The Wooden Camel

Etabo is a kid who lives in the desert. He wants to race camels. He can’t because he is too small. Then the family has to sell the camels to buy water. His brother and sister have to get jobs to get money for water. Etabo looks after the goats. He tries to ride the animals he has. (Why does he start with the chickens? I think it would make more sense to start on the goat, Keti.) It doesn’t go well. Etabo keeps praying to the Sky God for help with camel riding. The Sky God always answers, “Your dreams are enough.” Etabo doesn’t really think that’s a good answer. Then his sister makes him a gift. Read the book to find out what it was.

I like the drawings the best. My favorite is when Etabo tries to ride the animals. I like the birds in the pictures. The ending is satisfying. My favorite character is Keti, the goat, because he’s funny. It should say in the story that it takes place in Kenya, but it doesn’t. That is on the back of the book. This book makes me more conscious about wasting water. Everyone should read this book.