Once Upon a Camel

By Kathi Appelt, Eric Rohmann (Illustrator)

An old camel braves a desert storm to save two lost chicks.

3.8/5 Goodreads · 1,129 ratings

352 pages

$8.99Save 5%

In stock. Also at Amazon or Bookshop.

Bookroo's summary

In the vast Texas desert, Zada, an aging camel with a storied past, faces a fierce storm. With two orphaned kestrel chicks nestled between her ears, she embarks on a daring rescue mission. As the storm looms, Zada's tales of racing for royalty and outsmarting predators become a lifeline for the frightened chicks. Can this seasoned traveler turn the storm into her greatest adventure yet, or will the desert claim its last camel? Discover the heartwarming journey of courage and friendship in a land where the past and present collide.

From the publisher

“A delight to the senses.” –Kirkus Reviews Perfect for fans of The One and Only Ivan, this exquisite middle grade novel from Newbery Honoree and National Book Award finalist Kathi Appelt follows a creaky old camel out to save two baby kestrel chicks during a massive storm in the Texas desert–filled with over a dozen illustrations by Caldecott winner Eric Rohmann. 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. She’s not, however, 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.

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