Books published by publisher Speaking Tiger Books

A timeless tale of friendship and adventure.When Peter Pan and his friend Tinker Bell come to visit Wendy, John and Michael, the three children are whisked away from their ordinary lives to the magical and hidden island Neverland. In Neverland they meet the Lost Boys, the ticking crocodile, and Tiger Lily the Princess. With Peter Pan they have many adventures, including a final, thrilling showdown with Peter’s enemy, the cruel Captain Hook.Funny, thought-provoking, and filled with action and adventure, the story of Peter Pan has been adapted for stage and film for over a century. In this original novel, he appears as he was first written—naughty, free spirited, the boy who never grew up. Introduced by Ruskin Bond, this classic edition will bewitch and enthrall readers all over again.

A glimpse into the heart and mind of a young girl who went on to become an important queen. In the Rajput kingdom of Amber, Jodh Bai, daughter of King Bihari Mal, is now a teenager. Her clan, the Kachhwahas, are a proud warrior race, but Jodh Bai is a dreamer and poet at heart. When she picks up an empty accounting book and starts writing her thoughts in it, she ends up recording the happenings in the world around her--the joys, sorrows and ambitions of the women, the brothers and uncles who are trained to be warriors, the beauty of the arid landscape, and the politics of the times that is bringing the Mughals from distant Agra closer and closer to Rajasthan. Then one day, she is told something unbelievable--she is going to wed the Mughal emperor Akbar. How will Jodh Bai, a Hindu princess, live in the Mughal zenana? Will she find a true companion in Akbar? And what will life be like away from her beloved Rajasthan? History does not record the existence of Jodh Bai. Instead, Akbar's Rajput wife is only referred to by the royal title of Mariam-us-Zamani. But in this heartfelt fictional diary, Subhadra Sen Gupta skilfully brings alive the story of a young Rajput princess who went on to become a powerful queen of the Mughal empire.

'By turns terrifying and amusing, this is not a book you want to read before you go to sleep. Or maybe you do...'--Jerry PintoSharmeen's life is disrupted when, after an unexpected tragedy, she moves into her Nani's rambling ancestral bungalow with her family. She hates this new life: her mother, Aliya, and Nani fight constantly; her new schoolmates bully her; and the family retainer, her loving Aziz Bhai, suddenly becomes dominating. The only place where Sharmeen finds solace is the world of Nani's fantastical stories: tales of Jinn, shapeshifters and other dastardly creatures. But slowly, unseen forces that had lain dormant for centuries start to awaken. Sharmeen meets her own personal Jinn, the prankster Jugnu, who reveals her family's history, a pact one of her ancestors made with the Jinn-world, and also some not-so-good news--and Sharmeen realizes that it is up to her to rescue the adults in her life...Mysterious, magical and moving, A Firefly in the Dark is a page-turner and a work of fantasy and soaring imagination that will delight readers of all ages.

If you ever thought history is boring, this funny and astonishing book is the perfect solution!DID YOU KNOW THAT...One of India's greatest emperors was erased from all history books for nearly 1,500 years?Beetles and beetle wings were a much sought-after fashion accessory once upon a time?The iron pillar in Delhi's Qutub complex does not rust?A French astronomer discovered the remains of a Roman port in South India?A caravan of elephants and camels from India once paraded the frozen streets of St Petersburg, Russia?Dive into these and many more odd and wonderful facts from the pages of Indian history. You will find here the megacity of ancient India whose existence we know of today from the accounts of Chinese and Greek travellers; the architects who created whispering galleries; the cluster of houses in Rajasthan covered with vibrant frescoes; and the strange story of how tea came to India. Lovelorn princes who lost their kingdoms; intrepid botanists who studied and recorded every plant in the Malabar region; the poem written in praise of garlic--these are some of the nuggets that capture the peculiar, the fascinating and the eccentric bits of history the way no textbook ever will!

‘By turns terrifying and amusing, this is not a book you want to read before you go to sleep. Or maybe you do...’—Jerry PintoSharmeen’s life is disrupted when, after an unexpected tragedy, she moves into her Nani’s rambling ancestral bungalow with her family. She hates this new life: her mother, Aliya, and Nani fight constantly; her new schoolmates bully her; and the family retainer, her loving Aziz Bhai, suddenly becomes dominating. The only place where Sharmeen finds solace is the world of Nani’s fantastical stories: tales of Jinn, shapeshifters and other dastardly creatures. But slowly, unseen forces that had lain dormant for centuries start to awaken. Sharmeen meets her own personal Jinn, the prankster Jugnu, who reveals her family’s history, a pact one of her ancestors made with the Jinn-world, and also some not-so-good news—and Sharmeen realizes that it is up to her to rescue the adults in her life…Mysterious, magical and moving, A Firefly in the Dark is a page-turner and a work of fantasy and soaring imagination that will delight readers of all ages.

Heartfelt poems and engaging stories for and about children by one of the greatest writers of Indian literature.In The Crescent Moon, Rabindranath Tagore brings alive the world of a child—in some poems he describes the simple joys of children at play, while in others, he feels the bonds of affection between mother and child, and in yet others, he expresses wonder at the earthly beauty all around us. Also included here are some of his most thought-provoking stories with themes that are relevant for children. In ‘The Kabuliwalla’ little Minnie becomes friendly with a burly Afghan man, but will she remember him when he returns after many years? ‘The Parrot’s Tale’ is an allegory about the perils of the modern system of education, and ‘The Kingdom of Cards’, set in a fantasy land of cards, is a powerful statement against the stifling of freedom of any kind.Playful, innocent and full of tender love, with themes that will resonate with readers who are young and old, The Crescent Moon—with a thoughtful introduction by Ruskin Bond—is truly an enduring classic.

A beautifully written account of the childhood of one of India's favourite writers 'I am now over eighty years old. A very grand age, when I am allowed to sit back and listen to birds, examine the shapes of mountain ranges, and let my mind wander. These days I find my thoughts going back to my childhood all the time...We become like little children when we are old!' In this beautiful, heartfelt and often humorous mini-autobiography, beloved storyteller Ruskin Bond relives the days of his childhood and teenage. He writes of carefree days in the port city of Jamnagar where little boy Ruskin read books upside down, wandered into rambling empty palaces, went for rides on lurching boats and in swooping, looping aeroplanes, and listened to tall tales told by a loving ayah and a colourful cook. He also describes his schooldays in Shimla--being dressed up as Humpty Dumpty for his very first stage performance, making friends, planning pranks and discovering a secret tunnel. He remembers his days in Delhi, where he lived with his father for one magical year when they explored monuments and cinema halls and became each other's closest companions. And he recalls his time in Dehra when he developed his love of reading and writing, cycled far and wide and loafed in the bazaar with new-found friends, and finally set out on the path of becoming a writer. Funny and imaginative, nostalgic and tender, this timeless book--embellished with lovely colour illustrations--is a record of a very special childhood.

The classic fictionalized story of a little boy who lived to be perhaps the greatest king this world has ever seen.Long before he entered history books as Emperor Akbar, the Great Mughal, Prince Akbar was a brave young boy, growing up alone while his father Humayun was far away, fighting to win back the throne of Hindustan. But he had his faithful companions, a fierce black sheepdog and a clever snow-white cat, to protect him from demons and other dangers. Join him in The Adventures of Prince Akbar as he gets entangled in conspiracies and battles, foils his wicked uncle’s attempts to kidnap him and playfully chases a bear over the snow, into a hidden green valley. A timeless classic read by children across the years and countries, The Adventures of Prince Akbar comes now with an introduction by Ruskin Bond and will be a book to treasure for a lifetime.

‘There is nothing to keep me here,Only these mountains of silenceAnd the gentle reserve of shepherds and woodmenWho know me as one whoWalks among trees.’ One of India’s finest and most popular writers, Ruskin Bond is loved as much for the lyricism of his verses as for his classic stories. Tender and unsparing, understated but powerful, his poems reveal a deep connection with nature and appreciation for a surprising range of human emotions. This definitive collection of his poems, written over a lifetime, brings together themes as diverse as love, nostalgia, humour, family and friends, solitude and, of course, the joys to be found in spending time with nature. A timeless classic to enjoy or share, I Was the Wind Last Night: New and Collected Poems is a treasured addition to every poetry lover’s bookshelf.

The thrilling adventures of Sinbad the sailor, Ali Baba and the forty thieves, and Princess Periezade—from the unforgettable 1001 Arabian Nights.Princess Scheherazade’s tales of the Arabian Nights, composed over ten centuries ago, have captivated the imagination of generations of readers. These unforgettable tales of adventure, magic and fantasy come alive in this collection. In ‘Sinbad the Sailor’, the prosperous sailor narrates his seven incredible ship journeys. In each of these voyages he ends up shipwrecked and encounters gigantic snakes and birds, cannibals, mythical creatures and more. But he escapes each time using his wit, amassing great wealth in the process. In ‘Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves’, Ali Baba and his family discover a secret cave filled with glittering gems and gold. But who will rescue them when the thieves trap them in the cave? And, in a lesser-known gem of a tale, the brave and intelligent Princess Periezade goes in search of the singing tree, the talking bird and the golden fountain, all of which lead her to an even greater secret.Dive into this collection, specially selected and introduced by Ruskin Bond, to enter a world full of wonder, enchantment and daredevilry.

A superb first book of poetry for children by award-winning author Jerry Pinto.Why is the hamster such a scamster?What's it with mothers and coconut oil?What happens to children who dig their noses?Why do we need new days of the week?What's a questoon?Award-winning author Jerry Pinto answers all these questions and more in his first book of poetry for children. Here you'll find happy poems, serious poems, poems that sound words of warning, poems that leave you on the floor laughing. There are poems about children who top their exams, or go swimming with sharks; and there are poems about fat cats lounging on mats, and rats in Bombay flats.Filled with illustrations as quirky as the poems, Tickle Me, Don't Tickle Me is hilarious and intelligent, tender and wicked. It is glorious.