Around the Campfire
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-- School Library Journal, 6/19/2007 9:41:00 AM
What’s not to like about being one with nature? A lot, for some of the characters in these titles! Others, though, embrace camping trips for the family experience and an escape from city or suburban life. For a fun read-aloud experience, pitch a tent right in the classroom or library and throw in a couple of sleeping bags and a make-believe campfire for a cozy atmosphere.
CLEMENTS, Andrew. A Week in the Woods. S & S. 2002. Tr $16.95. ISBN 978-0-689-82596-5; pap. $5.99. ISBN 978-0-689-85802-4.
Gr 4-8–Mark’s attitude and reputation as a spoiled rich kid make him an easy target for his fifth-grade teacher, Mr. Maxwell. When the entire grade heads out for the annual "Week in the Woods," he finds himself a bit relieved and eager to expand his horizons. A turn of events leads Mr. Maxwell to send Mark home from camp, under false assumptions, and Mark takes off, gets lost, and must survive a night alone in the woods.
EVANGELISTA, Beth. Gifted. Walker. 2005. Tr $16.95. ISBN 978-0-8027-8994-5; pap. $6.95. ISBN 978-0-8027-9644-8.
Gr 5-8–A genius IQ doesn’t automatically come with social skills–which is George Clark’s problem. Given that his dad is the school principal, and he has a best friend who never gets too annoyed at George’s arrogance, it seems that eighth grade might not be too bad. But when he goes on the annual class camping trip, there is no one to protect him from the Bruise Brothers, and George gets in over his head–and gets some sense knocked into it, too.
GRAF, Mike. Bryce and Zion: Danger in the Narrows. illus. by Marjorie Leggitt. Fulcrum. 2006. pap. $9.95. ISBN 978-1-55591-532-2.
Gr 5-8–This unique title combines a graphic-novel style with insets of factoids, photographs, and maps to create an interesting story, well-suited for reluctant readers. A family travels to Bryce Canyon and Zion National Parks, and much practical advice for campers is given. The ten-year-old twins, Morgan and James, supply a "top ten list" of things to see and do at the parks in the appendix.
RUURS, Margriet. When We Go Camping. illus. by Andrew Kiss. Tundra. 2001. Tr $14.95. ISBN 978-0-88776-476-9; pap. $7.95. ISBN 978-0-88776-685-5.
K-Gr 2–Told from the perspective of a brother and sister on a camping trip with their parents, this title will transport readers to the wonder of the Canadian Rockies. Kiss’s oil-on-canvas illustrations are drenched with the lushness of the forest, and perfectly capture elk, loons, beavers, and butterflies in their natural habitat. An appendix contains a legend describing the many animals found in the story and a sample footprint from each.
YEP, Laurence. Skunk Scout. Hyperion. 2003. Tr $15.99. ISBN 978-0-7868-0670-6; pap. $5.99. ISBN 978-0-7868-1714-6.
Gr 3-6–Which is worse? Going camping with inept Uncle Curtis, or the fact that bratty, super-smart younger brother Bobby is coming along? Think of any camping disaster, and it happens to this trio, from tent collapse to skanky skunks. Teddy, 10, would like nothing better than to go back to Chinatown and call it a day, but he surprises himself, and everyone else, when he saves his party from getting lost.
Remarkable Reads are produced by the editors of NoveList, NoveList K-8, and Book Index with Reviews (BIR), leading resources for readers' advisory services and collection development. For more information, see epnet.com.
