Ranji The Music Maker (P)

Was this what it was like to be a rock star? Except that pop singers were usually followed by people, not cats.' In the middle of his languid holiday, idle young Ranji stumbles upon assorted musical instruments in the storeroom-first a shrill flute, then a blaring little trumpet and, finally, a too-big drum that may have once sounded a battle march. He stages impromptu concerts down the road, not sparing his neighbours, nor the cats around his porch, nor the peace-loving inhabitants of the zoo! But all Ranji's really seeking is a friend who'll hear the magic in his din. A lyrical and stunningly illustrated offering from India's favourite teller of tales, this is a sunny story about forging bonds and the simple joys of life.