Tiki and Jill and the Great Australian Camel Race by Kate Simpson

Tiki was a desert-born camel and still more than half wild when he met his rider, Jill.

Jill was an accomplished horse rider who had never ridden a camel.

Tiki and Jill had entered the Great Australian Camel Race – a three-month trek from the red centre of Australia all the way to the Gold Coast. But Tiki was a tricky camel to ride. He spat on Jill. He bucked. He liked to roll in burrs.

Then one especially tough day among the sand dunes of the Simpson Desert, everything changed. And Tiki and Jill became firm friends.

The amazing true story about the bond between a camel called Tiki and his rider, Jill, and the extraordinary endurance race that captured the imagination of Australia.

Perfect for:
– Readers aged 5+ who love true stories about animals
– Teachers and librarians looking for books that explore Australian history and geography
– Non-fiction-loving primary school students who enjoy factual information with their stories
– Nostalgia-loving readers who want to share a slice of 1980s Australia with their loved ones

The amazing true story about a remarkable camel called Tiki from two CBCA award-winning creators, the author of How to Move a Zoo and the illustrator of The Wobbly Bike.

About the Author: Kate Simpson was raised on a diet of children’s books, but it was her fascination with science that led her to her first career as a chemical engineer. Following the birth of her children, Kate re-discovered her love of picture books and soon decided to try her hand at writing them. She was quickly hooked. Kate now juggles a full-time job as an engineer with her writing work. Her books feature Australian history, science, curious kids and powerful women.

Dr Jill Colwell grew up in outback NSW on a sheep and cattle property. She graduated with honours in medicine from Sydney university in 1977 and in 1988, she was one of only a handful of women to compete in the Great Australian Camel Race.

Craig Smith is one of Australia’s most prolific, best-known and well-loved children’s book illustrators, with over 400 books published. He has collaborated with many of Australia’s best-loved authors, such as Paul Jennings and Doug MacLeod, and has illustrated books including A Cat Called Trim, Where Are You, Banana? and I Was Only Nineteen. Craig’s work over the last 40 years has been acknowledged in the CBCA Book of the Year awards, as well as in children’s choice awards around Australia. In 2011, Craig was awarded the biennial Euphemia Tanner Award, which recognised his distinguished services to children’s literature and his encouragement of the joy of reading in children.

30 Jun 2026
 

Tiki and Jill and the Great Australian Camel Race by Kate Simpson ISBN 9781761182334