Zada is a camel with a treasure trove of stories to tell.
She’s won camel races for the royal Pasha of Smyrna, crossed treacherous oceans
to new land, led army missions with her best camel friend by her side, and
outsmarted a far too pompous mountain lion.
But those stories
were from before. Now, Zada wanders the desert as the last camel in Texas. But
she’s not alone. Two tiny kestrel chicks are nestled in the fluff of fur
between her ears—kee-killy-keeing for their missing parents—and a dust storm
the size of a mountain is taking Zada on one more grand adventure. And it could
lead to this achy old camel’s most brilliant story yet.
Once Upon a Camel by Kathi Appelt is an adorable story about a camel name Zada who (in her very old age), uses her gift of storytelling to help comfort and save two baby kestrels who were separated from their parents. Zada, whose adventure began in Symrna, Turkey and ends in West Texas, takes us on two adventures. The first is her current journey of saving these two baby birds in the present day, and the second is how she and her best friend Asiye (two racing camels in the Turkish desert), became pack camels for the US Army in Texas. Through her storytelling, Zada keeps the baby kestrels distracted from the fact that they have lost their parents and don't know if they will ever see them again. It takes all of Zada's strength (literally) and love to make it through her most difficult adventure yet.
I loved how Appelt tells a story within a story. Going back and forth from Zada's youth to present day. Weaving her adventures for the baby kestrels in her care, all the while educating the reader on how camels came to Texas in the first place. There are many facts about places, animals, and events in history that Appelt intertwines in her storytelling. From the habits and anatomy of camels to how camel caravans helped transport goods from central Texas to southern California. Appelt infuses facts and history into her story that creates a dual experience of fact and fiction. I also enjoyed how the use of Turkish and French sayings were incorporated throughout the book. It gave authenticity to the setting and backgrounds of the characters. The beautiful charcoal illustrations by Eric Rohmann gives life to Zada's story and helps the reader visualize the characters and experience the most important moments of her adventures.
Once Upon a Camel is a beautiful tale about life, friendship, and family. A heartwarming tale for readers of all ages! A must have your home or school library!
5 Stars!
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Kathi Appelt is the author of the Newbery Honoree, National
Book Award finalist, and bestselling The Underneath as well as the National
Book Award Finalist The True Blue Scouts of Sugar Man Swamp, Maybe a Fox (with
Alison McGhee), Keeper, and many picture books including Counting
Crows and Mogie, the Heart of the House. She lives in College Station, Texas,
with her husband and five gifted and talented cats.
great review! I agree -- a book for everyone to enjoy!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much! On behalf of camels and kestrels, your review means the world to us.
ReplyDeleteKA