All-Time Favourites for Children

by Ruskin Bond

A keepsake edition with 25 stories.
Beautiful illustrations accompanying the stories make it a fun read
Engages middle-school students--an essential book to be stocked in libraries
A collection of Ruskin Bond's best stories with endearing characters--hand-picked by the author himself.

All Time Favourites for Children celebrates Ruskin Bond's writing with stories that are perennially loved and can now be enjoyed in a single collectible volume. Curated and selected by India's most loved writer, this collection brings some of the evocative episodes from Ruskin's life, iconic Rusty, eccentric Uncle Ken, ubiquitous grandmother, and many other charming, endearing characters in a single volume while also introducing us to a smattering of new ones that are sure to be firm favourites with young readers. Heart-warming, funny and spirited, this is a must-have on every bookshelf!

215 pages, Paperback

Published May 19, 2021

About the author

Ruskin 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.

Reviews

[Renu · Rating 5 out of 5]

I saw no reason not to pick up the newly released book by Ruskin Bond. When this book arrived it was raining, and just as the rain provided relief from the heat, this book soothed my grief from my gloomy textbooks. Beautifully and colorfully illustrated, this anthology is a collection of Ruskin Bond's favorite stories by him, some of which are written recently. Not to mention, the book smell of the book. It was a tough decision to make between 'biblichor' and 'petrichor'. Although a children's book, I highly recommend adults to read it too, as these books remind us to look at the lighter side of life. Reading Bond's work one can observe life does not happen in our "adventures", life is in the simplest way of everyday life. You just have to be observant.

[Venkat · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ruskin Bond's narration style is very heart touching and engaging. He keeps it super simple and somehow makes the reader relate to the events. There is also a sense of innocent humour that is sure to lighten up your day. Overall a good read!

[Ekta Kubba · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was continuously reading Mr Bond's books since this March. There was not a single day when I hadn't a book by Mr Bond in my hands. Whether it be a short story or a complete book, I was daily reading at least something written by him. It was natural to have come across the same story twice or more times. Then 2021 came with the news of many of his upcoming books. I was excited particularly for this one book, as it was a collection of his all-time favourites and was releasing on his 87th birthday. So, the book was pre-ordered. When I received the book, its cover, colourful illustrations and the texture of the pages (I'll not write anything about the smell of the book, as I am a person who is charmed more by the smell of old books than the new ones) cast a spell on me. The first story was charming. I always love reading about Koki's time spent with her grandmother and this time both of them experienced a new adventure. It was lovely. Then came the second story. Okay, I've already read it. I move on to the third, the fourth and then to the fifth story. All these stories were read from different books in the past month. It was like re-reading the stories that were read a few days earlier and their charm was still fresh in my heart. I didn't want to read these again. So, I put the book aside for a few days. But when I picked it up again, the charm of the cover and the texture of the pages again mesmerized me. I started reading the stories again. I was transported once again to a world that Mr Bond created from the real world. That world was his world but was most sought after by every reader of his books. And then there was no full stop but only commas and semicolons, because I was caught between 'reluctant to leave the book' and 'don't want the book to come to an end'. So, I was going slow, very very slow. I was living those moments Mr Bond has lived once or the characters from his stories are living; the characters who are from '... the mystery and multitude that was India.' This book is like revisiting your childhood. No matter how many times you've read the same story by Mr Bond, it has the power to keep you hooked to the book. Here are a few lines from the book that charmed me most:

'A warm wind brought little eddies of dust along the road. Summer was in the air. Ah, If only he could learn to climb trees again!'

How wonderful it is to live one's childhood again! And, Mr Bond lets you have this chance with his stories. There's one more with which I'll end the write-up a:

'No, it wasn't the Cross I came for. It was my lost youth.'

I highly recommend this book to Mr Bond's fans who are seekers of their bygone days.

#RuskinTheRadiantBond #RuskinBond

[Shreya Tulsyan · Rating 5 out of 5]

All time favourites by Ruskin Bond

What better way to wish an author happy birthday than to appreciate his work.
Ruskin has innumerable books and short stories to his credit, most of them being bestsellers.

This particular book is primarily meant for kids but will be appreciated by adults too. Ruskin's style is to write about everyday mundane things in such a way that every reader feels that he's been there and lived that life. There are some children's book grown ups really enjoy reading. This is surely one of those. Each one of the 25 short stories has a nice illustration depicting the story.

A must buy for a child who's just began reading

Publisher: @penguin
Price: Rs 250

[Pradeep Nair · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a wonderful collection of his short stories by the acclaimed writer Ruskin Bond.

Deriving from multiple sources – his earlier books – this collection is definitely a keeper. Each story is relatable and delightful. Each story has that capacity to remind you of something similar from your own childhood. That’s really what endears Ruskin Bond to his young readers.

Please do buy it, enjoy reading it, and share and recommend to family and friends alike.

[Arcy Thangluah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Got this as a present for the first ranker of my class and read it myself before I gave it away because : i) it's Bond and ii) the illustrations are too pretty to resist. Get this for yourself and everyone you love. I hope my student likes it and will have a fond memory to look back to after reading the wonderful stories.

[Shreya Karn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just finished reading this book. What a lovely collection of Ruskin Bond's work!! If you are looking for a soft relatable read, go for it! Every story just seems to be driven from nature and from aspects inspirig Indian life. I Like reading Ruskin Bond! 📚

[Swati · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful stories and beautiful illustrations. So many beautiful snapshots from his life and stories. I loved reading this, even when I am 35.

Great collection, as far as collection of Ruskin Bond’s stories is concerned. So rating them 5 stars. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[A_Chirping_Aquarian · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the book. Some of the stories I hve read before but the way they are written along with the most beautiful illustrations... I loved it ! 🤗🤗🤗

[Dilip Chauhan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Always my favourite. Love his writing so much 😊

[Reading_ Tamishly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review coming up ☕📚

[Kalaivani D.R · Rating 4 out of 5]

Chapter 20 was so inspiring though he wasted 1 year of time on learnt so much he met many new friends

[Manoj043 · Rating 5 out of 5]

remembered my childhood while read

[Aruna Kumar Gadepalli · Rating 4 out of 5]

Collection of 25 stories that are written by Ruskin Bond. Colour illustrations to some of the stories written earlier and included in this anthology.

[Parnaaz Kaur · Rating 4 out of 5]

AN AMAZING BOOK BY THE AUTHOR! I LOVED THE ILLUSTRATIONS SO MUCH. EVERY STORY WAS BEAUTIFUL AND LOVELY!!!!