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One of things I should have put at the TOP of my “B” list was BOOKMOBILE. And more specifically, the Camel Bookmobile.

I first heard of a camel bookmobile (which is exactly what it sounds like!) when I had the thrill of reading my friend Masha Hamilton’s spectacular new novel by the same name. (Masha will be touring and reading from this book in April, and I will be hosting a special reception and reading at my house on April 28th). Email me if you’d like me to send you an invitation – it’s going to be a really wonderful event. It’s a terrifically moving, powerful book (everyone says so), and just impossible to put down.

Masha tells the most incredible story behind the novel. See more amazing photos of the camel bookmobile! I am so excited about this book.

But she didn’t just write a fantastic book. She is also singlehandedly organizing a huge drive of books to send to the actual bookmobile in Kenya, and raising funds for shipping costs.
I want to help. I’ve set up a Camel Bookmobile Wish List. This list was compiled by me, and it is made up of books I wish I could buy myself and send to the bookmobile. What kinds of books are good for a camel bookmobile? I tried to imagine. Obviously, books about technology and computers are less than useless. Ditto on home decorating. Or most cookbooks. But books about art? Math? Science? People doing things in the world. People doing things in other parts of Africa. Stories. Photographs.

If you have some books, or could collect books that you’d like to send to the camel bookmobile, you can do so directly (that would be great!).

Garissa Provincial Library
For Camel Library
Librarian in Charge, Rashid M. Farah
P.O. Box 245
Garissa, Kenya

Or if you’d like to buy some books, you can do so via the WishList. (do so at the right) I am also collecting funds to use for shipping because books are so darned heavy and Kenya is so far.

Please help me help Masha help the Camel Bookmobile.

  • For everyone who blogs about the bookmobile project and puts a link on their blog, I will send you a little surprise thank-you gift. (I’ll need proof of blog post and link)
  • For everyone who donates $25 in books or shipping costs, I’ll send you a mediumish thank-you gift.
  • For everyone who donates $50 in books or shipping, I will send you an even nicer thank-you gift.
  • For everyone who donates $100 either in books or shipping money, I will send you an autographed copy of The Camel Bookmobile.
  • For everyone who donates $1,000 or more, I’ll come to your house and bake you a cheesecake and paint a portrait of you and your dog and do a solo performance all about your life story. You’ll have to send me a map to your house.

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