Camels Always Do - Hardcover

Manuel, Lynn

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1551432846 ISBN 13: 9781551432847

Publisher: Orca Book Publishers, 2004

Synopsis

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 camelsí 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.

About this title

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.:

'These animals are really something!' said a man in a business suit. 'Especially the big one. That Barnum has a real stubborn streak.'

'Camels always do,' said Cameron.

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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About this edition

• Publisher: Orca Book Publishers
• Publication date: 2004
• ISBN 10: 1551432846
• ISBN 13: 9781551432847
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 32
• Illustrator: Charko Kasia