Longlisted for the Kate Greenaway Medal 2014 A moving and brilliantly researched story about camels, lost princesses and the strength of wisdom and knowledge from the creators of the award-winning Cloud Tea Monkeys, Mal Peet and Elspeth Graham and, stunningly illustrated by P.J. Lynch. It is a mesmerizing and touching tale, illustrating the bond between a child and the man who brought her up like a daughter. Both deliciously exotic and yet portraying warmly familiar and universal truths.
Authors' Note:
This story is set in an imaginary place, but it came about because Elspeth became fascinated by that fabulous and faraway place called Timbuktu. It's an African country now called Mali, and it's where, long ago, traders bringing salt from the north met traders bringing gold from the south. We began to read and think about those traders, those travellers with their camel caravans, making those long, difficult journeys through mountains and deserts. Their lives, and their livelihoods, depended upon the guides who led them through these dangerous places. When we discovered that one of the most famous of these guides was blind it set our imaginations racing.
Longlisted for the Kate Greenaway Medal 2014 This tale begins with a disgruntled camel, desperately trying to protect a little baby from a violent desert storm whipping up all around him. He is rescued by Issa - the desert guide - who takes the child in, naming her Mariama. She becomes Issa's family and, as he begins to lose his sight, his eyes. Many years later, a mysterious stranger arrives at their doorstep, a stranger who will change both their lives forever...
Elspeth Graham was born during a snowstorm in Northumberland, England. After university, she became passionately interested in reading to her children and understanding how children learn to read. Elspeth began to write books for children - some with her husband, and fellow author, Mal Peet. Mal’s stories became longer and longer and he went on to be an award- winning author of books for young adults. Mal and Elspeth loved writing picture books together and continued to do so until Mal’s death in 2015. The Treasure of Pirate Frank is one of the last picture books that they wrote together. Elspeth is still passionately interested in stories and the pleasure that there is in the simple act of reading. Elspeth lives in Devon with her dog Pedro.
