Through Sand and Salt: A Tale of Discovery Across the Sahara

In the Sahara, salt is worth its weight in gold. When Malik is finally old enough to join his father's caravan, transporting salt across the long trade route to Timbuktu, he can't wait to prove himself worthy of this big responsibility.

Over the long and difficult route, the boy will discover that salt does far more than just preserve and flavor food. With its essential roles in trade, ritual, civilizations, and even our bodies, salt sustains life. Most important of all, Malik discovers his own self-confidence as he grows from a novice to a future leader of his salt caravan.

This picture book celebrates the remarkable journey that salt takes, the connections forges, and its power to nourish us.

January 2025

Bloomsbury Children's Books

Ages 4-8

ISBN: 978-1-5476-0705-1

Written by Elizabeth Zunon

A Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection.

"Malik is proud to accompany his father on a camel caravan through the Sahara, traveling from Taoudeni to Timbuktu with a load of salt. The journey comes with many hazards: intense heat necessitating travel only in early morning and late afternoon and evening; sandstorms that obscure the trail and endanger camels and humans; and Malik's fear that he will make a mistake and disappoint his father. Along the journey, the boy also learns much about the properties and value of salt as a commodity for trading, as a soil nutrient, as a seasoning to sweeten foods, and as a reviver for those suffering from heat. Zunon's acrylic, oil, and pastel illustrations feature earth tones prominently, with arresting blues and pinks used for contrast. Set at some point in the past (an author's note clarifies that most contemporary caravans use trucks), her realistic style brings this "ocean of sand" and the Tuareg people into respectful focus, and includes many details of topography, oases, unique desert species such as saffron, and a trading bazaar in Timbuktu. Perspectives within the illustrations vary; for instance, in one the camels are depicted from above, with their shadows forming the more typical sideways view. With an author's note providing additional details, glossary, sources, and maps, this is an eye-opening look at an overlooked chapter in history."—★Booklist, Starred Review

"Readers join Malik as he journeys via camel caravan across the Sahara Desert to deliver salt to Timbuktu. The adventure is a long and arduous trip, one where Malik learns a variety of life lessons. Realistic acrylic paints and pastels, paired with the author’s words, will keep readers turning pages to see what happens next. Each spread is covered in vibrant colors, capturing the ranges of a desert landscape or myriad stops along the way. Salt is a vital part of life; it can make sweet tastes sweeter and add riches to bounty. It also can save the life of Malik’s camel when it wanders away in a sandstorm. VERDICT This beautifully written, vibrantly illustrated book would be a solid choice for sharing the culture and life experiences of desert ­dwellers, whether as windows or mirrors."—School Library Journal

"A Tuareg boy makes his first journey across the Sahara with his father’s caravan of camels. Salt is everywhere in Taoudeni, where Malik lives. His father, a salt trader, regularly crosses the desert to Timbuktu, leading his azalaï of a dozen camels carrying blocks of salt to places where salt is scarce and precious. This time, Malik is old enough to join his father and to look after his own camel along the way. The trip involves hot days on the sand dunes, cold nights admiring the stars, and stops in places where salt is accepted as payment for various goods, from a necklace for Malik’s mother to a flower containing a valuable spice. A sandstorm almost ruins Malik’s first journey, adding high stakes to the narrative, but with diligence and determination, he recovers his camel and salt. The tale is effectively told from the perspective of a child eager to earn the trust of his father as he learns about the stars, the desert, and the many uses of salt, before finally arriving at the bustling city of Timbuktu. The evocative artwork makes strong use of an earthy palette and texture to capture the setting so essential to the story. An author’s note offers further information on salt and trade routes through history; many readers will be enticed into further research. An intriguing glimpse into traditions in a fascinating climate. (glossary, sources, map) (Picture book. 4-8)"—Kirkus Reviews

"In a vividly told work that conveys salt’s significance to taste, trade, growing things, and more, Zunon (Bottle Tops) traces the route taken by young narrator Malik: “My ábba is a trader, leading an azalaï of a dozen salt-carrying camels through the Sahara desert to Timbuktu. And today, I’m finally joining him.” As the group winds through the desert, Malik, in charge of a camel and a store of salt, trades a chunk of the mineral for dates (“Salt makes sweet foods sweeter!”) and a necklace (“Precious as a treasured gift, salt enriches the bounty”). And as a grower of saffron flowers explains, when Malik plucks one of his blooms, “a pinch of salt is just what my saffron needs.... Everything that grows needs water, sun, and just a tiny bit of salt—to awaken the nutrients within.” Acrylic, oil, and pastel landscapes oriented around the journey alternate with peopled images of the group’s stops in illustrations that blend muted tones and bright colors. And the arrival of a sandstorm teaches vital skills alongside lessons about the role of salt in connecting communities. Extensive back matter includes an author’s note, history of camel caravans, and more. "—Publishers Weekly