Muktar and the Camels [Hardcover]

Janet Graber (Author), Scott Mack (Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 4 and up | Grade Level: P and up

Muktar lives in an orphanage on the border of Kenya and Somalia. He daydreams about his old life with his family and especially tending to camels. One day, visitors arrive bearing books, and Muktar’s friend Ismail is excited; so is Muktar, but for a different reason—the visitors are riding on camels. Muktar quickly discovers that one of the animals is injured and realizes this is his chance to prove himself. If there is anythingMuktar knows, it is camels. Through the eyes of an endearing protagonist whose love and respect for animals shines, this beautifully told story introduces young readers to another part of the world and way of life.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 2–3—Muktar, a Somali orphan in Kenya, misses the nomadic life of his people. His friend Ismail is determined to learn the "new ways" at their orphanage school, but Muktar daydreams of camels and the important place they have in his culture. When a trio of camels visits his school bearing a traveling library, Muktar cares for them so well that he is offered a job doing just that. While many books offer a view of third-world cultures, they often mirror our own values and concerns: Katie Smith Milway's One Hen (Kids Can, 2008) tells the story of nascent capitalism in Ghana; Stephanie Stuve-Bodeen's commendable "Elizabeti" titles (Lee & Low) enlighten readers about Tanzanian family life. Graber's story offers an anthropologist's appreciation for Somali nomadic culture without westernizing Muktar. He is not a bookworm or entrepreneur—he is a displaced child who is made drowsy by the "tangy smell of fresh excrement." Muktar longs to live the life that is in his blood, and Graber tells his story well, though the simple maps and the brief historical context come at the end of the book or on the endpapers. Readers may be concerned when the teacher calls Muktar "lazy" and will have to dig deep to appreciate a dream about dung collection, but the effort will be worthwhile. Mack's oil-on-canvas paintings evoke the sun and dust of Kenya, giving readers an impression of the landscape.—Lisa Egly Lehmuller, St. Patrick's Catholic School, Charlotte, NC
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Review

Praise for Muktar and the Camels:

 

“The present-tense narrative is immediate and spare and is beautifully illustrated by the spacious oil paintings, in desert reds and oranges, which convey the boy’s bond with the animals. An author’s note and a map fill in more about the war and about the camels, which really do deliver library books.”—Booklist

 

“Muktar’s enthusiasm, knowledge and talent with camels will attract young readers, and the story of the unusual delivery system will engage those who delight in knowing that children everywhere benefit from free library services.”—Kirkus Reviews

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Henry Holt and Co. (BYR) (August 18, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0805078347
• ISBN-13: 978-0805078343
• Product Dimensions: 10 x 9.1 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,100,339 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Losing All, November 12, 2009

By 

Kemie Nix "Founder, Children's Literature for... (Peachtree City, GA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Muktar and the Camels (Hardcover)

Orphaned and alone in the refugee camp, the Somalian child, Muktar, remembers when his nomadic family once counted their wealth in camels. Trained to care for them, he remembers his father's words, "Camels first, Always camels first. Camels are treasure." His only memento from his father is a gnarled root that he keeps in the pocket of his shorts. His father warned him to use it wisely. There are no camels in the camp until a librarian arrives, leading three camels laden with books for the camp. The thrilled boy discovers that the third camel has a wounded foot.
After unloading and watering the camels, Muktar chews his root into a paste, applies it to the injured camel's foot, and tears up his shirt to bind the wound. He is rewarded by being hired to travel with and care for the camels.


The softly-outlined, beige- toned illustrations capture the essence of a refugee camp with its harsh light and dust. The protagonist's memories,
however, are painted in cool grey tones. The famously ornery camels are depicted quite benignly.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Rutgers University Project on Economics and Children, August 18, 2009

By 

Yana V. Rodgers "econkids.rutgers.edu" (New Brunswick, NJ) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Muktar and the Camels (Hardcover)

As a Somali refugee living in an orphanage on the border between Kenya and Somalia, Muktar longs deeply for his parents and his former nomadic life-style. His teacher may call him a lazy dreamer, but Muktar still needs to spend time treasuring the memories of his family and their camels as they wandered over the land. A surprise visit from a three-camel convoy delivering books to the orphanage leads to a chance for Muktar to demonstrate his skills in caring for camels and his desire to work with camels.

This unique book brings to life the plight of child refugees from Somalia and the challenges they face in adjusting to a new way of life away from home. The lucid text and beautiful oil paintings work well together in delivering a compelling story about new opportunities in the midst of exceptional hardship.

5.0 out of 5 stars I loved this peaceful story of Muktar, a boy who was somehow out of place in the modern world! "Phut, phut, phut" Camels!, November 7, 2009

By 

D. Fowler "Dragonfly77" (Vermont) - See all my reviews
(TOP 100 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Muktar and the Camels (Hardcover)

Muktar sat down to eat his warm bowl of posho. He was in the Iftin Orphanage, a place that was very foreign to his nomadic life. Mr. Hassan, his teacher called out to him and said, "Eat up, lazy fellow." He was a dreamer, but didn't dream of frivolous things, he dreamed of his life with his family and how they used to roam "across the dusty landscape" of Somalia with their camels. He wasn't a lazy boy then. He would gather the camel's dung for their campfires. He remembered his father well and the importance of the camels held in their lives . . . "Camels first. Always camels first. Camels are treasure." His father was a very wise man.

His parents were dead and it was hard not to daydream about them. Mr. Hassan would get on his case for his constant daydreaming. Ismail, Muktar's friend tried to keep him out of trouble. School was not something that Muktar relished, but one day "phut, phut, phut" . . . he heard some camels coming and he came alive. Bisharm Mohamed, a librarian, had brought some books to the orphanage. Of course Muktar was wild with delight, but it was not the books he yearned for, it was the camels. Camel Number Three was injured, but he couldn't get anyone to listen or tend to it. He quickly knelt down to tend to the injury himself. Would anyone help him or would the camel sustain further injury in its journey?

I loved this peaceful story of Muktar, a boy who was somehow out of place in the modern world. The tale was beautiful, graceful and very touching. I think peaceful is the sense I received when Muktar regained his place in the world. The paintings were beautiful and were slightly out of focus, totally capturing the dreamlike quality and personality of the young boy and the camels. In the back of the book there is a very brief notation about Somalian nomads and the camel caravan of the Kenya National Library Service. This is a wonderful book you'll surely want to add to your collection of African cultural books!