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The main character in this story is a monk called Xuan Zang. He is from Cheena Desha. The other characters are Valli, her brother Mahindra and their parents. They live in Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu. One day Valli was helping her mother with the housework when her brother Mahendra came. He said Appa asked him to take their coconuts to the market place. He said someone he knows will sell them for him. ‘Do you want to come?’ asked her brother. She agreed.

The Unkown Indians is not about individual people or events, but about specific groups of people in Indian history. The chapters are: A Charioteer’s Song: Minstrels and Storytellers; The Eternal Weave of Life: Weavers, Potters, Ironsmiths and Carvers; A Delicious Platter of Joy: Farmers and Cooks; and Saying it with Verse and Song: Rebel Poets. Here the narrative explores the contributions of groups, their traditions, cultures and beliefs. For instance, the first chapter introduces us not just to the class of storytellers, but also to relevant associated topics such as literature like the Mahabharata and the myth of Ganesha as its author.

Battles and Warriors looks at five pivotal battles and wars through Indian history. It would appeal to any child interested in the more violent aspects of history (almost all boys!), and is a fascinating introduction to the world of warfare, weaponry and associated crafts. The five chapters are: The Battle by the Jhelum: Alexander vs Porus; The Battle at Kalinga: Ashoka vs the Kingdom of Kalinga; A Battle on the High Seas: Rajendra Chola vs the Kingdom of Srivijaya; The First Battle at Panipat: Babur vs Ibrahim Lodi; A Mango Grove in Palashi: Siraj-ud-Daula vs the East India Company

The back cover of each of the three books says: ‘Concise, yet filled with relevant details and accompanied by attractive colour illustrations, the Exploring India series will make history fascinating and unforgettable for every reader.’ This is an excellent description for the Exploring India book series.

A good read that takes you through the life of Benjamin Franklin, whom today’s youngsters probably relate to only as the face on the $100 bill. The book is a definite must read that can inspire young minds to broaden their horizons and realize their full potential. While the larger achievements of Franklin are inspiring, there are several instances in the book that might strike the right chord in readers and stay with them forever. One example is a sentence that goes, ‘My mind having been more improved by reading than Keimer’s, I suppose it was for that reason my conversation seemed to be more valued.’ I, for one, have resolved to improve my mind by reading as much as I can! And then there are candid observations such as ‘that while a party is carrying on a general design, each man has his particular private interest in view.’

Reading the recently launched Hindi translation of the book A.P.J. Abdul Kalam: A Life by his close associate and friend Arun Kumar, the tone and intention of the author becomes very clear early in the text. The book is worked out as a hagiography of a person who had achieved a status comparable to a saint, maybe even more than that, in his lifetime. The work is not meant for critical understanding. You need to read it in a particular way in order to appreciate the contents of the book.