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Haroun’s father Rashid is the greatest storyteller in the sad sad city of Alfibay. He juggles a million stories without a single mistake, and Haroun grows up in a home with a song on his mother’s lips, and a story on his father’s. But whenever he asks where his stories come from, his father would stick his thumb between his lips and say glug glug glug – it comes from a secret invisible tap.

One day, Haroun’s fathers stories all dry up – he opens his mouth, and no stories come out. Can Haroun bring back his fathers tales? Written with Salman Rushdie’s trademark wit and rich prose, this short slice of his classic children’s tale Haroun and the Sea of Stories is a delight for all.

Parimal is an author who lives a quiet life away from the hunting and adventures of his past. But when an old friend comes to him and asks for a favour with the promise of danger, he cannot resist. Why does the old botanist want him to bring his gun and come to his home? He only has plants, helpless happy plants, who cannot possibly be a danger. Or can they? Satyajit Ray brings to life his rich storytelling with this decadently illustrated thriller.

When Hamid the poor orphan is going to the Eid fair, he has only three paise. All the other boys have an enormous amount of money with which to buy toys and sweets, and cruelly tease him with their riches. But Hamid has a single goal in mind – to buy a pair of tongs so his grandmother won’t burn her fingers making roti. Will his resolve last against lollipops and gulab jamuns? Will the brilliant toy policemen and lawyers of his compatriots break his will? A heartwarming tale of generosity and kindness with a sprinkling of mischief and love by the father of modern Hindi literature – Premchand.

This sweet, short story is from RK Narayan’s iconic ‘Swami and Friends’, a slice of life from a simpler time. Swami has been forced to move to a different school because of his antics, and is struggling to play cricket as much as he likes. His grandmother, his coach, his headmaster all seem to be conspiring against him to ensure that he never gets to play cricket again. Swami’s friends are outraged on his behalf and decide to help him out by going and talking to his headmaster themselves. Will it work? Or will poor impetuous Swami now be confronted with even more furious grownups? Find out in this lovely little snippet from RK Narayan’s original Swami and Friends.