Tenderhearted Neville, the camel, runs away from home after Zaheed, his usually kind, nomadic owner, yells at him for accidentally stepping on his compass, essential for navigating the desert. Nudged by his pal, Beetle, Neville heads for the oasis, convinced life in the shade with plentiful figs and water will be better than staying where he isn’t appreciated.

Lost among the towering sand dunes and tricked by shimmering mirages, their journey is anything but straightforward, but eventually, the two stumble upon their destination and are delighted to discover that the oasis matches their every dream. It isn’t long, however, before Neville realizes that paradise has less to do with being a specific place and more to do with whom one shares it. With no need for a compass, Neville rushes home, guided by his heart.

“A sumptuous exploration of home and heart.”

- Kirkus Review

“Readers who enjoyed Charlie Mackesy’s The Boy, the Mole, the Fox, and the Horse would

most appreciate a story like NevillE’S OASIS.”

-Reader’s Favorite, 5-Star Review

Inspiration for Writing Neville’s Oasis

Read relevant blog posts that describe Joann’s journey.

The Story of a Camel

What Can I Say?

About the Illustrator, Ann Patterson Bishop

Born and raised in Denver, Colorado, Ann longed for the countryside. Combined with a passion for animals, she attended Colorado State University with the goal of becoming a veterinarian. Although she didn’t finish her studies, she acquired an invaluable foundation for understanding animal anatomy that she has since used in her paintings of pets and wild animals.

Ann’s formal art training began in her late teens when she studied art history in Italy at the University of Rome. Years later, after her venture into veterinary school, and relocation to Lewistown, Montana, she received a Bachelor of Fine Arts at Montana State University in Bozeman.

NEVILLE’S OASIS is Ann’s first picture book as well as her first time rendering a camel and a desert beetle. “I’ve never actually been to a desert where camels live, so getting to explore the sand and the heat and the colors — the gorgeous colors — getting to depict that was just really fun. Besides, I relate to Neville; I must have run away from home a hundred times when things weren’t going my way.”