Camels ALWAYS DO [Hardcover]

Lynn Manuel (Author), Kasia Charko (Illustrator)

Book Description

Grade Level: P and up

In this fictionalized story about a piece of British Columbia history, Cameron and his father travel as packers with twenty-one camels on the long trip to the gold fields. On the way, they must deal with all the camel characteristics that make the animals poorly suited to the job. When the camels' feet are injured on the rocks, Cameron knows what to do. When they become so stinky that townspeople will not put up with them, Cameron knows what to do. In the end, though, doing what must be done is not so easy.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 1-3–A story set in 1862 during the Cariboo gold rush. When not panning for gold with his father, Cameron spends all of his free time reading about camels and dreaming about one day crossing the ocean to see one. Amazingly, the camels come to him when a businessman imports a herd, thinking that they could be used to transport supplies. Unfortunately, Mr. Laumeister knows very little about the animals and is unprepared for the problems that arise. Cameron, with the help of his patient and understanding father, ends up taking care of the Dromedary Express and uses all of his knowledge to help the camels stay healthy and fit into their new surroundings. Still, even with the boy's bright ideas, the venture can't be saved and, in the end, he must make a difficult decision. While Cameron is a fictional character, the story behind the camel train is true, and a useful author's note explains its origins. Charko's muted, detailed illustrations have an old western flair to them, and the antics and expressions of the camels crowded together within the frames add a lot of fun to the thoughtful text. In addition to appealing to animal enthusiasts, this picture book highlights an interesting piece of Canada's past and makes a great introduction to historical fiction.–Julie Roach, Malden Public Library, MA
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Review

". . . will be a welcome addition to school as well as classroom libraries." "Highly Recommended." (CM Magazine 20040429)

"Young readers will be amused and delighted at the antics of the cantankerous camels . . ." "Highly recommended." (Canadian Book Review Annual 20040327)

"Kasia Charko's bold full-page watercolour and pencil illustrations are beautifully done and compliment the text very well." ". . . will appeal to young children who have an interest in animals and adventure stories. They will enjoy the bright, bold illustrations and the detail they provide." "This is a fun yet informative picture book." (Resource Links 20040519)

"This is a disarming and charming story about flawed plans that'll crinkle the foreheads of kid and parent while entertaining them with sharp, evocative text and lovely illustrations." (CD Syndicated )

". . . Lynn Manuel has constructed a delightful tale." (The Globe and Mail )

". . . Kasia Charko has created detailed, glowing paintings that bring the period, place, and characters of the Cariboo to life to enhance the appealing story." (CanLit for Kids )

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Orca Book Publishers (April 1, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1551432846
• ISBN-13: 978-1551432847
• Product Dimensions: 10.3 x 8.4 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #6,806,641 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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