The Hoopoe on the Lawn by Ruskin Bond

Book Name : The Hoopoe on the Lawn

Author : Ruskin Bond

Illustrator: Priya Kuriyan

Genre : Children’s Fiction

Language : English

Format : Hardback

Book Length : 64 pages 

Price : ₹399/-

Publishing House : Aleph Book Company

Publication Date : 5th April, 2024

ISBN : 978-8119635290

My Rating : 4/5

Blurb :

From the master storyteller comes a wonderful new tale about friendship, eccentric relatives, ghosts, nature, and the enduring magic of childhood.

Ruskin is eleven years old and visiting his granny’s home in Dehra during his winter holidays. Follow along as he takes you through the many things he experiences during his time there—a mischievous ghost hiding in an old peepul tree, delicious baked treats enclosed within a magic box, a man with a tin box containing odd knick-knacks, uncomfortable yet exciting tonga rides, surprising run-ins with Quit India protestors, the warm company of old Miss Kellner, pretty weeds that he calls ‘Purple Hearts’, and much else besides. Punctuating all these happenings is the hoopoe, a little bird with an attractive hairdo, which appears in granny’s garden at 3 p.m. every day, much to Ruskin’s delight.

In The Hoopoe on the Lawn, Ruskin Bond weaves together a story of the joys of unexpected friendships, the beauty of nature, and the simple pleasures of being young.

Review :

Granny’s home in the vacations and holidays is always a fixed destination, right? Well, so was it for our dear eleven year old Ruskin. Winter holidays, granny’s home and young Ruskin’s observant eye.

The novel spanned across six sections describes the authors adventures and encounters during his time in Dehra. He tells of meeting a playful ghost living in an old peepul tree, enjoying sweets and encountering a man with a tin box full of strange trinkets which I was familiar with having experienced such an incident in my grandparents village. Mr. Bond talks of taking exhilarating yet uncomfortable rides in a tonga, having surprising run-ins with Quit India protestors and enjoying the pleasant company of an elderly woman named Miss Kellner, a character his fans know of from his other works. Mr. Bond’s charming writing will leave the reader with a smile on their face.

Mr. Bond’s writing accompanied by Priya Kuriyan’s vibrant illustrations make this book a perfect summer read. This book made me crave for simpler times and I experienced the nostalgia that Mr. Bond might have felt while writing this wonderful book.

Ruskin Bond fans, you have a new book to devour!

Thanks to Aleph Book Company for providing me with the review copy in lieu of an honest review.