The Secret Kingdom:
Nek Chand, a Changing India, and a Hidden World of Art

The Secret Kingdom

By Barb Rosenstock
Illustrations by Claire A. Nivola
Candlewick
ISBN: 978-0763674755

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The incredible story of the world’s largest visionary environment: the Rock Garden of Chandigarh by outsider artist Nek Chand.

After the partition of India in 1947, Nek Chand Saini settled in the city of Chandigarh, with nothing but stories brought from his village. While working as a road builder, he dug up the odds and ends of his old village life. What was garbage to everyone else became Nek’s collected treasures. After his work days ended, he cleared a piece of jungle and began to rebuild a tribute to the winding village of his youth. Nek kept his kingdom, a hidden land of stories, a secret for fifteen years, until a government crew stumbled on it and sought to destroy it. Would the local people protect Nek’s secret kingdom? A story about a refugee, recycling and finding your place in the world.

Back matter includes photos, author’s note, bibliography and call to action.

Awards & Honors

Resources

Blog Posts & Interviews

Reviews

“Folk artist Nek Chand’s remarkable journey to create the phenomenal Rock Garden of Chandigarh, India, is an inspiring tale of tenacious creativity.”
Starred Review, Publishers Weekly
"Compelling, delicate, and spare, this book brings both artist and garden to life.”
—Kirkus
"a captivating biographical narrative, this book is an ideal choice for expanding any visual-arts focused picture book collection.”
—School Library Journal
"Folk artist Nek Chand's remarkable journey to create the phenomenal Rock Garden of Chandigarh, India, is an inspiring tale of tenacious creativity.” 
—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
Stars long