52 Days by Camel
by Lawrie Raskin with Debora Pearson
Annick Press, 2008
ISBN 978-1-55451-136-5 (paperback)
ISBN 978-1-55451-137-2 (hardcover)
$14.96 (pb) / $26.95 (hc), 88 pp, colour illustrations and photos, index, ages 10 – 12
www.annickpress.com
This account of the author’s travels in North Africa is fascinating reading and is illustrated by many striking photographs that help to make the area come alive in the reader’s mind. Lawrie Raskin’s enthusiasm for seeing the Sahara first hand is infectious, and one can’t help but be caught up in his excitement at actually visiting such exotic and remote locations as Timbuktu. (Although, he is reminded that his impressions are relative when he is taking photographs in Timbuktu and is asked, “What are you doing?” by a resident. He replies, “Oh, taking pictures of mysterious Timbuktu.” The questioner comments, “Timbuktu is not mysterious. It is you who is mysterious!”) The colourful presentation of information, easy writing style, and intrigue of a culture so different from our own make 52 Days by Camel a great recreational read as well as a resource for assigned study of the land and people of North Africa.
This review is from Canadian Teacher Magazine’s January 2009 issue.
