The Cherry Tree

by Ruskin Bond and illustrated by Manoj A.Menon

“The Cherry Tree” by Ruskin Bond and illustrated by Manoj A.Menon. Published by Penguin. A charming tale of the bond between a little boy and his grandfather from Mussoorie.

The story starts off when Rakesh is a six year old boy. Since the village where his parents live doesn’t have schools, he lives with his grandfather who is a retired forest officer on the outskirts of Mussoorie. One day he gets some Kashmiri cherries home while returning from school. His grandfather suggests that he plant the seed in his garden. 

The story progresses with the growth of the plant and Rakesh as well. As the months go by and the seasons change, there are lots of challenges that the plant has to face.  Among them are heavy rains, a goat chewing off most of the leaves and a village woman who splits the plant into two on a grass cutting spree and other challenges. Will the cherry seed prove to be lucky after all? Will it grow into a tree that Rakesh wants so badly?

My seven year old enjoyed reading this book filled with warmth. He could relate so well to Rakesh as he is of a similar age group in the story. The joy of planting something and watching it grow is priceless. This has been shown so beautifully. And the bond between the grandfather and grandson has been portrayed so beautifully by the master storyteller. Would highly recommend this unforgettable tale full of magical charm for children aged 6 and above. Thank you Vidya Mani of Funky Rainbow for recommending this beautiful book!

Where to buy from?

An independent indie bookstore, Funky Rainbow, from where I buy many of my books.