Friendship Bracelets, S’mores, and the Great Outdoors: A Jamboree of Summer Camp Titles
Joy Fleishhacker, Curriculum Connections -- School Library Journal, 6/2/2009
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Watch Denise Fleming make her pulp painting illustrations
Including picture books in sunshine hues, zestfully illustrated chapter books, and fast-reading novels, these breezy offerings for elementary students describe a time-honored summertime tradition with humor, imagination, and insight. There’s plenty of singing along and learning to get along as the protagonists leave behind familiar environs and venture forth to try new endeavors, make mistakes and figure out how to fix them, and weather the ups and downs of friendship. Varying in approach from realistic accounts to fantastical fun, these lively tales will captivate kids who are heading off to camp or who just like to read about it.
Picture Books (K-Gr 3)
Share these entertaining tales with youngsters to reveal the mysteries of summer camp and address common concerns about being away from home. When Froggy Goes to Camp (Viking, 2008), the typically buoyant amphibian gets sunk by a wave of homesickness, but his equilibrium is quickly restored when he befriends his bunkmates and dives wholeheartedly into Camp Run-A-Muck’s activities. Jonathan London’s lovable protagonist amuses readers with his habitually hilarious antics, which are delightfully depicted in Frank Remkiewicz’s humor-filled, popsicle-bright artwork.
In Tacky Goes to Camp (Houghton, 2009), the “odd bird” and his more homogeneous penguin pals engage in pursuits that include sleeping in tents (Tacky brings a circus tent), arts and crafts (Tacky forgoes basket weaving to paint a Pollock-style wonder), and stories around the campfire (Tacky overindulges in s’mores and falls asleep in a pile of gooey leftovers). Though he never quite toes the line, this free-spirited individual becomes a hero when he inadvertently frightens off a polar bear with a messy sleeping bag that looks like “a graham-crackery, chocolaty, marshmallow” monster. Helen Lester’s sparkling text and Lynn Munsinger’s warmhearted artwork are laugh-out-loud funny.
When his human owner goes on vacation, Buster Goes to Cowboy Camp (Holt, 2008), a western-themed kennel that puts a doggie twist on customary camp conventions. It doesn’t take long for the canine protagonist to go from homesick to happy as he plays “Buckaroo Ball,” chows down at a beans-and-bacon cookout, and hits the hay with friendly bunkmates. Illustrated with vibrant pulp paintings, Denise Fleming’s affectionate tale will reassure tentative (two-legged) first timers.
Chapter Books for Younger Readers
Gaining independence, navigating social relationships, and honing personal judgment are all part of the camp experience. When Robert Goes to Camp (Cricket, 2007), the eight-year-old boy worries that he won’t like spending his days away from home, but feels better after making a new friend. Then Zach pulls of a series of obnoxious pranks and Robert is found guilty by association. It takes a bit of soul searching before Robert figures out how to set things right. Barbara Seuling’s accessible text rings true and Paul Brewer’s soft-edged cartoons keep the mood light (Gr 2-4).
Like Robert, the title character in Laurie Friedman’s Campfire Mallory (Carolrhoda, 2008) is unsure about attending camp. Things get worse when her best friend is placed in a different group and Mallory is saddled with a bunkmate that she doesn’t like. When the nine-year-old protagonist does something that she immediately regrets, she must find the courage to ask for forgiveness. Sprinkled with amusing diary entries, the fast-reading first-person narrative reveals Mallory’s struggles as well as her blossoming maturity. Jennifer Kalis’s polished line drawings delightfully depict the action (Gr 3-5).
Readers whose taste leans more toward s’mores than stick-to-your-ribs fare will eat up these two out-of-this-world selections (you can also try these books with reluctant readers). In Fred & Anthony Meet the Heinie Goblins from the Black Lagoon (Hyperion, 2008), two boys who would rather spend their summer watching TV and inhaling Chex Mix are bundled off to Camp Plenty Wampum for an enriching outdoor experience. Run by two thugs, the camp turns out to be a bust—it has bedbug-infested bunks, horrible food, and endless paddling in leaky canoes. Things begin to look up (or down) when the friends find themselves whirlpooling into the Netherworld (a subterranean realm they have visited in previous tales) for a zany escapade involving mischievous bare-bottomed mini-monsters. Elise Primavera’s frothy mix of comic-book artwork, snappy dialogue bubbles, and slapstick narrative will please fans of Captain Underpants and anyone else who likes a cheeky romp.
Camp Alien (Carolrhoda, 2009) stars a young extraterrestrial agent who has been placed on Earth to grow up “human.” With the help of another Galactic Union cadet (who looks like a velociraptor) and a shy human camper named Opal, Zack must find the Duthwi eggs before they fall into the hands of alien smugglers or hatch to cause a planet-wide disaster. Pamela F. Service’s zingy narrative and Mike Gorman’s exaggerated black-and-white cartoons are sure to make readers crack a smile (Gr 2-5).
Chapter Books for Middle Graders
For some kids, camp is all about personal relationships, and these characters forge new friendships, redefine old ones, and learn to trust their hearts instead of following the crowd. Jemma Hartman, Camper Extraordinaire (Farrar, 2009) can’t wait to be reunited with her best friend who moved away last year, and dreams about learning to sail with Tammy on beautiful Star Lake. However, when Tammy shows up with her obnoxious cousin Brooke—and the two are seemingly inseparable—Jemma feels left out and let down. Brenda A. Ferber’s first-person narrative glides along with honesty and emotion as Jemma slowly navigates the troubled waters of a friendship tug-of-war and eventually sets a new course for her summer adventure (Gr 4-6).
Fans of Marissa Moss’s budding young artist—and her colorfully illustrated composition-book journals—will appreciate Amelia’s Itchy-Twitchy, Lovey-Dovey Summer at Camp Mosquito (S&S, 2008). Camp Runamucka is turning out to be better than Amelia expected: her best friend Carly is also in her cabin, the activities are fun, and Amelia has been selected to draw cartoons for the camp newspaper. It looks like the summer will be a blast…until she and Carly both start crushing on the same boy. Amelia’s diary entries and doodles reveal her thoughts with candor and humor as she works her way through this classic friendship dilemma (Gr 5-7).
Katy Grant’s “Summer Camp Secrets” series features stand-alone books about different girls who are attending Pine Haven camp. In Pranked, first-timer Kelly is happy to fall in with the two most popular girls in her cabin, but when the tricks they play on a fellow camper turn mean, she begins to rethink the friendship. In Acting Out (both S & S, 2008), JD is determined to make her camp experience interesting by totally reinventing her personality. Chatty first-person narratives, believable situations, and satisfying resolutions make for pleasing bunkside reading (Gr 4-6).
During her stay at camp this summer, seventh-grader Claudia Cristina Cortez is determined to prove that she is definitely junior counselor material. Despite her less-than-perfect swimming skills and a few other setbacks, this likable main character demonstrates both her good nature and her good judgment as she perseveres. Featuring short chapters, an open format, and Brann Garvey’s cartoon-style character headshots, Diana G. Gallagher’s Camp Can’t (Stone Arch, 2008) makes a good high-interest choice for low-level readers (Gr 5-7).
Go on an Armchair Camp Out
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Camping Day (Lakin) |
In another jaunty read-aloud, five loveable, birds, decked in overalls, go fishing, toast marshmallows by the campfire, and finally crawl into their cozy Duck Tents (Holt, 2009). However, a scary nighttime noise soon has flaps unzipping and campers scrambling for the safety—and comfort—of shared quarters. Hiroe Nakata’s whimsical watercolors and Lynne Berry’s rhythmic verses are packed with child appeal.
Lenore Look’s endearing, comically phobic young character returns in Alvin Ho: Allergic to Camping, Hiking, and Other Natural Disasters (Random, 2009). Forced into a camping trip with his dad, Alvin obsesses about getting lost, being struck by lightning, dying by meteorite, and having to use a pit toilet. However, with his intrepid younger sister Anibelly by his side and a carload of high-tech gear, Alvin is determined to make it through the night, despite malfunctioning monster traps, goggle-eyed aliens, and Dad’s unfortunate choice of “natural” toilet paper. Illustrated with LeUyen Pham’s deftly drawn cartoons, the first-person narrative shines with exaggerated kid-friendly humor (Gr 2-4).
Watch Denise Fleming make her pulp painting illustrations
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