  | Through sand and salt : a tale of discovery across the Sahara Author: Zunon, Elizabeth | |
| Price: $23.78 | ||
Summary:
In the Sahara, salt is worth its weight in gold. When a young boy is finally old enough to join his father's caravan transporting salt across the trade route to Timbuktu, he can't wait to prove himself worthy of this big responsibility.
Full Text Reviews:
Other - 10/21/2024 In a vividly told work that conveys salt’s significance to taste, trade, growing things, and more, Zunon (Bottle Tops) traces the route taken by young narrator Malik: "My ?bba is a trader, leading an azala? of a dozen salt-carrying camels through the Sahara desert to Timbuktu. And today, I’m finally joining him." As the group winds through the desert, Malik, in charge of a camel and a store of salt, trades a chunk of the mineral for dates ("Salt makes sweet foods sweeter!") and a necklace ("Precious as a treasured gift, salt enriches the bounty"). And as a grower of saffron flowers explains, when Malik plucks one of his blooms, "a pinch of salt is just what my saffron needs.... Everything that grows needs water, sun, and just a tiny bit of salt-to awaken the nutrients within." Acrylic, oil, and pastel landscapes oriented around the journey alternate with peopled images of the group’s stops in illustrations that blend muted tones and bright colors. And the arrival of a sandstorm teaches vital skills alongside lessons about the role of salt in connecting communities. Extensive back matter includes an author’s note, history of camel caravans, and more. Ages 4-8. Agent: Lori Nowicki, Painted Words. (Jan.) - Copyright 2024
