Jamal's Journey [Mar 28, 2017] Foreman, Michael

by Michael Foreman

Jamal is a little camel so he must walk, walk, walk through the desert. One day he becomes separated from his friend, the boy, but a wise falcon helps to reunite them. They go on to explore the city and its exciting sights and sounds.

A modern tale of friendship and adventure from the twice Greenaway Award-winning author/illustrator, Michael Foreman.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Animals, Cultural, Middle East, Family

32 pages, Hardcover

Published April 1, 2017

About the author

Michael has worked on magazines, book jackets, animated films, TV adverts, and even for the police, sketching criminals described by witnesses. As well as illustrating many of his own books, Michael has illustrated over a hundred books for authors such as Shakespeare, J. M. Barrie, the Brothers Grimm, Charles Dickens and Oscar Wilde. Michael has travelled widely - to Africa, Japan, the Arctic Circle, China and Malaysia, the Himalayas, Siberia and New Zealand - to research his books. "I do a lot of research when I'm travelling - I find it thrilling to discover the particular 'art' of different landscapes and work them into a book. But I find I have to travel by myself, otherwise I'm constantly getting involved in other people's impressions of a place... I try to be invisible when I'm travelling, so I tend to listen in on conversations rather than participate in them - I just want to look and draw."

Reviews

[Beth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Light cheerful pictures show the life of a young and happy camel and his boy in Dubai.

[Alex Baugh · Rating 3 out of 5]

Jamal is a young camel crossing the desert with a caravan for the first time. He's a little slower than the adult camels and tired, but as he says camels must walk, walk, walk. A sandstorm suddenly hits the caravan, and when it is over, it is night and Jamal finds that he has gotten separated from the rest of the caravan. Trying to find his way back, he meets different desert animals, but none offer any help or direction. Jamal is finally found by one of the caravan's falcons, who helps him find his way back where he belongs. Eventually, the caravan reaches a large modern city (Dubai) and the market place, where Jamal gets a new harness and a new attitude about walking. I think this is a nice look at another culture, so different from our own. There a lot in this book that could generate some lively discussions with young readers. I have to admit, I assumed the boy on the cover was Jamal, and I was wrong. Foreman has included a nice note at the beginning that explains why he chose the name Jamal for the camel. Theme's in Jamal's Journey include adventure, friendship, loyalty, fear when lost, relief when found, and having a purpose in life. Foreman's earthy watercolor illustrations really impart life in the desert using a soft palette of sandy yellows, blues and greens.

[Sandra Deaconu · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 steluțe. Aproape simpatică, dar nu văd de ce un copil ar cere să îi fie citită și a doua oară, așadar e cam inutilă.

[Luisa Knight · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun tale about a baby camel's journey through the desert to the city of Dubai. Colorful illustrations wonderfully add to the adventure.

Ages: 4 - 9

#geography #middleeast #dubai

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[Hilda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love to travel. I've been lucky enough to have the opportunity to travel. I bought this book in Abu Dhabi, U.A.E., in March when I visited a friend over spring break. This book spoke to me!!! It was everything that represented my trip and I loved it. I bought the Arabic version and English version. One day I'll be able to show my future kids all the places I've been and tell them that every thing they see in this book is real and I was lucky enough to visit this beautiful country.

Walk, walk, walk. That's what camels do.

This story follows a young camel named Jamal, which is a play on words. The camels name is very important because camel in Arabic is Jamal. His name is literally Jamal the Jamal (Camel). I love it!!!



I was so happy when my other friend who speaks Arabic told me this. I already loved the little camel but this made me love him even more. He could't stop laughing at the book's title but I think it's perfect.

Jamal had never been in a city before. It is so busy, so noisy - the market, the boats, the sea. So exciting!

Everything about this trip was exciting! I felt like this little camel. It was so beautiful and full of amazing things to see.

[Ben Truong · Rating 3 out of 5]

Jamal's Journey is a children's picture book written and illustrated by Michael Foreman. It is a quaint story about Jamal, a camel, his family, and his humans.

The text is rather simplistic and straightforward. It is a story about family, friendship, and love between a camel, his family, and his boy. The illustrations are colorful and accentuate the text extremely rather well and brought the desert and the city of Dubai to life.

The premise of the book is rather straightforward. It is about a camel named Jamal who was travelling with his family and humans until he gets lost during a sandstorm. Lost, afraid, and alone, Jamal tries to find his family and it was thanks to falcon – one that his humans owned, Jamal finds his family and their humans. His boy greets him and promises to take care of him better so they could explore the world better – together.

All in all, Jamal's Journey is a rather good book about a friendship and family between a camel and his boy.

[Juliana Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jamal is a little camel with little legs who walks and walks and walks across the desert with his mama and baba. But when a storm blows up, Jamal gets lost. He meets other desert animals but doesn't see his family until a falcon swoops down and circles around Jamal. Jamal follows the falcon back to his family and together they walk all the way to the big city on the sea.

[Maria Martins · Rating 2 out of 5]

To be honest, there was nothing particularly exciting about this book. It was a nice story but not one that will stick with me. I liked the illustrations which were bright and colourful, I just wish the story was a little bit more exciting or had a good moral at the end.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

A young camel named Jamal gets separated from his caravan during a sand storm and travels in the desert alone for awhile looking for his family. Bright illustrations and easy-to-read text make this a nice story time book.

[Carol · Rating 3 out of 5]

Would have liked to see the problem and resolution drawn out over a few more pages. Refreshing to have a change of scenery.

[Alyssa Gudenburr · Rating 3 out of 5]

A story about a lost camel finding his way back to his mother. The story was a bit on the long side.

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice story about a camel who gets lost from its family. The little camel goes on a journey and with the help of a falcon finds its mama and baba again. Good story about never giving up.

[Agnès · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lovely illustrations

[Jennifer · Rating 2 out of 5]

A dull (tad pointless) story is only saved by a mildly adorable camel.

[Barbara Band · Rating 3 out of 5]

Simplistic story about a small camel who gets lost in a sandstorm. Gorgeous illustrations really give a feel for the vastness of the desert.

#geography #deserts #dubai #middleeast #camels

[Maya]

Sweet book for younger readers. I would say three to five years olds.

[Barbara Lovejoy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another precious book by Michael Foreman, who is both author and illustrator.

[Edward Sullivan · Rating 3 out of 5]

A young camel gets separated from the rest of his party on a trek through the desert but is reunited with the boy he belongs to with the help of a wise falcon.

[Kelly]

Unique book for sure.

[Cindy Mitchell *Kiss the Book* · Rating 2 out of 5]

Foreman, Michael Jamals Journey. PICTURE BOOK. 20 pgs. Anderson Press, 2017. $17.99. Content: G.
This book is about a little desert camel who becomes separated from his family, a Bedouin camel group. He meets some fellow desert animals and finally a hawk guides him home. Features large bright pages with an adorable camel.
This felt more pre-k to me than elementary due to the perspective of the baby camel. It offers a small window into a desert habitat but very small, just a few mentions of animals. The same goes for the Bedouin culture, mostly we just see the grouping and their journey from desert to city. Essentially it’s a very basic lost and found baby animal story featuring a culture children might not be familiar with. It wasn’t my favorite, I think with a bit more expansion into habitat, culture or both, it would have stronger cultural or science value, which is a better choice for a school library.

PRE-K – OPTIONAL Reviewer: Stephanie Elementary School Librarian & Author.
http://kissthebook.blogspot.com/2017/...

[Dimity Powell · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lovely little sally across the desert plans with baby camel Jamal whose legs are too short to keep up with the caravan of desert traders, camels and falcons on their trek to Dubai. Searing desert landscapes contrast spectacularly with the bustling, glistening city-scape of Dubai, giving young readers an unique glimpse into one aspect of life in the Persian Gulf.