Editorial Review

Wanuri Kahiu’s The Wooden Camel (Lantana, 2017; K-Gr 4) features Etabo, a Turkana boy who lives in northwest Kenya, where he dreams of becoming the best camel racer ever. However, as the price of water rises and the family’s financial situation worsens, the camels must be sold, Etabo’s older siblings are forced to find work, and he is left to tend their goats alone. Praying to Akuj the Sky God for help, Etabo is told, “Your dreams are enough.” These repeated words of wisdom, along with a thoughtful gift from his sister Akiru—a herd of hand-whittled wooden camels—eventually help to restore the boy’s hope for the future. Manuela Adreani’s flowing paintings depict sweeping grasslands and expressively depicted characters. This tale of family affection and the power of resiliency ends with Etabo tucked into bed, “clutching his new best friends,” while his dreams soar.