Humpfree The Humpless Camel! Tristan has been looking forward to this book! Julia Dweck wrote this after learning about the rare Flatback Highland Humpless in East Africa. Believe it, it’s true!
Now Humpfree Camel had no humps.
His back was free of any lumps.
While others had one bump or two,
Just where were Humpfree’s? No one knew.
After one read of this e-book Tristan was able to tell his Daddy all about it and hardly left out a page. The following is Tristan’s retelling of Humpfree, The Humpless Camel:
A flat backed camel is a camel with a flat back. Humpfree found two balloons, “Could these be my humps?” he said and straps them on.
Then he flies up. A bird pops both the balloons and he drops down. He fills up bags with sand and ties them tight and he runs and sweats.
There are rocks and he holds them and might under the strain break his back.
Feathers were dropping down on him like a crown and he straps them on. Tickle, tickle, tickle! He’s sinking in the feathers and they were tickling him.
Two porcupines came over and he said, “You’ll make good humps and my back will make a good soft bed”. There’s a bobcat in the tree. Humpfree is moaning.
There was a broken sign he was looking at. “Why do I have no humps?” he moaned. He felt a pat. Beside him was a chap. The chap said that’s not right. Humpfree said “I know I’m humpless”, he moans. The flat backed camel is very rare. The other camels are here. It is the way he’s meant to be.
Humpfree is s fun rhyming book that holds my children’s attention very well. The tale of Humpfree starts off quite sad because Humpfree’s back is flat, unlike other camel’s backs. He wants to be like all of the other camels and searches high and low to find himself some humps. He tries several things, but without success. Just as Humpfree reaches his lowest point he’s found and by a man who has been searching for a Flatback camel. This man lets Humpfree know that he is special and valued for being just who he is and Humpfree can now live a happy life once again This tale’s moral is important: don’t wish to be what you aren’t, take ride in what you are . Don’t spend your life wishing and dreaming to be someone else as that isn’t you. use what you have and celebrate your own uniqueness.
As always with Julia, there are some interesting camel facts at the back of this book. Let this be a warning to you: never aggravate a camel or you will be sorry!
Tristan says it all with: “How does Julia Dweck make all these books?! She just gets them in her head. She writes them and somebody else makes the pictures.”
This book was illustrated by Young-Min Yoon whose smooth lines and simple caricaturistic style suits the mood of this book.
As you will see with our 7 Creative Camel activities, this book really inspired my children to be creative with all things ‘Camel’. Tristan is now fascinated by the flat-backed camel and one and two-humped camels just won’t do for him! With every activity he’s done over the past two weeks, he’s insisted on having a flat-backed camel.
You can purchase this book here.
Tristan has given this book 5 stars.
If you love Julia Dweck, be sure to connect with her through Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, or her own Website. And don’t forget to check out our other reviews of these Julia Dweck books:- Where Are The Dinos?
- Blucy, The Blue Cat.
- Mary Had A Sleepy Sheep.
- Pie-Rits, A Pirate Adventure.

Cheryl Carpinello says
This is a great story. The illustrations are so cute! Thanks for sharing on the Kid Lit Blog Hop. Cheryl, Hop Hostess
Crystal McClean says
Thank you for hosting, Cheryl, I love the Hop! Humpfree has such emotion in his wee face, doesn’t he? It was a great connection between writer and illustrator!
Tina says
I was excited to see this one released on Oct 5th! It looks like so much fun! Thanks for sharing it at Booknificent Thursday!
Tina
Crystal McClean says
It’s good timing to read about sunny, warm climates just as the weather turns cool and wet for us. Have a great week and we’ll see you again soon!
Reshama says
oh my Gosh! Julia’s books are adorable! And I can see that she has done it again! Thanks for a lovely review and sharing it on Kid Lit blog Hop!
-Reshama @ Stackingbooks.com
Crystal McClean says
Isn’t she a great children’s writer! And we never get tired of reading her books to our children 🙂
Emma says
This book looks fun, and I love the lessons it emphasizes!
Crystal McClean says
They are important lessons that we all need to remember at times, and presented in a cute book with lovable characters.
Adelien says
It sounds very interesting. My children are doing Africa now. It should have been a great companion. Will go to my to do list. Thanks for sharing.
Jill @ Called To Be A Mom says
This looks really cute! I’m sure it would be right up my boys’ liking as well!
Crystal McClean says
I’m sure they’d like the extra facts at the end of the book!
Tanya @ Mom's Small Victories says
How adorable! This sounds like a book my young ones and I would love! thanks for the recommendation and the book inspired camel activities! 🙂
Missy Homemaker says
Great review! I’m going to have to find this one for Peanut.
Katy @ Experienced Bad Mom says
I want to read Humpfree! And I had no idea there were humpless camels.
Crystal McClean says
Isn’t it great when we parents learn new things with our children? I love when that happens!
Jamie says
I just read this, and it’s adorable. I don’t have children of my own, but I have young cousins that I’m looking forward to reading stories to! Including Humpfree.
I immediately had to look up the the humpless camel, though, and um, there really is no such thing. (There *are* camelids without humps — llamas, alpacas, guanacos and vicuñas — and I really expected Humpfree to turn out to be one of those!) Julia Dweck may have read this article on The Daily Squib, a satirical publication:
Anyway, um, that’s a work of fiction, as is Humpfree. That should not take away from the lessons learned from the book, though. They just aren’t biology lessons. 🙂