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"Now this is the next tale, and it tells how the Camel got his big hump..."

Once upon a time, when the world was "new-and-all," Man turned to the animals for help—to the horse for carrying, the dog for fetching, the ox for plowing. But the camel refused to do a lick of work, haughtily replying "Humpf!" to all requests. The other animals complained of the inequity to the Djinn of all the Deserts, who, sympathetic but mischievous, used his powerful magic to punish the lazy camel.

This beloved story of how the camel got his hump is a comical tale of justice delivered, that's filled with fanciful wordplay and illustrated with wit and great charm.

Rudyard Kipling (1865-1936) is often regarded as the unofficial Laureate of the British Empire. He was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1907, and is well known for works of fiction that include 'The Jungle Book' (1894), 'Kim' (1901), and many short stories, including 'The Man Who Would Be King' (1888). His poems include 'Mandalay', 'Gunga Din', 'The Gods of the Copybook Headings' (1919), 'The White Man's Burden' (1899), and 'If—' (1910). He is regarded as a major innovator in the art of the short story, and his children's books are considered timeless classics of children's literature.

28 pages, ebook

First published January 1, 1897

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About the author

Rudyard Kipling

7,182 books3,675 followers
Joseph Rudyard Kipling was a journalist, short-story writer, poet, and novelist.

Kipling's works of fiction include The Jungle Book (1894), Kim (1901), and many short stories, including The Man Who Would Be King (1888). His poems include Mandalay (1890), Gunga Din (1890), The Gods of the Copybook Headings (1919), The White Man's Burden (1899), and If— (1910). He is regarded as a major innovator in the art of the short story; his children's books are classics of children's literature; and one critic described his work as exhibiting "a versatile and luminous narrative gift".

Kipling was one of the most popular writers in the United Kingdom, in both prose and verse, in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Henry James said: "Kipling strikes me personally as the most complete man of genius (as distinct from fine intelligence) that I have ever known." In 1907, at the age of 41, he was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature, making him the first English-language writer to receive the prize, and its youngest recipient to date. He was also sounded out for the British Poet Laureateship and on several occasions for a knighthood, both of which he declined.

Awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1907 "in consideration of the power of observation, originality of imagination, virility of ideas and remarkable talent for narration which characterize the creations of this world-famous author."

Kipling kept writing until the early 1930s, but at a slower pace and with much less success than before. On the night of 12 January 1936, Kipling suffered a haemorrhage in his small intestine. He underwent surgery, but died less than a week later on 18 January 1936 at the age of 70 of a perforated duodenal ulcer. Kipling's death had in fact previously been incorrectly announced in a magazine, to which he wrote, "I've just read that I am dead. Don't forget to delete me from your list of subscribers."

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5 stars
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156 (28%)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews
Profile Image for Ahmed  Ejaz.
550 reviews365 followers
May 6, 2017
What?! This story is for children!! How this story would be perfect for children. How!! They are innocents. They don't think on what they are reading. They just accept everything they are told.

This story must not be read by any child. Never!! However, teenagers and adults may like this one. But...I didn't. 😤

Link to the story:
http://www.online-literature.com/kipl...
Profile Image for Mariah Roze.
1,057 reviews1,056 followers
February 5, 2017
This was boring. My students didn't understand what was going on and they didn't enjoy the illustrations of this book.
9 reviews1 follower
January 11, 2014
This book is about a camel; at the beginning of times when animals were starting to work for men the camel would not do any work. The story starts with the other animals coming to the camel and asking him to join them but the camel only replies 'humph' and does not join in with the rest of the animals. The animals report back to the man telling him that the camel won’t do any work as a result the man decides that the rest of the animals should do more work in order to make up for the camel’s share of the work. One of the animals then tells the Jinn who then decides to teach the camels a lesson and gives him his very own ‘humph’. The book can be a good way into a discussion about team-work and the story is easy to follow. This book could be used in year 2. I did not find the story particularly interesting however; the illustrations in the book were nice to look at.
Profile Image for Peacegal.
11.7k reviews102 followers
August 1, 2012
I didn't like this story as much as a child...I thought it was unfair that the camel should be forced to work for Man if he didn't want to. I guess I always had an egalitarian view of the animal world.
305 reviews3 followers
October 19, 2020
This story seemed like a great read as it could link to animals, habitats and adaptation in science, however I found the book very confusing and slightly boring; I don't think children would enjoy it as much as other stories I've read recently. I thought it was about laziness and the camel got his hump by refusing to help the others, but it seemed a little random. Nevertheless, the illustrations are effective in providing a sense of what the environment and culture is like and perhaps other people may enjoy and understand it more although personally, I wouldn't use it in the classroom.
67 reviews1 follower
August 16, 2020
Well, I had to read this (extremely short) short story for an NGO that I had volunteered for.

Story is not great, I didn't like the way it is written either. Maybe, kids might like it?

Anyway, I liked the poem in the end.
Profile Image for Nadin Doughem.
819 reviews67 followers
November 30, 2015
>> How the Camel Got his Hump?
A dreadful tale about a camel who is lazy that as a result, a genie makes humps for the camel, end of story. This is dreadful for a number of reasons:

1- The camel has those humps which are a miracle in its essence. The camels use it to feed and nourish because they are meant to live in harsh environments of scarce resources of food and water. That shows the greatness of The God, Allah, who created it in such perfection for us to get to know him. So they are not a curse upon it by a lame genie to go by for him and his generations.

2- The idea that is inspired through the tale, the idea of "The First Sin" that is inherited by the generations all along till the end no matter how the generations behave. This in not just and idea for a children story telling, in the matter of fact, it is to induce this kind of mindset to make sure that the first sin is of no use to relapse it and to be forgiven, which endorse them into practicing bad deeds and encountering diverse sins and wrong doings.
Profile Image for Gary.
3,032 reviews425 followers
April 8, 2015
A short read by J.R.Kipling that forms part of the Just so stories. Not the best book he ever wrote but it displays the innocence that appeals to readers both young and old.
Profile Image for Donald.
1,729 reviews16 followers
July 30, 2016
Really, only one word I can say:

"Humph!" ;-)
Profile Image for Emma.
6 reviews
May 4, 2017
Book Review by Miss Worby
Title – How the Camel Got His Hump
Author – Rudyard Kipling

What is it about?

This book is about a lazy, rude camel. He didn’t want to help his friends and just sat eating sticks. The genie gave him a hump and he was forced to work for three days without eating or drinking.

What was my favourite part?

I really enjoyed the whole book – but if I was to choose a favourite book part I would choose when the genie comes to the camel and says “don’t say that again!” but the camel ignores him and simply says “humph!” How rude!

Who is my favourite character?

That is an easy question because it is definitely the genie. He is very fair. First, he asks the camel to help his friends but when he doesn’t listen he gives the camel a huge hump on his back. He definitely deserved it.

Is there a moral to this story?

The moral of this story is to not be lazy. The camel is lazy and he ends up having to do all the work by himself and so it is better to be kind and help your friends when they ask you.

Did I enjoy the book?

What an amazing story this was! I loved the story. I also loved the characters in it as well. I thought it was funny how the camel sat around all day saying “humph!” The camel is quite annoying but I loved the ending because he gets what he deserves.

Would you recommend this book? To who?

I think this book would be suitable for 6-8 year olds because the language is quite hard for younger children to understand. Both girls and boys would enjoy this story and especially children who love animals because most of the characters are talking animals. I would recommend it to my niece because it is a great story and teaches you a lesson about laziness!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Cheryl.
13k reviews484 followers
August 28, 2018
Love the story, but then I've always loved Kipling's Just So stories, they're so silly and wise all at the same time. Zwerger makes an interesting choice to insert the two pages of Magic in the middle (the section in italics, in which she explains, imitating Kipling's voice, the drawings and the transformation by the Djinn of the camel into a humped creature). The Djinn looks vaguely Japanese, and has a fan, too.

I would not buy this but instead get the entire book, or just read it free on Project Gutenberg.
60 reviews
February 10, 2019
I found this book in the fairytales section. This book teaches children about the importance of hard work in the format of a fairytale. It moves slowly so I do not think this book should be used until a child is around third grade. This book does not have a clear ethnic background but it is assumed to be from the middle east. This would be a good book to bring diversity into the classroom and teach about hardwork at the same time.
Profile Image for Sadia Mansoor.
554 reviews110 followers
May 7, 2017
Ok.. So I have already read the typical children's version of this book. Now, this is the short story version of it & every word is exactly the same. The story is weird & boring as the camel in it. Even his only word "hymph" sounds boring too!
This time my reaction wasn't shocking after reading it because Kipling made me reread the plot.. Therefore, nothing new in the story :/
Profile Image for Diana.
1,475 reviews7 followers
February 21, 2019
I always enjoy tales like these. In this case, we find out how the camel gets his hump...and he seemed to deserve it, too! I do't remember this tale from when I was a child, although I devoured many of the Just So Stories, so maybe it just didn't stick. I wasn't a big fan of the illustrations on this one, though. I think I'd have liked it better just as text...
Profile Image for Iris.
467 reviews48 followers
August 19, 2021
It's kind of cute, except I think the lesson is skewed. The Camel should not be vilified for refusing to work, rather, exulted for refusing to become a slave to man. Hard work is amiable, but slavery is deplorable. I think the wise Camel knew the difference. Respect. 3/5
Profile Image for James.
1,808 reviews18 followers
April 4, 2018
Very well written, quite odd and bizarre in parts, but, thoroughly enjoyable.
183 reviews2 followers
August 20, 2020
why is everybody judging this?? i read it for school, it wasn't a picture book though lol
Profile Image for clara.
166 reviews20 followers
December 14, 2020
I can’t even bring myself to tag it as children’s literature because dear god, just no.
Profile Image for Madison Hurlbut.
20 reviews1 follower
December 7, 2021
I am struggling to find marriage between the text and the illustration, because of their lack of detail and depiction of the story. The text itself is quite dry and disengaging.
Profile Image for Julia.
175 reviews
April 11, 2022
I didn’t even realize this was for children😭 BUT NOW THAT I KNOW, WHAT IS THIS???
Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews

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