On the shelf

Rusty: The Boy from the HillsBy Ruskin BondPuffin; Rs 199THE stories and adventures of Rusty — Ruskin Bond’s alter ego — have...

Rusty: The Boy from the Hills
By Ruskin Bond
Puffin; Rs 199

THE stories and adventures of Rusty — Ruskin Bond’s alter ego — have appeared intermittently but this is the first time they have been given a sequential order. This book — the first in a series — traces Rusty’s escapades between his childhood years and early teens. The book contains 14 stories while Rusty was in Dehra Dun with his grandparents. Although, Bond assures his readers that Rusty is not the adventurous sort, the strangest and most extraordinary things happen in his presence that makes his stories absolutely fascinating to read.

From dealing with his grandfather’s pet python who falls in love with himself after gazing constantly in the mirror to the irresistible monkey, Tutu, who insists on shaking hands with each and everyone who visits the house, Rusty’s adventures are a must read for old and young alike.

Puja Birla

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A Parrot that could Pray and other stories, Brother against Brother and other stories, Halwa Tales and other stories
Retold by Neera Jain, Shinie Antony
Rupa; Rs 50 each

THREE characters grace the pages of these collections of short stories. King Vikram (of Vikram and Betal fame), Tenali Raman (the ‘‘Birbal of South India’’) and Mulla Nasruddin are here again to share their experiences with us. These are tales which have survived generations of children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Written in simple, easy-to-understand English, complete with colourful pictures, they are tailored to suit the needs of the school-going child and are entertaining as well as educative.

Miranda Yambem

Tales from Earthsea
By Ursula Le Guin
Orion; £10.99

There’s a thesis waiting to fleshed out. Why’s the current renaissance in children’s literature so focussed on fantasy? Gone are the school stories of the fifties and sixties and then the nineties(the Chalet Schools and Sweet Valley Highs), gone are the detective tales of the seventies and eighties (the Nancy Drews). Now reality is deemed just too boring. Wizards, evil counts and eccentric fairies are essential ingredients.

Timespans are fantastically large, and Tales from Earthsea feature some of Le Guins best-loved characters and take place hundreds of years before the happenings in A Wizard of Earthsea.