I Don't Want to Go to Camp

By Eve Bunting

Book Overview

Lin's mom has exciting news. She's going to camp--a camp for mothers only. But Lin is not impressed. She and her favorite stuffy, Loppy Lamb, have made up their minds. They are never, ever going to... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1563973936
• ISBN13: 9781563973932
• Release Date: April 1996
• Publisher: Boyds Mills Press
• Length: 32 Pages
• Weight: 1.00 lbs.
• Dimensions: 9.5" x 0.5" x 10.3"
• Age Range: 5 to 7 years
• Grade Range: Kindergarten to Grade 2

Customer Reviews

Great Introduction to Sleep-Away Camp for the Home Obsessed!

Children are naturally close to their parents, but there are children who will practically never budge from their homes. These are the youngsters who will need sleep-away camp the most when they are older, but are the most likely to resist. This is particularly the case if they are the only, older or oldest child in the family. Ms. Bunting has done a virtuoso job in this book of helping ease that transition by introducing the idea of sleep-away camp in a positive light for the 4-6 year old set."Mom waved a letter. 'I'm going to camp,' she said happily.""'Only kids go to camp,' Lin said.""This is a mother's camp, for mothers only.""Loppy Lamb and I don't want to go to kid's camp." Naturally, though, Lin wanted to help her mom get ready to go away. They went shopping, and Lin was surprised that you get to buy lots of great fun things for sleep-away camp.Then, it was time for mom to go away on the camp bus. She asked dad and Lin to promise to visit her on Vistors Day. Lin and dad were looking forward to having fun together while mom was away.Just before Visitors Day, they made fudge and cookies to take to mom. Lin didn't know that people got goodies on Visitors Day at camp.They have a great reunion, and Lin gets to see what mom has been doing. She finds out that mom has been playing her new harmonica, paddling in canoe races, playing volleyball, having midnight treats, developing best friends, using passwords and secret codes with her cabin mates, riding horses, swimming, having campfire sessions, and making friendship bracelets. Lin thinks that sounds kind of neat.When dad and Lin leave, Lin hears Loppy Lamb say something. She asks dad to be quiet so she can hear better."'Dad?' Lin said, 'Loppy Lamb wants to tell me something.'""Dad? Loppy says he might want to go to camp in two years when he's big.""He's such a baby sometimes, I might have to go to camp with him.""It's not that I want to go."The illustrations done by Ms. Cocca-Leffler deserve praise. They use lots of bright pastel tones, done in strong water-based colors. The shadings and detail are marvelously subtle, and help create a relaxed mood so important to this story. You get a feeling much like in the Raggedy Ann and Andy books, except the palette is much more in earth tones and away from reds and whites. The story deserves praise from several perspectives. First, it doesn't overtly "sell" camp. It just provides information about what a mom's experience is. Second, it never says that children should or should not go to sleep-away camp. Third, it paints the issue in the future since Lin (and your child) are too young to go to sleep-away camp now. Fourth, no one ever asks Lin if she wants to go. She simply expresses her opinion voluntarily in the end. Fifth, the book also helps your child realize that she or he can take a favorite friend along (whether a stuffed toy or a human friend). Sixth, the story also gives your child a way to talk about the subject, by sugges