Ruskin Bond is a well-known Indian author born on May 19, 1934, in Kasauli, Himachal Pradesh. He has spent much of his life in the hill stations of Dehradun and Mussoorie. Bond writes stories, novels, and poems, often about life in the hills and simple, everyday experiences. He is famous for books like “The Room on the Roof” and “The Blue Umbrella.” His stories are known for their simple and charming style, bringing the beauty of nature and childhood to life. In “The Adventures of Toto,” included in the Class 9 English book, Bond tells a funny and heartwarming tale about a pet monkey named Toto. This story, like many of his others, shows Bond’s talent for finding joy and humour in ordinary events.

The Adventures of Toto by Ruskin Bond explores the themes of animal behaviour, human-animal relationships, and the humour and mischief of a playful pet. Through Toto’s mischievous antics, the story highlights the unpredictable nature of animals and the deep connections humans can develop with their pets. It brings out the humour in Toto’s curious and adventurous spirit while also touching on the responsibilities and challenges of pet ownership. The story beautifully portrays the joy and companionship pets bring, alongside the care and attention they require.

• The Adventures of Toto is an entertaining tale by Ruskin Bond, featuring the mischievous antics of a naughty monkey named Toto. The narrator’s grandfather, an animal lover, bought Toto from a Tonga driver for five rupees. Grandfather already had a variety of pets in his private zoo, including a tortoise, a tiny squirrel, a pair of rabbits, and a pet goat, and Toto became the newest member of this eclectic group.

• Toto, a cute little monkey with sparkling eyes and pearl-white teeth, was very mischievous. His long tail acted like a third hand. Because the narrator’s grandmother did not share the same fondness for animals, Grandfather decided to keep Toto hidden. He placed Toto in the narrator’s closet, tying him to a peg on the wall. Toto immediately caused trouble, tearing the ornamental wallpaper, breaking the peg, and ripping the narrator’s blazer to shreds. Despite the chaos, Grandfather recognized Toto’s intelligence.

• Toto was then moved to a large cage with the other pets, who lived together peacefully. However, Toto’s mischievous nature made him a troublemaker among them. When Grandfather needed to travel to Saharanpur to collect his pension, he took Toto along in a black canvas kit bag to keep him hidden. Toto, however, made his presence known by jumping and rolling inside the bag at the Dehradun railway station.

• Upon reaching Saharanpur, Toto poked his head out and grinned at the ticket collector, who charged Grandfather three rupees for carrying a ‘dog.’ Despite Grandfather’s protest that Toto was not a dog, he had to pay the fare, though the ticket collector did not charge for the pet tortoise that accompanied them.

• Eventually, Toto was accepted by Grandmother and moved to the stable with the family donkey, Nana. But Toto often teased Nana, and they never became friends. His love for hot baths nearly led to disaster when he jumped into a kettle on the fire. Fortunately, Grandmother saved him just in time.

• Toto’s mischief continued to escalate, he tore clothes, broke utensils, and caused havoc. One day, he was found eating pulao from a dish on the dining table. When Grandmother saw him and screamed, Toto splashed water on another woman who approached. He then grabbed the pulao plate, jumped into a jackfruit tree, and deliberately smashed the plate.

• Fed up with Toto’s constant troublemaking, the family found it increasingly hard to manage him. With a heavy heart, Grandfather decided to return Toto to the tonga driver, selling him back for three rupees.