Time-travelling Around Delhi
Dipavali Sen
ONCE UPON A TIME IN DELHI: DISCOVERING THE SECRETS OF ITS MANY CITIES by By Nita Berry. Cover design and illustrations by Mohit Suneja Hachette India, 2024, 220 pp., INR ₹ 499.00
March 2025, volume 49, No 3

This wonderful book needed to be written, and by Nita Berry. The well-known author-editor takes children, her targeted readers, time-travelling around Delhi, from epic times to the contemporary. She packs in amazing information wrapped up in delightfully rendered stories and illustrations in 13 sections, each with several sub-sections. The book is a deft blend of story and history, much needed in the genre of non-fiction for children. Finding hidden treasure is an adventure for children; finding out the secrets of Delhi’s many cities will also be adventure for them. Also for adults, even those who, like me, have spent the greater part of their lives there.
Mohit Suneja’s colourful cover comprehensively captures all of Delhi. Elegant and appropriate artwork, delicate yet clear maps, reasonable pricing and magical language unmarred by printing mistakes, all add sheen to this discovery of Delhi.

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