With a nod to The Jungle Book and The Lion King, Paul G. Wilson brings us his children’s book, Sahbaar’s Secret. Sahbaar is a young tiger cub with a secret – he’s not like the other tigers, yellow with black stripes. Sahbaar is a white tiger and his family knows that this difference is a danger to him and to them. The king of the jungle, the lion Rashar, and the Jungle Council are extremely hard on any animal that is different from their breed. Sabhaar’s parents know if Rashar were to find out about his coloring, something terrible will happen, perhaps even banishment from the jungle. Cleverly they devise a plan whereby Sahbaar will roll in a bed of crushed orange berries every morning to turn his fur orange like the rest of his family. His biggest fear is water that could wash the coloring out and, of course, rain. Sahbaar has to come to terms with his difference and deal with the consequences of it but, fortunately, he has some wonderfully loyal and loving friends, including Rashar’s own son, Nero, who will look out for him and watch his back. Trouble is coming to the jungle, though, in the form of the animal man with his shooting sticks. Sahbaar and his friends will have to dig deep and find all the courage they have to deal with this threat to the jungle way of life.

Sahbaar’s Secret is a truly delightful children’s book, probably best suited for middle-school children. Author Paul G. Wilson uses the story as a perfect vehicle to explain and reinforce what is important in life; loyalty, friendship, love, courage, and doing the right thing even in the face of intransigence and opposition. What I particularly liked about this story was the variety of animals that Sahbaar had as friends. All of them, even the slowest and most lumbering, such as the crocodile, had skills that would prove useful in the coming battle against both man and the elders of the jungle. The writing style is perfectly suited to the intended audience, without appearing to be “dumbed down” in any way. As an adult reading this story, I was still able to identify with the animal characters and their particular natures and quirks, which is always the sign of a well-written children’s book, in my opinion. I loved the story and the dramatic climax. As a children’s book with strong morals and valuable lessons for life, this story truly hit the mark perfectly. I thoroughly enjoyed it and can highly recommend it.

Sahbaar's Secret: The Fight For Acceptance by Paul G. Wilson follows the saga of Sahbaar the tiger cub. Sahbaar has a secret that he and his family try to keep concealed but soon it is revealed for all to see. Rahshar, the King of the Jungle, thinks that animals who are different are dangerous and Sahbaar’s life changes; he must leave his friends and family behind. Facing new challenges, Sahbaar teams up with someone he never thought he would meet and now it’s down to Sahbaar to save his friends – new and old – from serious danger. Overcoming his differences, Sahbaar fights for his rights and his place in the jungle. Can he save them all from a threat to their existence?

Sahbaar’s Secret: The Fight For Acceptance by Paul G Wilson is a wonderful children’s book, The Jungle Book reimagined. The story teaches children many important things – love, loyalty, friendship, courage and that, no matter what, the most important thing of all is doing the right thing. It also teaches that while someone may look different on the outside, it is what’s on the inside that is important. An interesting aspect of this book is the different friends that Sahbaar makes; all very different but all bringing their own useful skills. This is a perfectly written book, using simple descriptive language that is well suited to the target audience. It is an action-packed story that moves at the right pace. I thoroughly enjoyed this story and I think it has been written perfectly for its intended age range.