THIS is a remarkable little book where each new day brings a whirlwind of adventure, emotion, possibility and hope. It is easy to read and has beautiful illustrations that convey tacit sympathy with the child’s perspectives. What makes it even more remarkable is the fact that it has been written by a precocious eight year-old Pakistani girl named Lailamah Giselle Khan, who was born in London and did her early schooling there.

Euro Journey takes the reader on an exciting 15-day adventure which starts from Karachi and ends in Karachi. Along the way, the author changes planes in Dubai and Düsseldorf, visits Interlaken, and the Jungfrau Mountain in Switzerland. The next stop is Rome, followed by Naples, the Isle of Capri, Vatican City, Venice, Milan and Paris.

This book has been written for children. But even some parents will be fascinated by the passion for detail such as having to take five trains to reach ‘the top of Europe’, Italy being famous for pizza, lasagne, pasta and cheese and all breakfast being so ‘yummy’.

The highlight of the tour is the visit to Italy where the family spends most of the whistle-stop tour. There is so much to see and do in this wonderful land as the little girl discovered. In fact, a tourist could spend 10 years in this country and still not be able to say he really got to know the land and its people.

The Imperial city of Rome really fascinated Lailahmah. She took photographs of the famous Piazza di Spagna, which has the widest steps in Europe, and the Coliseum, where for entertainment the Romans fed prisoners to the lions.

The family then went to Naples and the Isle of Capri, but, unfortunately, couldn’t visit the Blue Grotto where fireflies light up the cave with their special incandescence. Vatican City, the holiest shrine of the Roman Catholics and residence of the Pope, came next. After that the family travelled to Venice, the city of canals, Renaissance paintings and those fabulous, colourful masks worn at carnivals. And finally … Paris … and the wonder of Disneyland!

The illustrations by Ahmed Amin are outstanding. However, in a future edition, the designer must avoid the use of reverse lettering on light backgrounds.