Review of Animal Village

[Christina Jennings]

[Following is a volunteer review of "Animal Village" by Nelda LaTeef.]

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4 out of 4 stars

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When the village of Zindair faces a drought, only Timba knows what to do. She has listened to the ‘old stories’ and knows that there is water to be found under the ground. At first, the other animals happily go along with her and help dig to find water, but when they encounter too many difficulties, one by one, the other animals give up, leaving Timba alone. Even when they turn against her and the task seems impossible, she continues her work, undeterred. When her tireless efforts finally pay off, she returns to an amazed and grateful village to show them the way. In the end, they all learn from the wisdom of the ‘old stories’ that they previously neglected to listen to.

Animal Village by Nelda LaTeef is a charming and wonderfully written children’s book, showing the importance of learning from the lessons of the past. It is only because Timba listened to the ‘old stories’ and absorbed their lessons, that the animals in the village have a chance to survive. LaTeef masterfully weaves strong themes of perseverance throughout the story, as when Timba continues to search even after many days of failure. The colorful, full-page illustrations are beautifully designed to capture the essence of each scene and fully bring the story to life.

I could not find any negative aspects to Animal Village. The story flowed well and was written in simple, easily understood prose.

I rate this book 4 out of 4 stars for its excellent portrayal of community, trials, and perseverance. This is a story that will be enjoyed by children for years to come, and it will be a staple of children’s collections everywhere.

I highly recommend this book for any school-age child with a big heart and adventurous spirit. They will root for Timba and will celebrate with her as she receives her hard-earned reward.

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Animal Village
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