What can you expect in a family of quirky adults, hyperactive children, and an assortment of pets? The author and her siblings shared their childhood with Kesavan, the incorrigibly curious black monkey; Judie, the nimble giant squirrel; Mini, the shy mouse deer that strayed; Psitta, the cackling parakeet; Devil, the runaway hound and many more creatures great and small. The adventures of the children and antics of their pets, together with the adults in the family make for a whole lot of fun and laughter – not just in the backyard but indoors as well.
The Zoo in my Backyard
₹ 87.00
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What can you expect in a family of quirky adults, hyperactive children, and an assortment of pets? The author and her siblings shared their childhood with Kesavan, the incorrigibly curious black monkey; Judie, the nimble giant squirrel; Mini, the shy mouse deer that strayed; Psitta, the cackling parakeet; Devil, the runaway hound and many more creatures great and small. The adventures of the children and antics of their pets, together with the adults in the family make for a whole lot of fun and laughter – not just in the backyard but indoors as well.
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Chitra Nadkarni –
Ms Usha Rajagopalan has done a very good job in describing not only the assortment of animals living in their house but also life during the good old days of joint families… The stories are heartwarming, funny, sad and it’s as if we relive our childhood through the book.
SK Srinivas, Bangalore. –
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. With a pandemic raging across the country, one has been confined to one’s cramped apartment since many months, and in a state of gloom. Usha’s light-hearted memoirs of her interesting childhood provide humorous relief from one’s claustrophobic misery. The innocence and childish joy in her stories speak of happier times, when a child could actually hold a Malabar squirrel or a guinea pig in her arms, instead of seeing them on the Internet!
Usha’s writing style is simple yet eloquent, and fun to read. I got through the book in one sitting. I only wish there had been more illustrations in the book.
Strongly recommended for children and adults, as a good introduction to the art and habit of reading.
SK Srinivas, Bangalore.
Deepak Shetty –
An absolutely delightful book! This hilarious childhood memoir actually had me laughing out loud several times. Simple language, easy to read, dialogues are realistic. The author’s deft use of imagery adds to the charm. The parakeet’s “Cheechu padi da!” cackle in the “Pretty Psitta” story is hysterical!
Packed with warmth, the book is a medley of children, birds, animals and adults, finding joy in each other’s company. The author seamlessly blends in internet words such as ROFL which is charming. In the second section “Creatures, Human” the author gives a little more peek into her family, a welcome addition. All the 37 stories in the collection are supported by lively illustrations. This is a book every child and adult should read.
Ramith Hegde –
“The zoo in my backyard is a wonderful, fun filled book by the author Usha Rajgopalan. When I read the book I got fully engrossed in the stories. Usha and her siblings had fun with Kesavan, the black monkey, Judie the giant squirrel, Mini, the shy mouse deer, Psitta, the talking parrot, fishes, Kuttan, the baby elephant, teddy\nthe baby bear, rabbits and many more!. They took care of the weak animals. Animals also need love, care and comfort. Slowly we should make animals our life. Kids can learn more about animal life through this book. It is filled with adventures, fun, laughy takes and delight
Venkatesh –
Reading this book was a very satisfying experience for me, although I am citybred and part of a nuclear family. All that is required is a heart which is young. Each chapter is a narration of simple happenings in a delightful manner. Only an uncluttered mind can dish out such a feast. Looking forward to more such books from the Author
M R Venkiteswaran –
The author transports the reader to a beautiful stage, set at a quaint household some five decades back, wherein the characters are innocent children as well as several animals and birds with nice names as well as distinct persona. All the characters intermingle and create several supremely enjoyable scenes. In this world seen through the eyes of a young girl of aged around 10 there is only excitement and innocence. The reader will be left wondering how a writer can recollect and pen down the emotions and thoughts and recreate her experiences, after five decades without showing any influence of her adult life. The language is simple yet exquisite. The reader will obviously enjoy and visualize that enviable childhood and end up gathering a lot of scientific information (something like the difference between a hare and a rabbit and several zoological and botanical titbits). The book is adorned with nice sketches and the one at the cover page – the baby pachyderm Kuttan gulping down water with a smirk – is exceptionally attractive.
Neetha Baliga –
In this book, Usha Rajagopalan has revealed an absorbing link between animals and human lives in a lucid way. Her simple writing style that relates the love of humans towards animals is a fun filled experience, especially for animal lovers. I am sure that this book will enthrall the entire family.
Divya Shetty –
I read two stories in The Zoo in My Backyard and immediately ordered for a copy to be sent to my pre-teen nephew. I read another two and added more names to my give-as-gift list! Bengaluru based writer and lake conservationist Usha Rajagopalan’s new book is that delightful, funny and thought provoking. This very Indian story is written on the lines of Gerald Durrell’s classic, My Family and Other Animals. Indeed, according to his wife, Dr. Lee Durrell, Usha’s book “typifies the genre (of nature writing) most charmingly.”
https://attagalatta.com/booksmart/the-zoo-in-my-backyard/