There is a childlike curiosity in Shabnam Minwalla that makes her the perfect storyteller for children and young adults. Her protagonists, whether Maya Anand, Nivi Mallik or Nimmi Daruwala, see the place and the city they inhabit, through colours that often escape us. It-s this wonderment that Minwalla brings to her new book, Colaba: The Diamond at the Tip of Mumbai Speaking Tiger, second in the series of biographies, which pay homage to the neighbourhoods of Mumbai through its long-time residents. Minwalla-s book follows translator-critic Shanta Gokhale-s Shivaji Park, Dadar 28: History, Places, People that released earlier this year, and stitches a compelling and vivid portrait of the place she calls home, through history, personal memories and journalistic rigour. But, mostly it-s legends and stories, both rich and unheard, which populate her book.

"I love Mumbai, and it upsets me greatly, when people act like there is nothing here. You need the time, space and ability to look beyond the grey and grime to see what there is. But, I never saw myself writing [such a book], because I am more or less comfortable being a children-s writer," she admits.