The Last Straw

Lois Provost Turchetti is a professional children’s storyteller (in
English and Caribbean Creole), who also conducts educational workshops
in Toronto.

Proud to be chosen by the wise men to carry their gifts to the young
king, Hoshmakaka the elderly camel forgets that honor is a gift that
carries many burdens. Unwilling at first, but seduced by the honor, he
assumes a regal mien and forgets his gout and sciatica—this old camel
who boasts of having “the strength of ten horses.” Everyone
Hoshmakaka encounters along the way asks him to take further gifts, and
he cannot bring himself to refuse. Mountain goats’ milk, millers’
corn, maidens’ silk, birds in silver cages, pillars of oak from
Lebanon, bakers’ sweetmeats, jars of honey, rolls of leather, jewels,
beads, and 20 gallons of wine—Hoshmakaka accepts them all. But the
gifts for the infant king are too much for him to bear. One final
gift—a single straw from a young child—brings Hoshmakaka to his
knees as he arrives before the baby king. At that moment, his burdens
are inexplicably lightened by a touch from the baby’s tiny fingers.

Based on his libretto of the same title, Thury’s delightful Christmas
story is masterfully woven in an esoteric tradition, and wonderfully
visualized in van Kampen’s splendid illustrations. Highly recommended.