A children's History of India in 100 Objects, written by Devika Cariapa (Puffin) is the antidote to kids’ continual complaints of history being drab and boring. Packed with illustrated versions of important monuments, stone reliefs, and plaques, it offers up the country’s history in an exciting, yet informative way. Priyanka Tampi’s illustrations even draw in adults who secretly nurse a longing to travel in time, but can’t find the time (or energy or portal).

The introduction tells us that author Devika Cariapa trained as an archaeologist before finding her calling in making history easy and accessible to children. The chapters, told in the form of stories, begin with objects from the stone age and progress towards modernity, ending with The Talking Revolution—the age when Nokia 2110 handsets changed the way we communicated.