Get Off That Camel!

This Indian import is a gentle exploration of childhood fantasy. (Picture book. 3-7)

Copyright 2019 Kirkus Reviews, LLC Used with Permission

Gr 3-6--A delightfully silly and humorous read-aloud about a young girl named Meena who is obsessed with her stuffed toy camel. She will not leave her camel alone whether she is taking a bath, eating dinner, sleeping, shopping with mom, riding a school bus, or in the classroom. Everyone around her, including her camel, is exhausted with her obsession. There are many situations in the story that will leave children laughing out loud. The kids will love to shout the repeated phrase, "Get off that camel!" The narrative provides many relatable moments that will resonate with both children and adults. Bold illustrations are infused with aesthetics reminiscent of Indian culture and will appeal to the imagination of young readers. Diversified characters with expressive features enhance the story and flow beautifully with the text. VERDICT The bright colors and simple text will appeal to young readers. A great story to start conversations about how animals should be treated.--Noureen Qadir-Jafar, Syosset Library, NY