The Hidden Village - Book Review

The Hidden Village

By Bonnie Rose Hudson

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Title: The Hidden Valley
Author: Bonnie Rose Hudson
Publisher: JourneyForth (BJU)
Release Date: June 2017
Genre: Children's Fiction/ Christian Fiction 

 The Hidden Village is a children’s Christian fiction book about a boy named Manju who lives in India. When Manju finds a village hidden in the mangrove forest, he wants to do everything he can to help his new friends. But what can he do when the people in his own village won’t believe his story, and even the weather keeps him away from the hidden village?

This story is a wonderful read for children and adults alike. The story is told through the eyes of the main character, Manju who lives in West Bengal, India. He lives in a small village surround by mangrove trees. One day while climbing a mangrove tree he noticed smoke from a fire in another clearing of trees. Since he knows what can happen if a fire breaks out in the forest, he investigates to find out where it is coming from.  This investigation leads him to the hidden village that this story is centered around. From there on, the story continues with the daily life and adventures of Manju, his village, and his new friends. The vivid details and descriptions transported me to India with Manju.

This short story is great as a read aloud or for an emergent reader to read independently. The chapters are short and leave you wanting to know what is going to happen next. This is a Christian based children’s book, and I think it would be a great tool to use to teach children that they too can share the Gospel of Jesus with others.  As a homeschool mom, I have been looking for books and resources to teach my children about missionaries and examples of children sharing the good news of Jesus. I thought this book was interesting and encouraging that no matter a person’s age they can be a light for Jesus. Some of the extra features that I thought were great include the pronunciation guide, information about Manju’s home country, and ideas for the readers to help others like Manju’s village.

About the Author:

Bonnie Rose Hudson's heart's desire is for every child to feel the love of God and know how special they are to Him. She works as the Director of SchoolhouseTeachers.com, the curriculum site of The Old Schoolhouse Magazine. She would love for you to explore the wonderful curriculum available there and to stop by her author's blog WriteBonnieRose.com for resources to help teach your children about missions and the persecuted Church, free history and writing printable, discover how you can write for the homeschool market, and check out her newest release from JourneyForth, The Hidden Village, an early reader  set in India. 

I received a copy of this book from the author. I was not required to give a positive review. I enjoyed this book very much and all opinions are my own.