Twelve stories are told to help children think of what is familiar through a new perspective, midway between jocularity and possible serious political or social enquiry. Two stories deal with Indian pre-history; a whimsical play with political-economic reasons for building the Taj Mahal; while a Tamil spiritual legend about an untouchable is re-discovered by British children. There is also a modern allegorical tale on development, and a humorous play on conservation. One could be a faithful account of an incident in the life of a newspaper boy in Hyderabad; and another about real-life options girls face in life, whether very rich or very poor.
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