Review by Booklist Review
Etabo longs to race camels like his older brother does, but before he has the chance, circumstances intervene and his father has to sell their camels in order to buy water. Etabo thinks his dream has been crushed and he appeals to the Sky God, who assures him, your dreams are enough. It takes Etabo and the reader awhile to come to terms with this oblique wisdom. Meanwhile, Etabo finds amusement in his chores, minding the goats, and pursuing, to no avail, his dream of riding with other animals. Kahiu's sparse prose is beautifully accented by Adreani's gorgeous illustrations. Swathes of pale blue, deep-rose pink, and golden skies dominate most pages, and offset the deep-brown-hued people. Sweeping lines and elongated shapes make goatsand camels appear graceful in this arid Kenyan landscape and lend a refreshing, contemporary tone to the story. Readers will be drawn to Etabo's vulnerability and to his sister, Akiru's generosity. Ultimately, the Sky God's message is realized in a subtle and unexpected way.--Chaudhri, Amina Copyright 2018 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
A boy dreams of racing camels in Kenyan filmmaker Kahiu's bittersweet story, which features the Turkana people of northwest Kenya. Etabo's older siblings tease him for his goal ("He's too small to race camels"), and he suffers another setback when his father sells their camels in order to afford water. The companionship of a favorite goat, Keti, helps Etabo keep up his spirits, and he prays to Akuj, the Sky God, for help twice. The deity's response is always the same: "Your dreams are enough." Delicate pencil outlines combine with gauzy washes of color in Italian illustrator Adreani's sweeping grasslands; despite the family's struggles, Etabo's resilience comes through in playful scenes where he rests in an acacia tree with Keti, "daydreaming about racing camels," and attempts (unsuccessfully) to ride various uncooperative animals: "Chickens... Cats... And even Keti." Etabo's daydreams gain a new outlet after his sister carves him wooden camels to race in his imagination. It's a simple act that allows Etabo's dreams to thrive-readers can imagine where that nurtured hope might take him in the future. Ages 4-8. (Oct.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Review by School Library Journal Review
K-Gr 2-Etabo dreams of racing camels, even though his siblings think he is much too small to ever accomplish this. It is devastating news to Etabo when his father informs them he will have to sell the camels so they can have money for water. Instead of fulfilling his dreams, Etabo is sent to watch over the goats. One goat, Keti, brings him some entertainment, but he doesn't provide the thrill Etabo is looking for. When camels are no longer in his future, he searches for an alternative. "So instead Etabo tries to ride...Chickens...Cats.And even Keti.But none of them will have it." After a kind gesture from Etabo's sister and a repeated message from Akuj the Sky God, Etabo realizes that dreams can take many forms and can always be adjusted. This evocative story, illustrated by Adreani, transports readers to the desert of northwestern Kenya with sweeping landscape images and dreamlike spreads. VERDICT The beautiful illustrations and message about resilience will resonate with a variety of readers young and old. Perfect for one-on-one and small group sharing.-Megan Egbert, Meridian Library District, ID © Copyright 2017. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
A Kenyan Turkana boy's dreams of racing his family's camels suffer when his father sells them because of the rising price of water.Etabo and his siblings tend the family's goats until another water price hike sends the older ones off to find work. Tending the goats alone, Etabo daydreams about racing camels. He even tries riding chickens, cats, and the stubborn goat Keti. When Etabo implores Akuj the Sky God for help, the answer returns: "Your dreams are enough." His sister Akiru, observing Etabo's increasing unhappiness, whittles him a gift of three wooden camels. The toys fuel Etabo's imaginative play and prompt nighttime dreams of winning a camel race. Akiru's kindness fuels Etabo's release from his frustrated desires, engendering imaginative play that's right-sized for both his development and his family's situation. Kenyan filmmaker Kahiu's telling is simple and straightforward. She infuses the narrative with details from Etabo's daily experiences, from the acacia tree where he rests to Akuj, to whom he prays. Italian illustrator Adreani's mannerist pictures feature humans and animals with ultrathin limbs and delicate, stylized features. Akiru wears traditional beaded necklaces and silver earrings. Her sweet gift and Etabu's appreciative hug are poignantly depicted. This empathetic look at a Turkana boy's deferred dreams and a family's struggle for a resource taken for granted by most American children strikes an important chord for families. (Picture book. 4-7) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
