‘The tiger approached the bars and allowed Grandfather to put both hands around his head. Grandfather stroked the tiger’s forehead and tickled his ear, and, whenever he growled, smacked him across the mouth, which was his old way of keeping him quiet.’

Animals can teach us more about love than we like to admit. They can often be exactly what you need after a long, hard day. A dog greeting you at the door, a cat curling up next to you in bed, are joys that are incomparable. They are intuitive, large hearted and often can be extremely amusing and can spark curiosity in humans.

In Grandfather’s Private Zoo, Ruskin Bond brings together stories and personal essays that speak to this animal–human equation. He takes us into the world of talking crows, tigers who become your best friends, monkeys with an affinity for pearls and many more such amusing, often emotional, tales!