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Robi Dobi: The Marvelous Adventures of an Indian Elephant
Inspired by Indian stories, the exciting adventures of Robi Dobi and his friend, the bright orange mouse, follow the two as they travel along together and see the wonders of world.
- GenresChildrensPicture Books
Hardcover
First published September 1, 1997
About the author
Madhur Jaffrey
94 books193 followersMadhur Jaffrey CBE is an Indian-born actress, food and travel writer, and television personality. She is recognized for bringing Indian cuisine to the western hemisphere with her debut cookbook, An Invitation to Indian Cooking, which was inducted into the James Beard Foundation’s Cookbook Hall of Fame in 2006.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
December 3, 2025
This was a surprising read for me because only after I was 25% into the book did I realize that I had read this hardback before in the year 1997 when I was a 3rd grader at school. I remember it was the first year of us students having the Library Period (and we used to have it once a week for an hour if I am not mistaken – wonderful days those were at Bombay Scottish School, Mahim) and I was quite hooked onto reading books already and I picked up this hardback by Jaffrey.
It was definitely during the Winter just before Concert Practice and I read the book throughout the Library Period, then the Hindi Period which came next and finished the book during the Writing Period after which the school day ended at 3:30pm. I recalled that memory when I read about that part of the book regarding the painter of the sky. I tried looking for the illustration of that creature or animal in the book called ‘the painter of the skies’ and something within me said, ‘you won’t find it, because even last time she wasn’t shown or depicted in the book’. And then it rang a bell – I had read this book before and then the memory came flooding back to me instantaneously.
I happen to have an IQ of 133 which I only lately realized (if I had known earlier I would have been Prime Minister, not warming this computer chair writing books and typing GR reviews to people who can’t DM me anymore!) – so the reason for that IQ score meagre though it is, is not because I am a Math Wiz nor because I am an authority in Physics, but simply because I have a highly acclaimed retentive memory. Basically, I have a great photographic memory – 5 senses and all! If ever, before the days of CCTV cameras in Mumbai, like before 2006, you used to go speeding past any traffic signal inspector in your BMW or Mercedes or even your pick-up truck and you thought you went fast enough for your number plate not be noticed at all – but it was still noticed, number to number, alphabet to alphabet – and then you got a police visit to your home – then you know who was the annoying school brat who was also standing there with the cops while you were speeding away!!!
This book brought back so many wonderful memories to my mind and to my knuckles – because I was often caned on my knuckles (right hand and I am a right-handed person!) because I was poor at Math, by teachers all and sundry; even teachers who should have not been in my classroom in the first place because they were English teachers and not Math – you get my drift!
So, it was a nostalgic read, but I had fun re-reading this hardback by a glorious author. I was very ill and I am still awfully ill since the 11th of November 2025 because of stress, overwork, vertigo, air pollution in the city (air crisis more rather!), my lungs not co-operating with me, nor my pulse, nor my nerves, et al - and this book by Madhur Jaffrey made me forget my heavy-breathing spells back here in Bandra West, Mumbai, India and made me as it were float back into my cocooned world of my School Library at BSS, my little corner in the Library and my days reading book after book after book and not talking to anyone because – well, they were not books!
I loved the book then and even now, it creates a mellow and cozy feeling in a person – especially the alluring and scintillating illustrations that easily carry you off into the world of a very altruistic jungle elephant, a very over-anxious orange mouse, a ballet performer of a butterfly and a weird yellowish-orange female parrot that was kidnapped by a Panther because he wanted to marry her and make her his Queen!!!
I cannot forget the revolting feeling I felt for that conceited Panther back then in the year 1997, he was an odious fellow – he did not need to be married; he needed to be studied by a group of the best psychiatrists in India! What a fellow! Fancy wanting a yellow-orange parrot princess for a Queen for a Kingdom of ferocious felines! Unreasonable like almost 95% of the population of males are even today when they notice virgins anywhere and any how!
Another odious person who spooked me back then in 1997 and spooked me even now in the year 2025 was the disgusting snake like witch who looked a lot like a Medusa gone all wrong! But where Medusa had these adders, this snake-witch had cobras which made me, even this week, tuck my tippy-toes safely under my bedsheet. I don’t know – that is just the thing I do when I read about snakes, centipedes, scorpions, etc., in a book. Can’t stand those creatures! Give me a vampire any day! Mosquitoes will do as well, but not a centipede! Did I mention I had chikungunya lately?!
The book was a journey down memory lane, beautifully crafted, true to the 1990s style of storytelling (mature, interesting and not bland!) and just absorbing. The illustrations were gorgeous then as well as now. Done beautifully with a firm artist’s skill and with precise consistency which is really wanting in the Gen-Z artists and book illustrators of this present age. If I had to choose between them and ChatGPT as a book illustrator – well, the robot wins my love, period! At least Alice in Wonderland will still be Alice in the next illustration for ChatGPT rather than Jezebel as in the case of a Gen-Z human illustrator! (I have had great experience in this matter! Remember, I am a publisher and writer of Rare Classics for Younger Readers.)
This book is absorbing, gripping, soothing to the eye, and a delight for all PYP readers right up to the 5th grade. My favourite character would be General Aman; he should have married that kidnapped female parrot eventually! Quite a gentleman, for a bird!
My favourite scene would be when I realized that I had read this book before in 1997, so that would be when the altruistic jungle elephant was telling the story of the sky painter to the over-anxious mouse. My favourite illustration in the book would be the last illustration; it made me understand the reason for the introduction of the book. To know more, get your copy of this kiddie or PYP book titled ‘Robi Dobi’ and feast your eyes, not on some delicious Indian food this time by Madhur Jaffrey but on some vibrant colourful characters that make you realize that books are the food of life!
5 stars hands down!
I recommend this read to all PYP students or Junior school students globally.
It was definitely during the Winter just before Concert Practice and I read the book throughout the Library Period, then the Hindi Period which came next and finished the book during the Writing Period after which the school day ended at 3:30pm. I recalled that memory when I read about that part of the book regarding the painter of the sky. I tried looking for the illustration of that creature or animal in the book called ‘the painter of the skies’ and something within me said, ‘you won’t find it, because even last time she wasn’t shown or depicted in the book’. And then it rang a bell – I had read this book before and then the memory came flooding back to me instantaneously.
I happen to have an IQ of 133 which I only lately realized (if I had known earlier I would have been Prime Minister, not warming this computer chair writing books and typing GR reviews to people who can’t DM me anymore!) – so the reason for that IQ score meagre though it is, is not because I am a Math Wiz nor because I am an authority in Physics, but simply because I have a highly acclaimed retentive memory. Basically, I have a great photographic memory – 5 senses and all! If ever, before the days of CCTV cameras in Mumbai, like before 2006, you used to go speeding past any traffic signal inspector in your BMW or Mercedes or even your pick-up truck and you thought you went fast enough for your number plate not be noticed at all – but it was still noticed, number to number, alphabet to alphabet – and then you got a police visit to your home – then you know who was the annoying school brat who was also standing there with the cops while you were speeding away!!!
This book brought back so many wonderful memories to my mind and to my knuckles – because I was often caned on my knuckles (right hand and I am a right-handed person!) because I was poor at Math, by teachers all and sundry; even teachers who should have not been in my classroom in the first place because they were English teachers and not Math – you get my drift!
So, it was a nostalgic read, but I had fun re-reading this hardback by a glorious author. I was very ill and I am still awfully ill since the 11th of November 2025 because of stress, overwork, vertigo, air pollution in the city (air crisis more rather!), my lungs not co-operating with me, nor my pulse, nor my nerves, et al - and this book by Madhur Jaffrey made me forget my heavy-breathing spells back here in Bandra West, Mumbai, India and made me as it were float back into my cocooned world of my School Library at BSS, my little corner in the Library and my days reading book after book after book and not talking to anyone because – well, they were not books!
I loved the book then and even now, it creates a mellow and cozy feeling in a person – especially the alluring and scintillating illustrations that easily carry you off into the world of a very altruistic jungle elephant, a very over-anxious orange mouse, a ballet performer of a butterfly and a weird yellowish-orange female parrot that was kidnapped by a Panther because he wanted to marry her and make her his Queen!!!
I cannot forget the revolting feeling I felt for that conceited Panther back then in the year 1997, he was an odious fellow – he did not need to be married; he needed to be studied by a group of the best psychiatrists in India! What a fellow! Fancy wanting a yellow-orange parrot princess for a Queen for a Kingdom of ferocious felines! Unreasonable like almost 95% of the population of males are even today when they notice virgins anywhere and any how!
Another odious person who spooked me back then in 1997 and spooked me even now in the year 2025 was the disgusting snake like witch who looked a lot like a Medusa gone all wrong! But where Medusa had these adders, this snake-witch had cobras which made me, even this week, tuck my tippy-toes safely under my bedsheet. I don’t know – that is just the thing I do when I read about snakes, centipedes, scorpions, etc., in a book. Can’t stand those creatures! Give me a vampire any day! Mosquitoes will do as well, but not a centipede! Did I mention I had chikungunya lately?!
The book was a journey down memory lane, beautifully crafted, true to the 1990s style of storytelling (mature, interesting and not bland!) and just absorbing. The illustrations were gorgeous then as well as now. Done beautifully with a firm artist’s skill and with precise consistency which is really wanting in the Gen-Z artists and book illustrators of this present age. If I had to choose between them and ChatGPT as a book illustrator – well, the robot wins my love, period! At least Alice in Wonderland will still be Alice in the next illustration for ChatGPT rather than Jezebel as in the case of a Gen-Z human illustrator! (I have had great experience in this matter! Remember, I am a publisher and writer of Rare Classics for Younger Readers.)
This book is absorbing, gripping, soothing to the eye, and a delight for all PYP readers right up to the 5th grade. My favourite character would be General Aman; he should have married that kidnapped female parrot eventually! Quite a gentleman, for a bird!
My favourite scene would be when I realized that I had read this book before in 1997, so that would be when the altruistic jungle elephant was telling the story of the sky painter to the over-anxious mouse. My favourite illustration in the book would be the last illustration; it made me understand the reason for the introduction of the book. To know more, get your copy of this kiddie or PYP book titled ‘Robi Dobi’ and feast your eyes, not on some delicious Indian food this time by Madhur Jaffrey but on some vibrant colourful characters that make you realize that books are the food of life!
5 stars hands down!
I recommend this read to all PYP students or Junior school students globally.
October 7, 2022
Magical book and illustration
September 8, 2020
Robi Dobi the indian elephant is on his way home to his family. His adventure begins when he rescues a strange orange creature from a fast-flowing river, a mouse called Kabbi Wahabbi. He has been sprayed painted bright orange by an evil witch, Slimey Kimey, who wants to be able to spot her victims. She has already taken the rest of his family.
Robi agrees to take Kabbi to someone who can help remove the paint and on the journey they meet more friends who need their help: Maya the Butterfly with her injured wing and the beautiful Princess Tara, the parrrot who has been kidnapped by the Wicked Purple Panthers.
The book has wonderful, colourful illustrations to show the main events and characters. It is written in simple language. Children will enjoy the characters rhyming names. I enjoyed how the story is split into 8 chapters. Each chapter tells a new story within the story and explains how each of the characters has got into trouble before moving on to fix each of their problems.
Robi agrees to take Kabbi to someone who can help remove the paint and on the journey they meet more friends who need their help: Maya the Butterfly with her injured wing and the beautiful Princess Tara, the parrrot who has been kidnapped by the Wicked Purple Panthers.
The book has wonderful, colourful illustrations to show the main events and characters. It is written in simple language. Children will enjoy the characters rhyming names. I enjoyed how the story is split into 8 chapters. Each chapter tells a new story within the story and explains how each of the characters has got into trouble before moving on to fix each of their problems.
June 25, 2012
nice amazing
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews