The true story behind it
I wrote Carlos mostly to nudge my son toward reading. It’s about building a library and working together to do it. The idea came from a question he asked me once, whether my mom and dad bought me all the books I read as a kid. The truth is I grew up in libraries. From around Grade 1 I was a regular at the Kandy Public Library, one of the biggest in Sri Lanka, and I loved it. I wrote this to pass that feeling along, the quiet pull of a room full of books waiting for you.
What happens in the story
A little desert bird brings a message: Carlos the Camel needs help. Carlos wants to build a library for all the desert animals, and most of them have never read a book. The trouble is the desert itself. The library needs walls that won’t blow away in the wind or melt in the hot sun.
The first try fails. A hot wind blows the wood away, and the pieces left behind crack in the heat. Then Kitty has a plan. She turns sand into hard walls, and Dino grows tough desert plants over them to make them stronger. Tall grass by the water grows big enough to make a roof that keeps the sun out.
Last, Kitty opens small round windows, big enough for reading light but not too much heat. The library opens, animals come from all over for books, and Carlos starts a story time every day.
Looking for a children’s book about camels?
Camels usually turn up in books about deserts and long walks. Carlos is a tall, gentle camel with a big idea: books for everyone, in a place that has never had them.
It’s a nice read for little builders, too. The first plan fails, and the friends keep adjusting until every problem is solved: wind, heat, roof and light.
Look inside
Flip through the opening pages of the book.
Questions to ask after reading
A few questions for the minute after the book closes. There are no wrong answers.
- Why didn’t the wooden library work?
- Carlos wanted windows, but not too much hot sun. Why do you think that mattered?
- If you built a library, which books would you put in it first?
Perfect for
- ✓ A kid you’re hoping to turn into a reader
- ✓ Little builders who like a good plan
- ✓ Little library lovers, or the soon-to-be kind
- ✓ A warm birthday or bedtime gift
Quick answers
Plant the love of books a little earlier
One short story. One library built by friends. Ready for tonight.
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Choosing a gift? See our Book Gifts guide for ages 3–8 →