Sleep Out

Christopher #1

by Carol Carrick, Donald Carrick (Illustrator)

Eager to try out his camping equipment, young Christopher sleeps out alone in the woods for the first time.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Adventure, Fiction

32 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1973

Reviews

[Hilary · Rating 3 out of 5]

This 1970s picture shows a young boy who gets some camping equipment for his birthday and goes to the country to try it out. He goes off on his own for the night which is both scary and exciting. We meet some creatures out in the night and learn that sleeping out for the night isn't as easy as it looks.

This is a nice simple story about a child's first steps towards doing something alone and appreciating the outdoors.

Read on open library.

[Abigail · Rating 3 out of 5]

When he is given a sleeping bag, canteen and flashlight for his birthday, Christopher can't wait to use them to camp out. Unfortunately, his back yard in the city is far too noisy for such an activity. The first night of his holiday at his family's summer cottage, he decides to sleep out at the nearby creek. But when unfamiliar noises startle him in the night, and rain makes him uncomfortable, he ends up retreating to an abandoned farmhouse nearby. Here he finds that he has been pursued, not by a wolf, as he imagined, but by Bodger, his pet dog...

Published in 1973, Sleep Out was the first of eight picture-books featuring Christopher and his adventures from author/illustrator team Carol and Donald Carrick. It pairs an engaging story about a youngster testing the limits of his independence, and learning to overcome his fears, with appealing illustrations. The visuals here sometimes feel a little bit dated - the furniture, the car - but are nevertheless charming, and the forest scenes have a timeless quality to them (naturally). Recommended to anyone who enjoys vintage picture-books, or who is looking for children's stories about sleeping outside for the first time.

[Tym · Rating 5 out of 5]

This makes miss my childhood, super fan, such a nostalgia trip I read it again

[Debi Cates · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a trip back in time to how things where when I was growing up.

I have no idea how our parents did it--how did they not worry themselves sick? Yet, we kids did have some amazing growing experiences.

Different times, my friend, different times.

"Are you playing nice?" was exactly what adults would say to us kids. It wasn't a question, so much as it was a kindly greeting and, perhaps, their own nostalgic observation.

[Anna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Christopher is eager to try out the camping equipment he got for his birthday: a sleeping bag, a canteen, and a flashlight. When the family arrives at the cabin, he impatiently sets off to camp in the woods by himself. But his eagerness is tested by a sudden rainstorm, and he has to find a dryer place to sleep. And then there's a "wolf" scare! Christopher decides he will wait for his father to accompany him on his next camp out.
Christopher is based on the author and illustrator's own son and his adventures.

[Paula · Rating 3 out of 5]

Anxious to try out his new camping gear, Christopher sleeps out alone on his first night in the country and almost regrets that he didn't wait for his father to come along.

[Bec · Rating 4 out of 5]

A beautifully illustrated tale of overcoming fears, exploring your world, and ability.