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Sophie and the Albino Camel
Sophie finds it hard to make friends so when she meets Gidaado, a young storyteller, she agrees to join him and his albino camel, Chobbal on a journey through the desert to his village. But Sophie discovers that in the desert there are djinns, snakes and ruthless bandits!
- GenresBurkina Faso
80 pages, Paperback
First published May 23, 2006
2 people are currently reading
14 people want to read
About the author
Stephen Davies
10 books17 followersStephen Davies is the author of more than thirty children's books, with a particular interest in Ancient Egypt. Stephen's bestseller THE ANCIENT EGYPT SLEEPOVER is widely used as a whole-class read in Key Stage 2, while the Comic Book Myths books are perfect for reluctant readers.
Stephen loves visiting schools in the UK and overseas, helping young people with their own creative writing.
Agent: Julia Churchill
Events: Authors Abroad
Stephen loves visiting schools in the UK and overseas, helping young people with their own creative writing.
Agent: Julia Churchill
Events: Authors Abroad
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
May 19, 2019
A Tale of Two Children, A Camel, and a Lizard Who Lose their Mind and Risk Various Other Pieces of their Bodies in the Sahara for Adventure
If you read and enjoyed books like The Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew Mysteries as a young child, or if you are still a child now and like those kind of books; then this book may be for you. It is best described as an adventure book. There is no mystery to solve. But, there are lots of adventures, and dangers in the Sahara desert with bandits and sandstorms and treacherous sand dunes. There are also songs, poems, rhymes and a riddle to solve.
Young children who read this will enjoy the vicarious thrill of seeing young children wander off for their own adventures, and the dangers they face. They will be happy to cover up in their own cozy beds afterward where it is nice and air-conditioned and safe, with a glass of water first of course. But, they will dream of camels and desert sands.
The writing format is clear and simple for young elementary level children in an 80 page chapter book. The author uses humor, alliteration, rhyme, and dramatic exaggeration in predictive story-telling to provide a good experience for children learning to read. Of course, that is the best kind of book for struggling readers especially, which is why so many children's books use these characteristics. Most of the words contained in it are probably on the Dolch vocabulary list, meaning that children will likely be successful with this, providing them with needed practice in encountering high frequency sight words. And, the new words will be those involving life in the Sahara: Acacia Trees, the Baobab, Gorom Gorom City and the like.
It is also an excellent story starter book, as most children could be easily inspired to retell the story from the Camel's perspective, either aloud or writing the story on paper. This would allow them to embellish on what they think the camel experienced while separated from the children.
I read this for my stop in Burkina Faso on my Journey Around the World in 80 Books for 2019. My next stop is NorthEast to Niger. I enjoyed the Audible narrated by Jilly Bond. Both the narrator and the author did a great job of using authentic voice and action for the two distinct nationalities of the children. Their cultural differences come through in the telling, along with their affinities. The Audible was good, but the paperback would be the preferred choice for children who can take turns reading aloud with you, or read it all themselves.
If you read and enjoyed books like The Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew Mysteries as a young child, or if you are still a child now and like those kind of books; then this book may be for you. It is best described as an adventure book. There is no mystery to solve. But, there are lots of adventures, and dangers in the Sahara desert with bandits and sandstorms and treacherous sand dunes. There are also songs, poems, rhymes and a riddle to solve.
Young children who read this will enjoy the vicarious thrill of seeing young children wander off for their own adventures, and the dangers they face. They will be happy to cover up in their own cozy beds afterward where it is nice and air-conditioned and safe, with a glass of water first of course. But, they will dream of camels and desert sands.
The writing format is clear and simple for young elementary level children in an 80 page chapter book. The author uses humor, alliteration, rhyme, and dramatic exaggeration in predictive story-telling to provide a good experience for children learning to read. Of course, that is the best kind of book for struggling readers especially, which is why so many children's books use these characteristics. Most of the words contained in it are probably on the Dolch vocabulary list, meaning that children will likely be successful with this, providing them with needed practice in encountering high frequency sight words. And, the new words will be those involving life in the Sahara: Acacia Trees, the Baobab, Gorom Gorom City and the like.
It is also an excellent story starter book, as most children could be easily inspired to retell the story from the Camel's perspective, either aloud or writing the story on paper. This would allow them to embellish on what they think the camel experienced while separated from the children.
I read this for my stop in Burkina Faso on my Journey Around the World in 80 Books for 2019. My next stop is NorthEast to Niger. I enjoyed the Audible narrated by Jilly Bond. Both the narrator and the author did a great job of using authentic voice and action for the two distinct nationalities of the children. Their cultural differences come through in the telling, along with their affinities. The Audible was good, but the paperback would be the preferred choice for children who can take turns reading aloud with you, or read it all themselves.
March 29, 2019
Loved this from beginning to end. Adventurous and not a dull moment. My students in gr.3 loved this!
October 9, 2017
A very simple story suitable for 9-11 year olds. There were a few exciting bits which I liked but I don't think the character of the camel was developed enough.
February 8, 2019
3.5 stars. Cute adventure for my AtW challenge (Burkina Faso).
November 7, 2020
An interesting kids book, but with an abrupt ending. I think it would work better to almagate the follow on books into this one. Jake enjoyed this as an audiobook.
January 3, 2015
Yeah... well I'm not really sure what to put down regarding this book. Starts out as a neat little (if a touch boring) book about a small girl, seemingly neglected by her workaholic father, who effectively gets soft-kidnapped by a young boy. Then ends up with bad guys vomiting in the sand and some psychotic serial killer on the rampage riding a camel and sporting jingle bells, who dies after being tricked into falling down a well in the desert. It's been a month since I read it now - to the kids as a BEDTIME story, mind you - and I'm still scratching my head saying, "what the...?" Wouldn't recommend it.
September 4, 2014
Totally be prepared to suspend disbelief: young Sophie goes off on a camel with a complete stranger (a young griot boy), riding off toward the Sahara. Of course (mis)adventures ensue! Every one you can imagine, and them some! It's also predictable at points, and every chapter ends as a cliff hanger so you have to keep reading (especially if you are reading aloud to a 10 yo boy). But it's a fun story.
The author (Stephen Davies) was living in Burkina Faso when he wrote this, and his respect for the culture and people shows through.
The author (Stephen Davies) was living in Burkina Faso when he wrote this, and his respect for the culture and people shows through.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews