In this series of seven books, photojournalist Jan Reynolds documents the distinctive cultures and climates of indigenous peoples.
Manda, a young Tuareg boy, is excited. He and his father are going to travel to a nearby village for a festival and camel races.
Manda helps his father prepare the camel caravan for the trip. The Tuareg have been traveling through the Sahara Desert on camelback for centuries, and the men take great pride in their camel-riding skills. As Manda leaves his village, he is eager to see the great riders in the races. He is proud to be going on this special journey with his father.
Jan Reynolds is an award-winning author and photographer whose work has appeared in numerous publications, including National Geographic, The New York Times, and Outside magazine. All seven books in her Vanishing Cultures series of photo-essays for children were recognized as Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People, and she is also the author of Celebrate! Connections Among Cultures; Only the Mountains Do Not Move, and The Lion Queens of India. Reynolds holds the world record for women's high altitude skiing, was part of the first expedition to circumnavigate Mount Everest, and performed a solo crossing of the Himalayas. She lives with her family in Stowe, Vermont. Please visit her on the web at janreynolds.com.
National Council for the Social Studies (NCSS)
"Clear color photographs and informative, interestingly written narrative reflect the insight only first-hand experience can provide."
"What is important about the first two books in the Vanishing Cultures series is Jan Reynolds's sincere sense of the majesty for the Himalayan and Saharan peoples. By sharing an emphatic and unsentimental glimpse of them, she gives us all a great gift."
"Reynolds's sensitive photography captures the beauty of these harsh landscapes as well as the dignity and humanity of their peoples. Her books will be a welcome addition to the increasing roster—meeting an increased demand—of multicultural literature for children."
