Review of Animal Village

[Rishaunda Lynnette Britton]

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

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5 out of 5 stars

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The drought in the animal village of Zindair, Zarma, West Africa, has made life difficult for the inhabitants. There is a scarcity of food and water. It got so bad that the lion king, Chief Zamboha, had to summon everyone for a meeting on how to solve these problems. Timba, the tortoise, volunteers to help, but most of the animals think that her approach is infeasible. There are hard times ahead.

"Animal Village," written by Nelda LaTeef, is probably one of the best children's stories out there. With different species of animals as the characters, it comes across as a quick, fun read, a bedtime story, and material for children's moral lesson sessions. The story is well illustrated. The paintings, a typical instance of class and precision, perfectly punctuated and complemented the storyline to give children an educational and fun experience.

I liked the practical demonstration of applied knowledge through the character Timba. I believe the incidents that played out in this story will encourage children to pay attention to every opportunity that comes their way and every situation they find themselves in. It doesn't matter whether the benefits are immediate or long-term. The reward can go beyond meeting personal needs to even saving a community, a nation, or the world!

Confidence in one's self is another great value portrayed in this story. The story shows how this helped Timba handle the discouraging attitudes of neighbors like rhinoceros, ostriches, zebras, and giraffes. Children will also learn about the importance of patience and appreciate the wisdom in the song: "The moon moves slowly, but it crosses the sky. Everything is possible, by and by" (page 12).

This was a wonderful read. I didn't dislike anything in this book, so I am giving it five out of five stars for the flawless editing and its gripping, value-packed story. There is no reason to remove any stars from the rating. "Animal Village" is a suitable read for children between the ages of four and eight.

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Animal Village
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[Vinay Penubothu]

Thank you for your detailed review! Your insights have piqued my interest, and I'm excited to dive into the book. Your review convinced me it's a must-read. Thanks for sharing your thoughts - they've inspired me to explore further

[Amy Luman]

I truly enjoy how children’s authors use animal with human thoughts and emotions as their characters. This is really appealing to kids and helps them to stick with the story. Especially important if they are reading alone. Thanks!

[Anil Baade]

Thank you for your valuable insights about this book. You've explained about the book very well. I'll definitely add this to my reading list