Army Camels: Texas Ships of the Desert - Rilegato

When thirty-four camels arrived in Texas on the first ship, they caused an immediate uproar. Although they were undeniably useful, many people were shocked by their strange appearance, strong smell, and odd behavior—they ate a fence made of cactus, frightened dogs, and spooked horses.

At first, it seemed that these unusual creatures would be impossible to control. It was through the hard work and the training from the camels’ handlers that the Army soldiers gained a grudging respect for the practical beasts. Public demonstrations of the camels’ strength awed the crowds of people that gathered wherever the camels went.

Some were immediately charmed by the Army's strange, new recruits. Children delighted in camel rides, and one woman even knitted a pair of camel-hair socks for Pres. Franklin Pierce.

Filled with incredible facts and whimsical artwork, this riotous tale of one of history's quirkier episodes is an educational delight.

Doris Fisher, a longtime Texas resident, earned a degree in elementary education from the University of Tulsa. In her career as a kindergarten teacher, Fisher read hundreds of picture books to her students. These books inspired her to write, and she has since contributed to many children's magazines, including Highlights for Children, and authored several books. This is her first book with Pelican. Fisher and her husband live in Kingwood, Texas.

In addition to illustrating, Julie Dupré Buckner paints portraits and teaches art classes. She earned a BFA from Louisiana Tech University and is a member of the Portrait Society of America and the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators. Buckner also illustrated Pelican's Jubilee!, Clovis Crawfish and Echo Gecko, Clovis Crawfish and Silvie Sulphur, andClovis Crawfish and the Twin Sister. She resides in Plaquemine, Louisiana.