Description Since he was a young boy, Ruskin Bond has made friends easily. And his most rewarding friendships have often been with animals, birds and plants-big and small; outgoing and shy. This collection focuses on these companions and brings together some of Bond's finest nature stories and essays, both classic and new. There are leopards and tigers; bulbuls and owls; bears in the mountains and elephants on a ship; wise old forest oaks and geraniums on balconies; a talking parrot and a tomcat called Suzie-and many more 'wild' and wonderful friends. Beautifully illustrated, this is a lovely gem of a book.