When You Are Camping

K-Gr 2—From dawn through dusk, this camping trip focuses on two sisters' experiences in the great outdoors. The children chase moths, go tubing on a river, and hear stories by the campfire. Expressing sheer delight in the wonders of nature, they describe specific reasons they appreciate the wildlife they encounter. Changes in perspective show the youngsters' relationship with their natural world. Adorned in a bright raincoat, Tilly towers over a jumping frog; hiding against a lone tree in the woods, the girls remain still as they gaze at a deer. A quietly powerful conclusion demonstrates their wholly satisfying experience through repetitive phrases. "Hazel loves camping. Tilly loves camping. Crickets sing you to sleep when you are camping." Pastel watercolor scenes seamlessly bleed into lavender evening skies or the powerful dark blue depicted in the lake, though abundant white space creates a jarring impact with no variation in typography to enliven the straightforward narrative. Occasionally, unnecessary details detract from the understated tone ("Tilly climbs into her green sleeping bag. Hazel climbs into her blue sleeping bag."). Overall, though, this is an inviting glimpse into a meaningful family outing.—Meg Smith, Cumberland County Public Library, Fayetteville, NC