For someone who has always loved books almost more than anything else all her life, it is rather difficult to select just ten amongst them. Nevertheless, if I were to choose, I would think of the following ten as my all time favorites:

Abol Tabol by Sukumar Ray, comprising nonsense rhymes of all kinds, has always been a prime favorite. What makes it even more special is the fact that the poet himself illustrated this delightful book. The English translation - The Select Nonsense of Sukumar Ray - done by Sukanta Chaudhuri is published by Oxford University Press.

Goopy Gayen Bagha Bayen by Upendrakishor Ray Chaudhuri is a fantasy much loved by children. Satyajit Ray's film (that also bears the same name) has now made the story known to a larger audience.

The stories of Pradosh Mitter, the Calcutta sleuth (better known as Feluda) and his assistant Topesh, by Satyajit Ray, provide enjoyable reading, no matter what your mood. All of them (The Complete Adventures of Feluda) are now available in English translation, published by Penguin.

Swami and Friends is the first of a trilogy by R.K Narayan. Set in the fictional town of Malgudi, it is the story of 10-year-old Swami growing up during the British Raj. Narayan's books are known for his deftly etched characters, his stylized language and wry sense of humor.

Of all books by Ruskin Bond my favorite has been The Adventures of Rusty set in the hill station of Mussoorie in the 1940s.

Another all time favorite is Vikram Seth's Beastly Tales from Here and There, a fantastic, witty and hilarious collection of fables in verse published by Vikings.

Shankar's Life with Grandfather is about the fascinating adventure of a child in a traditional home in the state of Kerala.

The Post Office by Rabindranath Tagore is the moving story (written in the form of a play) of young Amal who is ill and has little hope of ever getting better. As he rests quietly on doctor's orders, he watches people pass outside his window and greets all of them, trying to come to terms with his circumstances.

The Pancatantra, India's oldest collection of fables, is surprisingly modern and I seem to discover a fresh level every time I read the book. Patrick Olivelle's English translation does ample justice to Visnusarman, said to be the original author of the book.

Arup Kumar Dutta's Kaziranga Trail is the gripping story of how a group of children fight the poachers of the one-horn rhino at the Kaziranga Game Sanctuary in Assam.