Small Camel Follows the Star

by Rachel W. N Brown, Giuliano Ferri (Illustrator)

Overview

Wise Balthazar is going on an important journey; he is following a brilliant star and looking for a baby king! Small Camel and his mother are going, too, and Small Camel is carrying a special bundle tied to his hump. What is in the bundle?

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780807595640
Publisher:	Whitman, Albert & Company
Publication date:	01/01/2007
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	32
File size:	12 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

Rachel W. N. Brown is a quilt artist who loves to write. The story of Small Camel was born as she was researching details for a special Christmas quilt. She is the mother of three children, now grown up.

Editorial Reviews

A young, wide-eyed dromedary in service to wise man Balthazar gets a starring role in this oddly revisionist Nativity story. In Brown's tale, the travelers have clearly taken the long way. After following the bright star for "months," they arrive bearing gold, frankincense and myrrh not at a Bethlehem stable, but at what appears to be the Nazareth home of Joseph, Mary and Baby Jesus-who in Ferri's soft, luminous pastels is the size of a toddler. Unfortunately, the text's reassuring tone cannot counterbalance its puzzling timetable. Ages 5-8. (Nov.)

Copyright 2007 Reed Business Information

Publishers Weekly

PreS-Gr 2-Small Camel follows his mother as part of the caravan of the three wise men journeying to visit the Baby Jesus. Instances of modern speech and complaints of the Small Camel seem jarring against the beauty and significance of the journey as depicted in the masterful, soft-edged illustrations. However, once he presents the bundles of frankincense, myrrh, and gold that he so carefully carried, he becomes awed by Jesus's greatness as a king and is praised kindly by his master, Balthazar. The lovely art outshines the writing in this child-friendly version of a familiar tale.-Lisa Falk, Los Angeles Public Library

Copyright 2007 Reed Business Information

School Library Journal

Small Camel and his mama belong to Balthazar, "a wise and wealthy man." Balthazar plans for a long journey across the desert, and deems Small Camel grown enough for the journey, bearing one small parcel. Following a star, they meet up with Melchior and Gaspar, who study scrolls with Balthazar. They add their gifts to Small Camel's hump and the travelers continue their journey. Because the star is to lead them to a baby king, Small Camel is surprised at the very modest house in which they find Joseph, Mary and the beautiful baby Jesus. When the baby smiles at the gold, frankincense and myrrh that Small Camel has been carrying, the little camel forgets how tired he is. Ferri's pictures have soft edges and glowing desert colors using interesting perspectives to capture Small Camel's point of view. While one might quibble that the Wise Men would not have had codex volumes next to their scrolls as Balthazar does, this is a lovely approach to an age-old story. (Picture book. 5-8)

Kirkus Reviews

"This is a lovely approach to an age-old story."

Kirkus Reviews

"Small Camel's distinct, childlike personality will resonate with young listeners: 'Are we there yet?'"

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