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Tigers for Dinner: Tall Tales by Jim Corbett's Khansama
Did you see him shoot a tiger? I asked.
Oh, many times, said Mehmoud. A tiger a week that was nothing to Carpet-sahib!
Did the tigers come to the house, or did you go looking for them?
Thus starts Mehmoud's stories about working as khansama, or cook, for the great shikari Jim Corbett. As deft with his stories as he is with koftas, lamb chops, pies and milkshakes, Mehmoud has a tall tale for every occasion.
From wrestling with a cobra in his bed, being carried away into the river by a muggermuch, to when a tiger came looking for the cook, these stories leave little Ruskin spellbound.
Join Mehmoud in the kitchen as he cooks up one delectable meal after another, and gobble down his delicious stories of man-eating tigers, incompetent Maharajas, missing kitchen boys and haunted pillows, all brought vividly to life by Sunaina Coelhos captivating illustrations.
Oh, many times, said Mehmoud. A tiger a week that was nothing to Carpet-sahib!
Did the tigers come to the house, or did you go looking for them?
Thus starts Mehmoud's stories about working as khansama, or cook, for the great shikari Jim Corbett. As deft with his stories as he is with koftas, lamb chops, pies and milkshakes, Mehmoud has a tall tale for every occasion.
From wrestling with a cobra in his bed, being carried away into the river by a muggermuch, to when a tiger came looking for the cook, these stories leave little Ruskin spellbound.
Join Mehmoud in the kitchen as he cooks up one delectable meal after another, and gobble down his delicious stories of man-eating tigers, incompetent Maharajas, missing kitchen boys and haunted pillows, all brought vividly to life by Sunaina Coelhos captivating illustrations.
65 pages, Paperback
First published January 30, 2013
57 people are currently reading
609 people want to read
About the author
Ruskin Bond
681 books3,576 followersRuskin Bond is an Indian author of British descent. He is considered to be an icon among Indian writers and children's authors and a top novelist. He wrote his first novel, The Room on the Roof, when he was seventeen which won John Llewellyn Rhys Memorial Prize in 1957. Since then he has written several novellas, over 500 short stories, as well as various essays and poems, all of which have established him as one of the best-loved and most admired chroniclers of contemporary India. In 1992 he received the Sahitya Akademi award for English writing, for his short stories collection, "Our Trees Still Grow in Dehra", by the Sahitya Akademi, India's National Academy of Letters in India. He was awarded the Padma Shri in 1999 for contributions to children's literature. He now lives with his adopted family in Landour near Mussoorie.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 50 reviews
June 18, 2016
This is the kind of book you thrust in the hands of a child and introduce him or her to the world of words. But as an adult too, you cannot fail to enjoy the sense of adventure that such a story can bring. Ruskin Bond's Tigers for Dinner introduces a cook from the author's childhood memories who claims to have served under the famous hunter Jim Corbett. The cook shares his thrilling bits of tales while roaming the jungles of India along side Corbett. The stories are of course over the top but make for an enjoyable bed-time read, be it the roaring tiger who was after his life or the crocodile carrying his cot. The illustrations by Sunaina Coelho bring a visual joy to the cook's adventures which definitely adds an extra star to my rating of this book. Get this book for your children, and read it along with them!
October 3, 2021
We read Tigers For Dinner by Ruskin Bond as @ruskinbondbookclub 's September pick and gosh it was a good one!
The cook, Mehmoud had served Corbett Sa'ab before little Ruskin's family. Our little Ruskin devours tasty food and all sorts of stories. This collection brings out the tales Mehmoud served little Ruskin through his time. They are a tad bit over the top but they are hilarious and heroic. This is a book that's more of a recollection of all the tales Mehmoud had told Ruskin. That adds a personal touch to the book and Ruskin's innocence in the book is very cute. Also, Sunaina Coelho has done a stunning job with the illustrations 💌
Be it kids or adults, you are definitely going to enjoy this book!
The cook, Mehmoud had served Corbett Sa'ab before little Ruskin's family. Our little Ruskin devours tasty food and all sorts of stories. This collection brings out the tales Mehmoud served little Ruskin through his time. They are a tad bit over the top but they are hilarious and heroic. This is a book that's more of a recollection of all the tales Mehmoud had told Ruskin. That adds a personal touch to the book and Ruskin's innocence in the book is very cute. Also, Sunaina Coelho has done a stunning job with the illustrations 💌
Be it kids or adults, you are definitely going to enjoy this book!
May 3, 2025
"To find adventure, follow a strange road or try a new dish."
Tigers for Dinner, yet again, is another amazing and an amusing illustrated book by Sir Ruskin Bond. I have always admired his writings and reading his books give an immense pleasure. Most of his writings are for the targeted audience of the tweenaged or teenaged children, but nonetheless I bet, each and every adult would also enjoy equally. There is a big collection I had of his books and almost all are fun read.
Coming to this book, This is kind of faded memoir (more of a realistic fiction, obviously) from Mr. Bond. It is about the Khaansama (a head cook) of a great adventurist and hunter Jim Corbett who later became the cook of the author's family. Author said to have spend a lot of time with him, considering his parents' busy schedule, listening cook's own memoirs from the time when he cooked for Jim Corbett (who he called as Carpet-sahib) while cooking for author and letting him taste in duration of preparing the dishes. Reading this fictitious memoir is equally enjoyable and intriguing as reading the real stories by Jim Corbett.
I thoroughly enjoyed and recommend other readers to have their enjoyment too.
Tigers for Dinner, yet again, is another amazing and an amusing illustrated book by Sir Ruskin Bond. I have always admired his writings and reading his books give an immense pleasure. Most of his writings are for the targeted audience of the tweenaged or teenaged children, but nonetheless I bet, each and every adult would also enjoy equally. There is a big collection I had of his books and almost all are fun read.
Coming to this book, This is kind of faded memoir (more of a realistic fiction, obviously) from Mr. Bond. It is about the Khaansama (a head cook) of a great adventurist and hunter Jim Corbett who later became the cook of the author's family. Author said to have spend a lot of time with him, considering his parents' busy schedule, listening cook's own memoirs from the time when he cooked for Jim Corbett (who he called as Carpet-sahib) while cooking for author and letting him taste in duration of preparing the dishes. Reading this fictitious memoir is equally enjoyable and intriguing as reading the real stories by Jim Corbett.
I thoroughly enjoyed and recommend other readers to have their enjoyment too.
June 21, 2020
Good stories!
Half an hour read! Enjoyed all stories.. good illustrations. Enjoy Jim Corbett Ruskin bond style, some stories are available in other books as well.
Half an hour read! Enjoyed all stories.. good illustrations. Enjoy Jim Corbett Ruskin bond style, some stories are available in other books as well.
July 18, 2024
Sweet little tale of adventures of Jim Corbett's butler.
July 12, 2015
Delightful tall-tales of Mehmoud, the Khansama's experience of camping in the jungles with none other than the famed Jim Corbett.
A perfect book to read aloud to young kids and introduce them to the real wild animals. Sooner or later they have to be weaned away from the anthpomorphic image of the animals.
Rest of the review on this site:-
http://indiasendangered.com/tigers-fo...
A perfect book to read aloud to young kids and introduce them to the real wild animals. Sooner or later they have to be weaned away from the anthpomorphic image of the animals.
Rest of the review on this site:-
http://indiasendangered.com/tigers-fo...
February 21, 2024
very intrusting stories for children. A easy breezy book to finish
April 7, 2019
I have been on a Ruskin Bond spree in the holidays, and am so happy to open up this year's reviews with one of my favorite author. His books always make me feel nostalgic, books we have read when we were young and now fortunate enough to read them out to our children.
Tigers for Dinner is primarily meant for children, but adults will love it as much. It is about the author's childhood memories when he recounts the tall tales of his khansama Mehmoud. Mehmoud earlier served as a cook to the famous hunter Jim Corbett, whom he addresses as 'Carpet-Sahib'. Mehmoud had been with his 'Carpet-Sahib' in his various hunting expeditions and has also camped out with him in the nights in the fearsome jungle full of ferocious animals. Later when he joined the household of Ruskin Bond as his khansama, he found a perfect audience in a young innocent boy to narrate his tall tales in which he encounters fearsome beasts and man-eaters of the jungle and boasts about being a hero. They were all extraordinary feats of bravery; be it wrestling a king-cobra barehanded or saving a Maharaja from a wild boar. The boy listens to Khansama's stories wide-eyed and was in awe of his cook's courage. He, in turn, narrates all his stories to his classmates who over a period of time become jealous of him for having a super-hero cook. Only later does he realize that those were tall tales made up and told to him, but still such wonderful stories, that he decides to write a book on it.
Ruskin Bond always keeps it simple, yet beautiful. The same applies to this book as well. The stories are narrated in such simple language but are so vividly described that you wish you were sitting with him and the khansama in the kitchen as their companion and eat the delicacies and drink the seasonal mango milkshakes.
My six year old loved this book. He was listening to the stories wide-eyed and was in awe of Mehmoud who is now his new super-hero along with Jim Corbett. And I have enjoyed reading it along with him, diving into the world of hunters and the hunted, narrated in a lighter vein. Do not miss this book, especially boys under 10 will cherish it for years to come. Let them read and remember Ruskin Bond, as we do, to this day.
Tigers for Dinner is primarily meant for children, but adults will love it as much. It is about the author's childhood memories when he recounts the tall tales of his khansama Mehmoud. Mehmoud earlier served as a cook to the famous hunter Jim Corbett, whom he addresses as 'Carpet-Sahib'. Mehmoud had been with his 'Carpet-Sahib' in his various hunting expeditions and has also camped out with him in the nights in the fearsome jungle full of ferocious animals. Later when he joined the household of Ruskin Bond as his khansama, he found a perfect audience in a young innocent boy to narrate his tall tales in which he encounters fearsome beasts and man-eaters of the jungle and boasts about being a hero. They were all extraordinary feats of bravery; be it wrestling a king-cobra barehanded or saving a Maharaja from a wild boar. The boy listens to Khansama's stories wide-eyed and was in awe of his cook's courage. He, in turn, narrates all his stories to his classmates who over a period of time become jealous of him for having a super-hero cook. Only later does he realize that those were tall tales made up and told to him, but still such wonderful stories, that he decides to write a book on it.
Ruskin Bond always keeps it simple, yet beautiful. The same applies to this book as well. The stories are narrated in such simple language but are so vividly described that you wish you were sitting with him and the khansama in the kitchen as their companion and eat the delicacies and drink the seasonal mango milkshakes.
My six year old loved this book. He was listening to the stories wide-eyed and was in awe of Mehmoud who is now his new super-hero along with Jim Corbett. And I have enjoyed reading it along with him, diving into the world of hunters and the hunted, narrated in a lighter vein. Do not miss this book, especially boys under 10 will cherish it for years to come. Let them read and remember Ruskin Bond, as we do, to this day.
March 29, 2021
This is an adventuresome book for kids and adults. It has a bunch of short stories about the experiences of Jim Corbett and his family cook Mehmoud who narrates these tales to the author. Mehmoud served as cook to the popular hunter Jim Corbett and later joined the kitchen at Ruskin Bond's house. Ruskin Bond, as a child used to gobble up the tasty food made by the cook while listening to the fun stories by the cook. Through the stories, Mehmoud talks about Jim Corbett's hunting rounds and his own ventures from the jungle with man-eating tigers, cobras, man-hunting crocodiles, Maharajas, frightful pillows and how he saved himself. This exaggerated version of the stories feed the curiosity of little Ruskin and he makes his friends jealous by telling the stories of his brave cook.
Exaggerated or not, I loved these stories filled with humor, captivating illustrations and simple narration. This book hits nostalgia, not in the terms of adventures because I haven't wrestled with tigers or cobras, but the love for stories, especially as a child was something I could relate to. Can't wait to read this book once again with my niece and nephew.
Definitely recommended for the fun stories and gorgeous illustrations.
Exaggerated or not, I loved these stories filled with humor, captivating illustrations and simple narration. This book hits nostalgia, not in the terms of adventures because I haven't wrestled with tigers or cobras, but the love for stories, especially as a child was something I could relate to. Can't wait to read this book once again with my niece and nephew.
Definitely recommended for the fun stories and gorgeous illustrations.
January 6, 2018
An amusing read - each new story is even more unbelievable than the last but so captivating that you don't care if any of it ever really happened or if it's an exaggeration in parts or nothing more than someone's imagination...
Just enjoy the stories - where Mehmoud's bed is carried from the the tent into the river by a maggarmuch (crocodile)... or when masalchi ends up as bones after being dragged out of the tent by a tiger but Mehmoud saves himself my burning the tiger's nose with a hot frying pan... or where Mehmoud wrestles the king cobra with nothing but bare hands... or when he axes a wild boar to save the maharaja, or when the man eating tiger visits with in the house and chases him up the ladder... but my favourite is when his first ever shot seems to fail it's mark (a kakar or barking deer) and instead wins him the prized head of a leopard!
It's fun to read - stories hold your attention and the illustrations add even more drama to the scenes!!
Just the book to read with kids and introduce them to a new fascinating world of the jungle...
Just enjoy the stories - where Mehmoud's bed is carried from the the tent into the river by a maggarmuch (crocodile)... or when masalchi ends up as bones after being dragged out of the tent by a tiger but Mehmoud saves himself my burning the tiger's nose with a hot frying pan... or where Mehmoud wrestles the king cobra with nothing but bare hands... or when he axes a wild boar to save the maharaja, or when the man eating tiger visits with in the house and chases him up the ladder... but my favourite is when his first ever shot seems to fail it's mark (a kakar or barking deer) and instead wins him the prized head of a leopard!
It's fun to read - stories hold your attention and the illustrations add even more drama to the scenes!!
Just the book to read with kids and introduce them to a new fascinating world of the jungle...
February 14, 2022
I grew up reading many stories of man eating tiger and how Kipling killed it. It reminds me of the many times I imagined what it would be like to live in the mountains of Himachal Pradesh over and over. I love this book so much that over the past 5 years I have read it multiple times. It is fun book with a few short stories narrated by Ruskin Bond as a kid's experiences. I plan to introduce my niece to these books slowly slowly. Now I have two copies of this wonderful book because I bought it for my Mother-in-law to read as well. I hope she will like it.
If you are an adult and wondering if its for you? YES!! It is for EVERYONE. Go for it. ^.^ May this book brings you the joy it brought to me.
If you are an adult and wondering if its for you? YES!! It is for EVERYONE. Go for it. ^.^ May this book brings you the joy it brought to me.
September 28, 2021
"What good is a full bank account if your life is empty?"
Right after seeing the Title, and the super beautiful illustrations, this book indeed captivated my eyes so much!
Remember the times when you were just a kid and our Grandparents used to tell us lot of stories, some real, madeup and cooked stories!
Haven't we all believed it and was also bit curious about the whole story?
We had asked so many questions, and developed our own horizons in our mind.
This Book is one such Book! Ruskin Bond had a cook called "Mehmoud", he also worked as a Cook for the famous "Jim Corbett"-who was a British hunter, tracker, naturalist, and author who hunted a number of man-eating tigers and leopards in India.
"Mehmoud" tells tales about his experiences with Jim Corbett and the wild life tales to our little Ruskin Bond! Ofcourse, Mehmoud was given to a little exaggeration, but we all enjoy such stories when we hear even if they were a bit on the tall side right?
This book brought me back the days I listened such stories and built a castle inside my head! This book is for children, but hey who told that an adult can't read children's book!!
This is very small book with beautiful illustrations! Do read this when you had a long day and want to sleep soon without using your phone and thank me later okay!
“We tell ourselves stories in order to live..." This is one such story book!
Right after seeing the Title, and the super beautiful illustrations, this book indeed captivated my eyes so much!
Remember the times when you were just a kid and our Grandparents used to tell us lot of stories, some real, madeup and cooked stories!
Haven't we all believed it and was also bit curious about the whole story?
We had asked so many questions, and developed our own horizons in our mind.
This Book is one such Book! Ruskin Bond had a cook called "Mehmoud", he also worked as a Cook for the famous "Jim Corbett"-who was a British hunter, tracker, naturalist, and author who hunted a number of man-eating tigers and leopards in India.
"Mehmoud" tells tales about his experiences with Jim Corbett and the wild life tales to our little Ruskin Bond! Ofcourse, Mehmoud was given to a little exaggeration, but we all enjoy such stories when we hear even if they were a bit on the tall side right?
This book brought me back the days I listened such stories and built a castle inside my head! This book is for children, but hey who told that an adult can't read children's book!!
This is very small book with beautiful illustrations! Do read this when you had a long day and want to sleep soon without using your phone and thank me later okay!
“We tell ourselves stories in order to live..." This is one such story book!
March 19, 2023
Its a very short, children book by veteran author ruskin bond about his childhood tales told to him by his cook Mehmoud who was also a ex-cook of famous hunter Jim Corbett in jungle, once upon a time, in early 1920's. The short stories consisted of a tiger in courtyard, crocodile chasing cook on his bed in river, cobra cooking around him and even ghost as eye ball under a pillow :-p. These 'tall' tales were much spiced by the cook, simply to regale a small child in kitchen while he served him food :-p. The audio book was over in just less than 40 minutes flat with few,short chapters. The children would love this. 3 stars.
May 13, 2019
Brilliant work by Ruskin Bond
This book is appropriate for 4-6 year olds onwards. It's a picture book and has very amusing stories that children will understand and enjoy. What I really like about it is how children are introduced to Jim Corbett and who he was in a very fun manner. I was thrilled to find such a book with an Indian setting, which flows so naturally, and is a fiction work based on facts. For example, kids can learn that Jim Corbett used to hunt man eating tigers and that he moved from India to Africa in the later years of his life.
This book is appropriate for 4-6 year olds onwards. It's a picture book and has very amusing stories that children will understand and enjoy. What I really like about it is how children are introduced to Jim Corbett and who he was in a very fun manner. I was thrilled to find such a book with an Indian setting, which flows so naturally, and is a fiction work based on facts. For example, kids can learn that Jim Corbett used to hunt man eating tigers and that he moved from India to Africa in the later years of his life.
May 25, 2025
Reading Ruskin Bond always feels like eating a comforting plate of daal chawal after a long, exhausting but strangely satisfying day at school.
Much like many of his other books, Bond evoke the fun, the spookiness, and the innocent love that is usually found in his books. This book combines two things- food and tigers of Jim Corbett. The stories in itself are almost comical yet endearing. The kind of stories that were told to children to keep them entertained in long summer afternoons.
Overall quintessential Bond magic. Wholesome and sweet.
Much like many of his other books, Bond evoke the fun, the spookiness, and the innocent love that is usually found in his books. This book combines two things- food and tigers of Jim Corbett. The stories in itself are almost comical yet endearing. The kind of stories that were told to children to keep them entertained in long summer afternoons.
Overall quintessential Bond magic. Wholesome and sweet.
August 26, 2018
I was gifted this book on my 9th Birthday and till date, I suppose this my favourite Ruskin Bond book in a way. All about jungles, maharajas and colourful illustrations, this book of tall tales will really grab everyone’s attention.
January 11, 2026
Reading Tigers for Dinner as an adult feels quiet and reflective. The stories aren’t only about hunting; they talk about fear, respect for animals, and everyday life in the jungle. Instead of being thrilling, the book feels real, serious, and deeply meaningful.
February 6, 2026
Like All of Ruskin Bond's books, this too was entertaining & brought wide smiles to my face as I read through it.
Short & Sweet.
I hope there are more illustrated works of his coming along, they are great for kids & adults alike.
Short & Sweet.
I hope there are more illustrated works of his coming along, they are great for kids & adults alike.
June 8, 2017
Delightful little stories and really amazing illustrations. I'll treasure this book!
August 4, 2017
Describes the bravery of Jim Corbett's cook on his adventures with Jim. Good read.
September 4, 2018
It a very good story .
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 15, 2018
Funniest stories by Ruskin Bond.
I love the frying pan incident.
#myfavouritebook.
I love the frying pan incident.
#myfavouritebook.
January 15, 2019
Short, sweet and interesting tales. Good for morning read to set the good mood for the day. Can finish it in less than half an hour. Makes for a good discussion with your kids.
January 31, 2020
Few short stories... Fun to read!
September 10, 2020
Fun half an hour in the midst of a stressful work day. Bond's subtle sense of humour shows his respect for his young readers. A lesson in writing stories for the you g and young at heart.
March 28, 2022
absolutely brilliant for a beginner who likes to read real life adventurous stories. the characters are brilliant and the illustration is deep. simply lovely. a hundred percent worth reading.
June 18, 2022
Very engaging and a lot of fun for kids! A great introduction to jungle tales.
May 9, 2023
An enjoyable little read for kids! Ruskin Bond always packs charm.
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May 14, 2023One of best quick reads I had it from Ruskin..
Displaying 1 - 30 of 50 reviews