Documentary filmmaker Griffin Ondaatje (son of Michael) enters the picture-book world with a quiet, spiritual story that introduces the concept of empathy to young readers. In this thoughtful take on a traditional tale that the author first encountered in Sri Lanka, readers are given a lesson in social and emotional intelligence that is both remarkable and affecting.

A tired, overworked camel is forced to provide hard labour for his cruel owner. After years of service, suffering through unbearable heat and thirst, the camel is approached by the Prophet Muhammad, who gives the animal a (literal) shoulder to cry on and makes the owner feel the beast’s anguish in a dream. The experience of walking a mile in another creature’s hooves makes the owner reconsider his ways and treat the animal with kindness.

The tale has its origins in a Muslim hadith – a story that recounts Muhammad’s words or actions. Obvious care has been taken to preserve cultural integrity: the Prophet is never pictured in the illustrations in accordance with Islamic tradition, and a substantial author’s note addresses origin and authenticity.

Precise pacing and beautifully simple language keep the story from falling into a nest of clichés or overbearing morality. Ondaatje’s style is deliberate and solid, creating a reverent feel that will resonate even with kindergarteners, while Linda Wolfsgruber’s brilliant sun- and dust-infused illustrations lend the story its sense of place. The sandy, sunburned colour palette and use of monoprints captures a feeling of timelessness equal to the story’s desert setting.

With social-emotional learning becoming a bigger part of primary grade curricula, The Camel in the Sun has a double utility: it fosters an understanding of compassion and kindness in the very young while expanding picture-book offerings beyond stories rooted in Judeo-Christian and First Nations traditions.