexpected yet deeply meaningful connection runs through the entire book.
Paired with David Yambem's charming illustrations, this book feels like a warm cup of tea on a rainy afternoon. It's the kind of book you keep by your bedside and return to whenever life feels a little too rushed, simply to be reminded of gentler days, genuine friendships, and the quiet beauty of human connection.
July 18, 2026
All-Time Favourite Friendship Stories is an intimate collection of stories compiled and curated by Ruskin Bond. He examines friendship that cuts through hierarchical ties bound only by mutual love and respect. Most introductions in Bond's books portray his witticisms but in this curated collection, he contemplates the meaning of friendship.
”It is difficult to define a friend. Sometimes he is just someone who happens to be there when you need him-when you're alone, isolated, in need of a helping hand.”
Friendship can be formed in the most unusual circumstances. For instance, a young Ruskin was prohibited to meet the sweeper boy, but at the end of the tale, they were just two humans braving the rains. The analogy of the thunderstorm illustrates how two boys faced the obstacle together. Another interesting account is of how the rivalry between two young boys was dissolved in a pool. The Playing Fields of Simla chronicles the author's life as a young boy who befriended a Muslim boy Omar, during the Partition. Their equation wasn't threatened by the erected borders.
Bond had a way of befriending people because of his warm nature. His anecdotal style of storytelling delves deep into the universal themes and truths that make the readers uncomfortable. But the feeling of uneasiness is essential to understand how friendship bloom and wilt.
The thoughtful illustrations by David Yambem give an additional layer to the culturally rooted stories. His sketches transport us to the colourful imaginative
mind of Ruskin Bond.
”They looked at each other with honest, unflinching eyes, and in that moment love and understanding were born.”
”It is difficult to define a friend. Sometimes he is just someone who happens to be there when you need him-when you're alone, isolated, in need of a helping hand.”
Friendship can be formed in the most unusual circumstances. For instance, a young Ruskin was prohibited to meet the sweeper boy, but at the end of the tale, they were just two humans braving the rains. The analogy of the thunderstorm illustrates how two boys faced the obstacle together. Another interesting account is of how the rivalry between two young boys was dissolved in a pool. The Playing Fields of Simla chronicles the author's life as a young boy who befriended a Muslim boy Omar, during the Partition. Their equation wasn't threatened by the erected borders.
Bond had a way of befriending people because of his warm nature. His anecdotal style of storytelling delves deep into the universal themes and truths that make the readers uncomfortable. But the feeling of uneasiness is essential to understand how friendship bloom and wilt.
The thoughtful illustrations by David Yambem give an additional layer to the culturally rooted stories. His sketches transport us to the colourful imaginative
mind of Ruskin Bond.
”They looked at each other with honest, unflinching eyes, and in that moment love and understanding were born.”
June 20, 2026
Ruskin Bond has a way of making the simplest moments feel unforgettable, and All-Time Favourite Friendship Stories is a lovely reminder of that. Every story in this collection celebrates friendship in a different form—between children, classmates, strangers, and even the people who unexpectedly leave a mark on our lives.
My favourite was "The Four Feathers." The image of four boys calling themselves "companions in adventure, comrades-in-arms, and knights of the round table" instantly transported me back to the carefree confidence of childhood. Their hilarious attempt to "adopt" an abandoned baby had me chuckling, especially when one of them says, "We can't adopt a baby," only to be corrected by another. The moment when Bond proudly declares, "Scout Law Number Three, sir. To be useful and helpful," perfectly captures the innocence and sincerity that runs through the story.
I also enjoyed slipping into the world of "Here Comes Mr Oliver," where Bond's trademark school humour and affectionate observations are impossible not to smile at. The remaining stories continue in the same vein, blending warmth, nostalgia, gentle humour, and quiet life lessons without ever sounding preachy.
REad the full review here: https://aliveshadow.com/review-all-ti...
June 9, 2026
Reading 'All-Time Favourite Friendship Stories' felt like revisiting an old neighborhood where every lane holds a memory. Ruskin Bond has always finds meaning in ordinary moments, and this collection is a reminder of why his stories continue to resonate across generations. This book includes some of Bond's well-know stories such as 'The Playing Fields of Simla', 'Rusty and Somi', 'The Hidden Pool', 'Two Boys and a Tiger' etc.
These stories explore loyalty, companionship, forgiveness, nostalgia, and the small moments that make friendships meaningful. The friendships in these pages are not dramatic or larger than life. They are built through shared adventures, quiet conversations, childhood mischief, and the simple act of showing up for one another. Whether it's a bond between two young friends, an unexpected connection with an animal, or a fleeting friendship that leaves a lasting mark, Bond captures them with warmth and sincerity.
In a world that often celebrates grand gestures, these stories remind us that friendship is usually found in smaller moments. Gentle, nostalgic, and comforting, this collection feels less like a book and more like spending an afternoon with an old friend.
These stories explore loyalty, companionship, forgiveness, nostalgia, and the small moments that make friendships meaningful. The friendships in these pages are not dramatic or larger than life. They are built through shared adventures, quiet conversations, childhood mischief, and the simple act of showing up for one another. Whether it's a bond between two young friends, an unexpected connection with an animal, or a fleeting friendship that leaves a lasting mark, Bond captures them with warmth and sincerity.
In a world that often celebrates grand gestures, these stories remind us that friendship is usually found in smaller moments. Gentle, nostalgic, and comforting, this collection feels less like a book and more like spending an afternoon with an old friend.
July 16, 2026
Another lovely book by the beloved Ruskin Bond. He's always had this rare ability to make the simplest moments feel unforgettable. He finds magic in everyday life, and that's exactly what makes his stories so comforting to read. All-Time Favourite Friendship Stories is another lovely collection that reminds us why generations of readers continue to adore his writing.
Across twenty-five stories, we meet school friends, unexpected companions, kind strangers, loyal animals and children discovering the world around them. Every story celebrates a different shade of friendship, whether it's built through mischief, adventures or the smallest acts of kindness. The collection is beautifully complemented by David Yambem's illustrations. It feels warm, inviting and perfect for readers of all ages.
The writing is simple, gentle and full of heart, making this a book a charming read. For people who have grown up reading Ruskin Bond, this collection will feel like meeting an old friend again. And for the ones reading him for the first time, I can't think of a better place to begin.
Across twenty-five stories, we meet school friends, unexpected companions, kind strangers, loyal animals and children discovering the world around them. Every story celebrates a different shade of friendship, whether it's built through mischief, adventures or the smallest acts of kindness. The collection is beautifully complemented by David Yambem's illustrations. It feels warm, inviting and perfect for readers of all ages.
The writing is simple, gentle and full of heart, making this a book a charming read. For people who have grown up reading Ruskin Bond, this collection will feel like meeting an old friend again. And for the ones reading him for the first time, I can't think of a better place to begin.
May 13, 2026
This anthology with a collection of 24 stories and a poem about friendship.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews