HUBBA-HUBBA: A Tale of the Sahara

by Ruth P. Collins ‧ RELEASE DATE: Sept. 5, 1968

Hubba-Hubba -- meaning trouble in the Hausa language -- is the right name for the offspring of Racer, Musa's now elderly and lame camel. The foal is beguiling in his fluffy white curls but the villagers soon have enough of his mischief; after he smashes the cage of the weaver's wife's parrot and releases the bird, Musa is told to catch it and replace the cage or Hubba-Hubba will be sold as meat. With grandmother's help, Musa complies, but the camel's still a clown and a visiting trader wants to buy him for exhibit. Musa demurs, the camel disappears, Musa rescues him from the trader's tent, the camel disappears again, Musa spies him playing with a lion cub -- and fells the mother lion with a stone between the eyes. Nobody says anything more about Hubba-Hubba, except to keep him tied up, and nobody listens to the hunters who say that they shot the lion. Camel antics and desert customs in a story that slips through your fingers; agile tongue-in-cheek drawings accompany.

Pub Date: Sept. 5, 1968

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: Crown

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 1968

Categories: FICTION