Mary And The Hidden Island

Reviewed By Ernest Omoarelojie 

As a keen observer of the relationship between teens cartoon characters and books with such attractive illustrations, I could not but agree in my first contact with Mary and the Hiidden Island, a book written by Christian Olalekan Babalola, that it would make a great read for all cartoon-trendy children. 

My conclusion received a big thumbs-up when on getting home, I deliberately opened the soft copy forwarded to me for review. In no time, I heard my 9 year-old daughter hollered a ‘Wa o’, ‘what a beauty!’ 

I did not need to ask if she wanted to read it before she decended on the piece. Excited and without being asked, she came over when she was done, to narrate the story to me, ending it by unfolding attached moral values. 

By the time I finally sat over to read the book, I had the privilege of already appreciating it through the facinated eyes of my daughter who also didn't fail to command that I got her a hard copy for the home library.

Mary and the Hiidden Island is really a beauty to behold in many respects. Beyond the compelling and attractive illustration, its conversational story line is another quality one cannot miss for its easy-to-follow style. It is one that makes the story line very easy to comprehend.

The other quality that runs through Mary and the Hiidden Island is the author's creative presentation of his characters with picturesque illustrations. 

Essentially, Mary and the Hidden Island is built around Mary, a problem solving genius whose altruistic exploits were very appreciated and Aya, a jealous coresidents of the island. But the adulation on former caught the jealous attention of the latter, who certainly wasn't enarmoured with the constant praises showered on her colleague. 

Buoyed by jealous rage, Aya decided to also try her hand on something that would possibly turn the adulating eyes of her co-island resident on her. In the end, she co-invented built a giant robot, named Gemmbot, with the assistance of her rather docile friends, including the service Bubbles. 

She was certain that her creation would help take away the attention and admiration showered on Mary and redirect same at her. Unfortunately however, no sooner had the huge robot been created than it became the source of the most destructive experience the hiden Island ever witnessed.

Put differently, Gemmbot turned out to be bad news and nightmare for her community, even though it was through no direct deliberate machinations of hers. 

Mary and the Hidden Island comes loaded open lessons for not just kids but all. In the main, it is that jealousy is an ill-wind that blows no good. Mary, a problem solving citizen every community would want to have and was indeed appreciated by all, caught the jealous attention of Aya. So embarked on an action that resulted in disastrous consequences. 

Thankfully, Aya realized and regretted her folly in the end and tendered necessary apologies, thus reminding everyone that the end for jealous people is always very disastrous unless there is genuine repentance, so to speak.

Remarkably, MARY and the HIDEN ISLAND is a well illustrated children's story book with several high selling points. By many standards, it is a book that is worthy of an eminent place in all children section of any library, public or private. Its carton-trendy nature is certainly one good selling note it has on a large pool teens, particularly given its attractive cover illustrations.