Buy new:
-34% $11.89
FREE delivery Friday, May 17 on orders shipped by Amazon over $35
Ships from: Amazon.com
Sold by: Amazon.com
$11.89 with 34 percent savings
List Price: $17.99

The List Price is the suggested retail price of a new product as provided by a manufacturer, supplier, or seller. Except for books, Amazon will display a List Price if the product was purchased by customers on Amazon or offered by other retailers at or above the List Price in at least the past 90 days. List prices may not necessarily reflect the product's prevailing market price.
Learn more
Get Fast, Free Shipping with Amazon Prime FREE Returns
FREE delivery Friday, May 17 on orders shipped by Amazon over $35. Order within 10 hrs 42 mins
Only 12 left in stock (more on the way).
$$11.89 () Includes selected options. Includes initial monthly payment and selected options. Details
Price
Subtotal
$$11.89
Subtotal
Initial payment breakdown
Shipping cost, delivery date, and order total (including tax) shown at checkout.
Ships from
Amazon.com
Ships from
Amazon.com
Sold by
Amazon.com
Sold by
Amazon.com
Returns
30-day easy returns
30-day easy returns
This item can be returned in its original condition for a full refund or replacement within 30 days of receipt.
Read full return policy
Returns
30-day easy returns
This item can be returned in its original condition for a full refund or replacement within 30 days of receipt.
Read full return policy
Payment
Secure transaction
Your transaction is secure
We work hard to protect your security and privacy. Our payment security system encrypts your information during transmission. We don’t share your credit card details with third-party sellers, and we don’t sell your information to others. Learn more
Payment
Secure transaction
We work hard to protect your security and privacy. Our payment security system encrypts your information during transmission. We don’t share your credit card details with third-party sellers, and we don’t sell your information to others. Learn more
$6.05
Former library book; May have limited writing in cover pages. Pages are unmarked. ~ ThriftBooks: Read More, Spend Less Former library book; May have limited writing in cover pages. Pages are unmarked. ~ ThriftBooks: Read More, Spend Less See less
FREE delivery May 20 - 24. Details
Or fastest delivery May 14 - 17. Details
Only 1 left in stock - order soon.
$$11.89 () Includes selected options. Includes initial monthly payment and selected options. Details
Price
Subtotal
$$11.89
Subtotal
Initial payment breakdown
Shipping cost, delivery date, and order total (including tax) shown at checkout.
Access codes and supplements are not guaranteed with used items.
Ships from and sold by ThriftBooks-Chicago.
Kindle app logo image

Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required.

Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.

Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.

QR code to download the Kindle App

Follow the author

Barb Rosenstock
+ Follow
More books from this author
Something went wrong. Please try your request again later.

The Secret Kingdom: Nek Chand, a Changing India, and a Hidden World of Art Hardcover – Picture Book, February 13, 2018

by Barb Rosenstock (Author), Claire A. Nivola (Illustrator)
4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 29 ratings
See all formats and editions
{"desktop_buybox_group_1":[{"displayPrice":"$11.89","priceAmount":11.89,"currencySymbol":"$","integerValue":"11","decimalSeparator":".","fractionalValue":"89","symbolPosition":"left","hasSpace":false,"showFractionalPartIfEmpty":true,"offerListingId":"FD72317D1f5GZpu5NWyJCjFxl0aL3syC40yKSxOfoOczg%2FqWlwpgOryz%2BazZIclWO1ZloWf6Pndc9v909TlDBG9xHXQ1kWsXdQu4KwiqqnIPKHx%2BJyw%2Ffg5I66OfAwgRi%2BE5HhoVVbR%2FHH6Rm0rqOA%3D%3D","locale":"en-US","buyingOptionType":"NEW","aapiBuyingOptionIndex":0}, {"displayPrice":"$6.05","priceAmount":6.05,"currencySymbol":"$","integerValue":"6","decimalSeparator":".","fractionalValue":"05","symbolPosition":"left","hasSpace":false,"showFractionalPartIfEmpty":true,"offerListingId":"FD72317D1f5GZpu5NWyJCjFxl0aL3syC%2FpdxTZKIygMPLpwePDtFxFkmRk%2BdGjwPV7EW0ujd67OFS6%2B0slqCRx%2Bgn4F9iGKlOYLfFLuMF0jNStDyIU0hWgS5FXIA2GHNlizxZz8OpInhZ1bLeG152huoSaOoL4BspaWO5urSiZukAHUtn9Ck1A%3D%3D","locale":"en-US","buyingOptionType":"USED","aapiBuyingOptionIndex":1}]}

Purchase options and add-ons

A 2019 Orbis Pictus Honor Book

The incredible story of the world’s largest visionary environment: the Rock Garden of Chandigarh, kept secret by outsider artist Nek Chand for fifteen years.

After the partition of India in 1947, Nek Chand Saini settled in the city of Chandigarh, with nothing but stories brought from his homeland. Dismayed at his stark new surroundings, Nek began collecting river rocks, broken glass, and cracked water pots found on the roadside. He cleared a section of jungle and for seven years he stockpiled odds and ends. They were castoffs and rubbish to everyone else, but to Nek, they were treasures. He began to build a labyrinth of curving paths, mosaics, and repeating patterns: his very own tribute to the winding village of his youth, a hidden land of stories. Nek kept his kingdom secret for fifteen years, until a government crew stumbled upon it and sought to destroy it. But local fans agreed in awe: the Rock Garden had to be protected. Author Barb Rosenstock introduces readers to the outsider artist’s stunning creation, while Claire A. Nivola’s illustrations bring to life the land’s natural beauty and the surreal world Nek coaxed from his wild landscape.
Read more Read less
Previous page
  1. Reading age
    7 - 10 years
  2. Print length
    48 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Grade level
    2 - 5
  5. Lexile measure
    1100L
  6. Dimensions
    8.69 x 0.39 x 11.28 inches
  7. Publisher
    Candlewick
  8. Publication date
    February 13, 2018
  9. ISBN-10
    0763674753
  10. ISBN-13
    978-0763674755
  11. See all details
Next page
The Amazon Book Review
The Amazon Book Review
Book recommendations, author interviews, editors' picks, and more. Read it now

Frequently bought together

The Secret Kingdom: Nek Chand, a Changing India, and a Hidden World of Art
$11.89
Get it as soon as Friday, May 17
Only 12 left in stock (more on the way).
Ships from and sold by Amazon.com.
+
Finders Keepers?: A Bus Trip in India
$7.95
Get it as soon as Friday, May 17
In Stock
Ships from and sold by Amazon.com.
Total price:
To see our price, add these items to your cart.
Details
Added to Cart
One of these items ships sooner than the other.
Show details Hide details
Choose items to buy together.

Editorial Reviews

Review

...this biography is valuable for its sheer novelty. Delicate watercolor illustrations bring it to life with texture and detail, and a large gatefold photograph of the actual Rock Garden is a special treat.
—Booklist

Rosenstock weaves the story of folk artist Nek Chand Saini and the magnificent secret garden he built in Chandigarh, India...Compelling, delicate, and spare, this book brings both artist and garden to life.
—Kirkus Reviews

Watercolor illustrations bring life to the vision of Chand and kingdom of magic and imagination. A captivating biographical narrative, this book is an ideal choice for expanding any visual arts–focused picture book collection.
—School Library Journal

A lover of true stories, author Barb Rosenstock (The Camping Trip That Changed America) clearly revels in Nek Chand's remarkable journey from village farmer to world-renowned folk artist. To comprehend the phenomenal scale of his achievement requires visuals, provided here with artistic accuracy and charming detail by Claire A. Nivola (Planting the Trees of Kenya).
—Shelf Awareness Pro

Rosenstock’s narration gracefully integrates Chand’s early village experiences with their embodiment in his multi-acre built world, and Nivola’s airy illustrations are complemented by a closing double foldout photomontage of Chand’s wonderland of found materials.
—Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

This stunning picture-book celebration of folk artist Nek Chand, creator of the Rock Garden of Chandigarh in India, offers a moving depiction of the power of art...When readers are treated to a breathtaking, photographic gatefold spread of the real Rock Garden of Chandigarh, the sight makes plain why Chand’s community rallied to preserve his work in the face of government threats to destroy it.
—The Horn Book

About the Author

Barb Rosenstock is a children’s book author who loves true stories. Her work includes The Camping Trip That Changed America: Theodore Roosevelt, John Muir, and Our National Parks, illustrated by Mordicai Gerstein; The Noisy Paint Box: The Colors and Sounds of Kandinsky’s Abstract Art, illustrated by Mary GrandPré; and many others. Barb Rosenstock lives in Chicago.

Claire A. Nivola is an award-winning artist who has written and illustrated many books for children. She is the author-illustrator of Orani: My Father’s Village and Planting the Trees of Kenya: The Story of Wangari Maathai. She lives in Newton, Massachusetts.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Candlewick; Illustrated edition (February 13, 2018)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 48 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0763674753
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0763674755
  • Reading age ‏ : ‎ 7 - 10 years
  • Lexile measure ‏ : ‎ 1100L
  • Grade level ‏ : ‎ 2 - 5
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.1 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 8.69 x 0.39 x 11.28 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 29 ratings

About the author

Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations.
Barb Rosenstock

Barb Rosenstock

Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.
Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

Barb Rosenstock writes true stories for today’s kids. She’s the author of many award-winning picture books including the Caldecott Honor title, THE NOISY PAINT BOX, illustrated by Mary Grandpré, the first in series of picture books about famous artists. THE SECRET KINGDOM and OTIS AND WILL DISCOVER THE DEEP were recently honored by the NCTE Orbis Pictus committee and THROUGH THE WINDOW received a Sydney Taylor honor. Barb loves to visit schools and share ideas about reading and writing with students. She lives with her family near Chicago.

Customer reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars
4.7 out of 5
29 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Kat
5.0 out of 5 stars A wonderful book to become familiar with Nek Chand and his extraordinary art
Reviewed in the United States on April 14, 2019
Verified Purchase
First, I have to say that I recently discovered the children's illustrated biographies of Barb Rosenstock. They are all excellent and I highly recommend them. She writes about a lot of artists (Chagall, Kandinsky, Van Gogh, and photographer Lange) and other famous people. I discovered Nek Chand (and other Outsider artists) a few years ago when I read another wonderful book, The Art of Secrets by James Klise. I was thrilled to find Rosenstock's illustrated biography for children about Chand. It is so important to introduce children to artists, people, and events they may not have heard about.. This book about Chand should be used as a springboard to enjoy photos of his wonderful Rock Garden in India. And, I have to mention Rosenstock's fabulous Caldecott Honor book (illustrated by Mary GrandPre) The Noisy Paint Box: The Colors and Sounds of Kandinsky's Abstract Art. This book introduces children to Kandinsky's art as well as his synesthesia, a sensation I'm sure would be interesting to children as well as adults. Please check out Rosenstock's wonderful books.
One person found this helpful
Helpful
 Report
Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars A beautiful engaging nonfiction tale of a refugee!
Reviewed in the United States on February 13, 2018
Verified Purchase
As I read this book I loved learning about a changing culture and its impact on a young boy and his village in India. This story of a refugee who is forced to flee Pakistan for India in 1947 is so very relevant to many people in today’s changing world. As the seasons and years ebb and flow in the story so did my feelings of happiness loss despair and hope.What a great book to begin some very serious and thought provoking conversations with young adults!
One person found this helpful
Helpful
 Report
M. Ericksen
5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
Reviewed in the United States on May 18, 2018
Verified Purchase
OMG LOve her books.. The center fold out is amazing!
One person found this helpful
Helpful
 Report
nightingale
5.0 out of 5 stars True story on following your passion
Reviewed in the United States on November 22, 2018
The Secret Kingdom is a picture book biography of Nek Chand who built a secret rock garden in the outskirts of Chandigarh. Nek Chand was born in a village of Berian Kalan in Punjab. He grew up listening to stories and folk lores that fascinated him. He channeled his fascination into building a castles, forts and figures using sticks and stones he would find on the river bank. In 1947, his peaceful life was shaken up with the Partition of India and Pakistan. His family traveled miles to relocate to the newly partitioned India.
Nek found a job as a government roads inspector but never really felt at home in this modern city. He missed his home and village. So when he found an area of forestland that was abandoned, he decided to make this space his home. He cleared away some land and settled right in. He used all the natural material such as sticks and stones to start creating a world that he could relate to. Over the next 15 years, Nek created this secret garden from his imagination. He still continues his work..
The secret garden captures Nek's passion on creating a kingdom from his imagination. Nek truly find a way to channel his dreams into reality. A truly fascination subject, an intriguing story and wonderful biography to read. Highly recommended!
2 people found this helpful
Helpful
 Report
Sunday C
5.0 out of 5 stars Read aloud, discuss, use as mentor text...lots of classroom potential
Reviewed in the United States on February 18, 2018
The kind of book you'll want to use with students--of all ages. Read this aloud to students, letting them savor the author Rosenstock's language--"Nek played and planted, laughed and listened, as the ancient stories circled with seasons, beginning to end and back again." Share with small groups and ask them to contemplate questions like, "What is the role of art (or storytelling) in society?" or "How did Nek reveal his determination?" Use as a mentor text for writers. Read and then reread, slowing down carefully to look at the water color illustrations asking, "What do you notice?" and "How does the illustrator Nivola convey X?" or "What is the role of the gatefold (photograph that folds out) in the book?"

Don't skip the author's note. Read this aloud to students or ask students to read. You can use this as a "second" source and ask students to think about how the content adds to their learning. Encourage them to ask lots of questions and do more research including reading about other artists and their endeavors.

I have so much more to say about this book. It's powerful and has a lot of classroom potential. Barb Rosenstock is a "go to" author for me. As soon I got the book, I knew it would be well written. Nivola has also illustrated several other informational books--her illustrations always expand and deepen my understanding of the topic.
2 people found this helpful
Helpful
 Report
P.S. Turner
5.0 out of 5 stars A book about what matters
Reviewed in the United States on December 23, 2020
This is a terrific picture book that can be appreciated by both kids and their parents. It tells the story of a poor Indian man who creates an incredible 'art garden' inspired by the village stories of his childhood. It's a story of what one man can accomplish with hard work, talent, humility, and sincerity. Absolutely wonderful and inspiring. Highly recommended!
Helpful
 Report
Ms Kristin M Earnst
5.0 out of 5 stars ... watercolor illustrations of this rich picture book biography are beautifully designed and full of details
Reviewed in the United States on July 14, 2018
The watercolor illustrations of this rich picture book biography are beautifully designed and full of details. This story of artist Nek Chand's life gently asserts the necessity of storytelling and of visual arts to the health of an individual and of a community--especially when it is displaced, in this case by the partition of India and Pakistan. Coming upon the fold out pages of photos the actual garden & its sculptures going on and on for acres made me laugh out loud with pleasure. I felt an echo of the awe the vast expanse of the Chinese warriors inspires. Check it out.
One person found this helpful
Helpful
 Report
Melissa Koosmann
5.0 out of 5 stars Great, kid-friendly picture book biography
Reviewed in the United States on July 31, 2018
This is a fantastic picture book biography. Nek Chand's story is deeply appealing to my four-year-old, and to me as well. What kid wouldn't like a story about collecting found materials and creating a secret kingdom of art? As a parent, I love that the main character shows so much grit and hopefulness. And the teacher in me loves the historical and cultural messages, not to mention the teachable vocabulary. All-around awesome.
One person found this helpful
Helpful
 Report