Reading Group Guide for Once Upon a Camel By Kathi Appelt Illustrated by Eric Rohmann About the Book As the last camel in Texas in the early 1900s, Zada has lived a long life rich with experiences, and she has stories to tell. Without her beloved fellow racing camel Asiye by her side, she finds companions in a family of American kestrels. That is, until a dust storm blows their little family apart, leaving Zada with two tiny kestrel chicks whose parents are missing. Zada must harness the power of her past adventures to keep the fluffy chicks safe. Using her experiences and her stories--camel racing for the Pasha of Smyrna, crossing the ocean on a boat, army missions, adventures under the stars--she takes on one of the most difficult and important adventures of her life. Discussion Questions 1. The story''s action begins with Pard and Perlita telling Zada that a mountain is eating everything and is soon going to eat them. Zada cannot comprehend this.
Why do you think that is? How do you handle things you don''t understand? In truth, the mountain is a great sand-and-dust storm coming their way. How does knowing this change your perspective of the situation? How does Zada react? 2. The author explains how a camel has adapted to the desert, and how American kestrels are built for flight. All animals have adaptations: evolved physical and behavioral traits that help their species survive and thrive. Can you think of any other examples of this? What about cultural adaptations? Are there ways in which groups or individuals adapt for their own safety, comfort, or survival? 3. As Zada tries to outrun the storm, she wishes she could fly. This is not the first time in her life she has wished this. Why do you think she has continued to yearn for this ability? Thinking about your life and the environment in which you live, what other animal adaptations would come in handy for you? Explain your answers.
4. As Zada worries about Pecos de Leon, she reflects on the fact that she and the mountain lion have "both traveled a lot of miles and traversed a lot of country. That was worth something." How can having many experiences help you? Do you think it''s important to experience situations similar to and different from your own life? What might you learn from someone who has lived a long time and done many things? Explain your answers. 5. As Zada moves through the storm carrying the chicks, an enormous old tree comes down behind them. "The wind had yanked it up by its roots. A hundred years, that old tree had stood there, watching over the creek, keeping generations of bird families safe.
Now it lay in a heap on its side." How does the falling tree make Zada feel? How did it make you feel? Do you think generations of bird families will be able to find a new home? 6. As the storm spins Perlita and Pard around, they call out, "''Keep them safe!''" This is described as the "universal prayer" of parents. What does it mean for something to be universal? Do you have knowledge, ideas, or habits that are universal? 7. Zada''s and Asiye''s motto is "En parlak yildiz ol." This means "Become the brightest star." What do they mean by this? How do you see them striving to do this throughout the story? 8. When Zada and Asiye are young and Teodor is grooming them to become racing camels, he visits the metalsmith for something special to adorn the camels'' bridles.
The smith gives him a single sheet of gold and asks him to take a walk and note the things that bring him joy. What brings you joy? How have you come to realize this? Do you think we notice joy as we feel it, or do we realize later that we had a moment of joy? Explain your answers. 9. The three basic states of matter are solids, liquids, and gases. Water can take the form of all three of these in ice, flowing water, and steam. This makes it a very powerful substance. When is water important in this story? Does it appear to be powerful? Can you think of other substances that can exist as solids, liquids, and/or gases? 10. A haboob is a sandstorm with very strong winds.
What role does a haboob play in the story? How do the animals feel about it? Have you ever experienced an extreme weather event? Can you ever prepare for a situation like this? 11. According to the book, the most basic definition of a miracle is this: a good thing happens at the exact moment it is needed. Do you agree or disagree with this definition? Do you think all miracles are this simple? If not, how do you define a miracle? 12. When Pecos de Leon is young, Zada protects him from wild ponies. In that moment, they strike an unspoken bargain in which the cat will not eat the camel. What does this say about their personalities? Do you think these sorts of impulsive, unspoken bargains last forever? Should Zada be afraid of Pecos de Leon? Explain your answers. 13. While Zada and the chicks are sheltering in a cave, they encounter the old mountain lion.
Zada is certain the old cat would love to eat the chicks, so she decides to tell him a story. Her story reminds Pecos of what Zada did for him; however, in this telling, she makes him a hero. Why do you think this version of the story lessens the dangerous situation? How does it affect Pecos? 14. As Zada travels with the chicks, they begin to ask questions she can''t answer about when they will arrive, where they are going, and how much longer they have to travel. She asks them if they are ready for a story instead, noting, "And not for the first time, it seemed that responding to a question with a question was a good answer." What does she mean by this? Have you ever responded to a question with a question? When might that be helpful, and when might it make things difficult? 15. As they finally near the mission, Zada sniffs the air and smells water. What does water smell like? What descriptive words explain the smell and taste of water? 16.
While Pard is freeing Perlita from the tumbleweed, Perlita thinks about her family: Beulah, Wims, and Zada. Beulah and Wims are her babies, but birds and camels aren''t related by blood. Instead, Zada is the kestrels'' chosen family, and she feels the same way about them. The animals find a family in one another despite their differences. Can people do this too? What makes someone family? Explain your answers. 17. Throughout much of the story, Zada doesn''t know where Pard and Perlita are. She refers to this as "the biggest mystery in that moment.
" Of course, this mystery is one that fills her with worry and fear. Do you think life''s mysteries are sometimes too difficult to think about? What does she mean by "in that moment"? Will there be other mysteries for Zada? Explain your answers. 18. Read the description of the Pasha''s grand home and grounds, and then read the last paragraph in chapter 52 that begins with "''Hey now, hey now.''" What similarities do you find in these descriptions? Do you think there are many ways to be rich, and many versions of beauty and splendor? 19. Zada gives a description of witnessing Saint Elmo''s Fire. This is a real weather phenomenon that happens during storms. It is a blue glow that appears between pointy objects during storms; this is due to extra electrons in the ground creating a powerful electric field that can break the air down into plasma.
This rare phenomenon can be scientifically explained and understood, but does not seem so easily defined when witnessed. Have you ever seen anything natural that seemed magical or unreal, or was difficult to describe in words? Like Zada, do you remember that moment with the same wonder you felt when you first experienced it? 20. Stories sustained Zada when she lost Asiye, and they sustained the birds during their time of fear and hardship, including protecting them from Pecos de Leon. What makes a story powerful enough to sustain and protect? Which kinds of stories do you find to be most powerful? 21. At the end of the book, Zada begins a new story that starts with "Once upon a time, there was a pair of baby kestrels." Throughout the book, Zada gives her stories to others, including Pecos and the chicks. Why do you think she does this? What do stories mean to her? Why does she start a new story? 22. In the book, there are illustrations of the characters and their environment sprinkled throughout the pages.
What role does the artwork play in this story? How does the art enhance the reader''s experience, and how do these illustrations add to the reader''s understanding and connection to Zada, her story, and her friends? Extension Activities Art and Imagery 1. As a class, read aloud the passages that describe the Pasha''s mansion. "First, they''d see the imposing red dome of the mosque, which sat right in the middle of a huge walled complex. Four minarets that reached into the sky graced the compass points--north, south, east, west. Surrounding the whole affair was a tall stone wall with round watchtowers on the corners." "Outside the mansion''s walls, the pasha''s orchards were filled with apricots and figs and sumac. Their sweet and spicy aromas intertwined with the salty fragrance of the sea, and altogether--sweetsy, spicy, salty--those luscious smells wafted up and down the streets. They permeated all of the buildings, including--ta-da!--the camel nursery, which sat behind the mansion and opened onto a large field.
" After reading aloud, ask students to sketch the image their mind forms without looking up any unfamiliar words or terms or discussing the scene as a cl.