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Eleanor #2
Like Bug Juice on a Burger
I hate camp. I just hate it. I wish I didn't. But I do. Being here is worse than bug juice on a burger. Or homework on Thanksgiving. Or water seeping into my shoes. In this sequel to the critically acclaimed Like Pickle Juice on a Cookie, Eleanor is off to summer camp. At first she's excited to carry on the family tradition at Camp Wallumwahpuck, but when she gets there she finds icky bugs, terrible food, and worst of all: swim class, where she just can't seem to keep up with everyone else. But as the days go on, Eleanor realizes that even the most miserable situations can be full of special surprises and that growing up is full of belly flops.
180 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 1, 2013
28 people are currently reading
587 people want to read
About the author
Julie Sternberg
8 books41 followersJulie Sternberg is the author of the best-selling LIKE PICKLE JUICE ON A COOKIE and its sequels. Her latest book, SUMMER OF STOLEN SECRETS, is a middle-grade novel coming out in 2021 from Viking. She also wrote THE TOP-SECRET DIARY OF CELIE VALENTINE series and the picture books BEDTIME AT BESSIE AND LIL’S and PUPPY PUPPY PUPPY. Her books have received a number of awards. She lives in Brooklyn with her husband; her younger daughter, who is almost but not yet old enough to abandon her; and her dog, Clementine, who basks in pools of sunlight in the apartment and occasionally heaves a deep sigh.
www.juliesternberg.com
www.juliesternberg.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 122 reviews
March 27, 2013
My early pic for Cybils chapter book champion.
January 3, 2016
This is a great book for the kid who doesn't want to go to camp or didn't like going to camp.
The best part is that it isn't sugar coated Eleanor just needs to survive camp not like. A good lesson.
The best part is that it isn't sugar coated Eleanor just needs to survive camp not like. A good lesson.
January 20, 2020
This was a fun afternoon read. Eleanor visits camp and starts to hate it but soon realizes the importance of a good attitude and turning things around.
March 18, 2020
I’m doing a lot of reading with my kids right now. I’m counting that as a benefit of COVID-19 for now. This is a cute book about giving hard things time to become better.
May 19, 2013
Eleanor is off to summer camp. Grandma Sadie has given her a present. She is going to the same camp her mom went to and loved. Eleanor was excited at first. Her friend, Katie, had gone the year before. She’d had a blast riding horses, jumping on the floating trampoline, diving, eating M&M’s… it seemed great. Grandma Sadie even sent Eleanor a picture of her mom standing in front of a cabin with a fluffy soft sleeping bag rolled in her arms. It was clear she was happy, and Eleanor thought she would be too. Camp Wallumwahpuck would be an adventure.
While Eleanor and her mom are packing, Eleanor gets a little nervous – who wouldn’t. She wonders what it will be like to be so far from home. She wonders what it will be like to miss her parents too much. The next day when they drive to the pick up spot Eleanor sees how happy all the seasoned campers are to see each other and find out if they are together again in a cabin. They are happy and hugging while Eleanor is alone. First Eleanor finds out she is in cabin “Gypsy Moth.” Gypsy Moth? Aren’t they ugly? Next she meets very tall, very thin Joplin. She’d been to camp before so that was helpful, but she has an odd way with people.
“Do you eat chocolate?”
“Sure,” I said.
I waited for her to offer me some.
Because why else would she have asked?
But instead she said,
“Good.
A girl in my cabin last year said it gave her a rash.
I never liked her.”
“Oh,” I said.
We were quiet for a second.
I wondered what the girl’s rash looked like.
Each beginning starts badly – falling over a tree root while on the way to the cabin and badly scraping her hands and knees, having to make up a top bunk, being in a cabin with five other girls who are already friends, not passing the swimming test and discovering that the only thing she likes at the dining hall is salad (minus the tomatoes) and roll (two’s the limit). Every new thing is not quite what Eleanor expects even the fruit punch has a disgusting name that makes it undrinkable. Bug Juice? Who’d want to drink that? All Eleanor wants it have one of her dad’s juicy burgers with ketchup, but nothing at Camp Wallumwahpuck is like that.
Everything is like Bug Juice on a Burger and Eleanor just wishes to go home. She sticks it out and you’ll be glad she did. She makes it all way until pick up day when she can show her parents all the places she has been and the things she has done. There’s not a reader who won’t related to Eleanor’s struggles and disappointments. Her concerns and fears are eloquently real – she puts words to thing most of us only think. Her accomplishments, no matter how small or large, will be celebrated and cheered.
C.S. Lewis said, “We read to find ourselves.” Bug Juice on a Burger is a perfect book for that. Eleanor is a great book friend to have. This is a perfect companion to Like Pickle Juice on a Cookie. I hope to read more.
While Eleanor and her mom are packing, Eleanor gets a little nervous – who wouldn’t. She wonders what it will be like to be so far from home. She wonders what it will be like to miss her parents too much. The next day when they drive to the pick up spot Eleanor sees how happy all the seasoned campers are to see each other and find out if they are together again in a cabin. They are happy and hugging while Eleanor is alone. First Eleanor finds out she is in cabin “Gypsy Moth.” Gypsy Moth? Aren’t they ugly? Next she meets very tall, very thin Joplin. She’d been to camp before so that was helpful, but she has an odd way with people.
“Do you eat chocolate?”
“Sure,” I said.
I waited for her to offer me some.
Because why else would she have asked?
But instead she said,
“Good.
A girl in my cabin last year said it gave her a rash.
I never liked her.”
“Oh,” I said.
We were quiet for a second.
I wondered what the girl’s rash looked like.
Each beginning starts badly – falling over a tree root while on the way to the cabin and badly scraping her hands and knees, having to make up a top bunk, being in a cabin with five other girls who are already friends, not passing the swimming test and discovering that the only thing she likes at the dining hall is salad (minus the tomatoes) and roll (two’s the limit). Every new thing is not quite what Eleanor expects even the fruit punch has a disgusting name that makes it undrinkable. Bug Juice? Who’d want to drink that? All Eleanor wants it have one of her dad’s juicy burgers with ketchup, but nothing at Camp Wallumwahpuck is like that.
Everything is like Bug Juice on a Burger and Eleanor just wishes to go home. She sticks it out and you’ll be glad she did. She makes it all way until pick up day when she can show her parents all the places she has been and the things she has done. There’s not a reader who won’t related to Eleanor’s struggles and disappointments. Her concerns and fears are eloquently real – she puts words to thing most of us only think. Her accomplishments, no matter how small or large, will be celebrated and cheered.
C.S. Lewis said, “We read to find ourselves.” Bug Juice on a Burger is a perfect book for that. Eleanor is a great book friend to have. This is a perfect companion to Like Pickle Juice on a Cookie. I hope to read more.
December 19, 2016
This short novel in verse is the sequel to Like Pickle Juice on a Cookie. Eleanor, now fully adjusted to life with a new babysitter, has been given an unexpected treat by her grandmother - the opportunity to go to sleep-away camp at Camp Wallamwahpuck, where her mother went as a little girl. Eleanor has heard from her friend Katie that camp is all about eating candy, riding horses, and jumping on a floating trampoline, so it comes as a bit of a shock when her camp experience is somewhat different. The food is gross, and candy is forbidden. There is a floating trampoline, but Eleanor has to wear a life jacket if she wants to go anywhere near it. Even nighttime sounds upset Eleanor. All she wants is to go home! But through her friendship with a girl named Joplin, and her connection to a goat she has secretly named Cornelius, Eleanor learns that though she might not love camp, maybe she can still make the best of it.
Like the first book about Eleanor, this story focuses on the complicated emotions kids sometimes experience in new situations. Though it might sound like Eleanor is a pessimist, the story is not a depressing meditation on the woes of going to camp. Rather, it is an exploration of healthy ways to handle unfamiliar and uncomfortable situations. Especially noteworthy is the way the adults in Eleanor's life take her feelings seriously, but also give her little boosts of encouragement to help her get through the difficulties she faces at camp. Kids are comforted when they know they have supportive adults to turn to, and this book is a great reminder that kids are never alone with their feelings of frustration or confusion, and that there is usually something to be gained from every new experience, no matter how unpleasant it seems.
Julie Sternberg does a nice job of getting inside the nine-year-old mind. The passages describing Eleanor's humiliation about being in the lowest swimming category of anyone in her cabin reminded me of similar experiences from my own summer as a nine-year-old camper who could not swim. Sternberg understands how little things can seem big to a child, and her story manages to validate the feelings of kids in those situations, and to provide advice on how best to survive them.
Though it is a sequel, Like Bug Juice on a Burger will stands on its own. Nervous new campers who sympathize with Eleanor might also enjoy Justin Case: Shells, Smells, and the Horrible Flip-Flops of Doom by Rachel Vail and Alvin Ho: Allergic to Camping, Hiking, and Other Natural Disasters by Lenore Look. Eleanor is also sure to become a new friend to readers who love Clementine. Like Bug Juice on a Burger is a great follow-up to Like Pickle Juice on a Cookie, and I hope we'll see Eleanor conquer more of her fears in future stories!
Like the first book about Eleanor, this story focuses on the complicated emotions kids sometimes experience in new situations. Though it might sound like Eleanor is a pessimist, the story is not a depressing meditation on the woes of going to camp. Rather, it is an exploration of healthy ways to handle unfamiliar and uncomfortable situations. Especially noteworthy is the way the adults in Eleanor's life take her feelings seriously, but also give her little boosts of encouragement to help her get through the difficulties she faces at camp. Kids are comforted when they know they have supportive adults to turn to, and this book is a great reminder that kids are never alone with their feelings of frustration or confusion, and that there is usually something to be gained from every new experience, no matter how unpleasant it seems.
Julie Sternberg does a nice job of getting inside the nine-year-old mind. The passages describing Eleanor's humiliation about being in the lowest swimming category of anyone in her cabin reminded me of similar experiences from my own summer as a nine-year-old camper who could not swim. Sternberg understands how little things can seem big to a child, and her story manages to validate the feelings of kids in those situations, and to provide advice on how best to survive them.
Though it is a sequel, Like Bug Juice on a Burger will stands on its own. Nervous new campers who sympathize with Eleanor might also enjoy Justin Case: Shells, Smells, and the Horrible Flip-Flops of Doom by Rachel Vail and Alvin Ho: Allergic to Camping, Hiking, and Other Natural Disasters by Lenore Look. Eleanor is also sure to become a new friend to readers who love Clementine. Like Bug Juice on a Burger is a great follow-up to Like Pickle Juice on a Cookie, and I hope we'll see Eleanor conquer more of her fears in future stories!
July 18, 2013
Ahhh the memories of summer camp! The good times, bad times and I can't wait for next year .... or never again are you sending me there mom and dad...I'm not going sentiments.... are verbalized.
If your kids haven't experienced the squirrely packing, the missing home syndrome, the why am I here disease and I can't believe I just accomplished that bug, then this book will be a treat for you to share with them and I assure you the conversations regarding summer camping will begin....
Eleanor, a nine-year old is off to summer camp compliments of her grandmother Sadie. She will attend for a whole ten days and she is happy to know that it is the same camp that her mother, long ago went to named Camp Wallumwahpuck. At camp she can ride horses, jump on a floating trampoline, swim to her heart's content, learn to dive and always be eating M&M's....sounds like so much fun. Every day will be a new adventure and she will meet many new friends that are like-minded and will want to be her friend forever.
As the time gets closer to leave Eleanor worry sets in. What will it be like to be so far away from home? Will she miss her parents too much and not have any fun? These and other questions plague her and she is not too sure she wants to go now.
On arrival Eleanor sees that the alumni are happy and bonded which makes her feel isolated and all alone. Not good. She falls over a root on the way to her cabin scraping her hands and knees...ouch...not good. She is assigned the top bunk which she finds hard to put together...not good. The other five girls in her cabin are already best friends, she fails her swimming test which lands her in the "kiddie" swim group, she discovers that spiders are in the bathroom and the only food she will eat are salads and rolls washed down by Bug Juice.... REALLY not good. Almost immediately she hates camp and writes a letter home begging to be picked up.
She sums up the camp experience by saying it is like Bug Juice on a Burger. She hangs in bless her heart, and by the end of camp when her parents arrive to pick her up she is able to show them her accomplishments and be a living testimony to them that she did indeed survive her mother' s summer camp.
The story is written in short simple sentences and the text is accessible to young readers. It is a tender hearted story written in free verse that any child who has ever struggled with being away from home can identify with and understand. The illustrations are detailed, cartoonish and really carry the text and flavour of camp along. I love the colour pallet, it is bold and funky and portrays summer perfectly.
If your kids haven't experienced the squirrely packing, the missing home syndrome, the why am I here disease and I can't believe I just accomplished that bug, then this book will be a treat for you to share with them and I assure you the conversations regarding summer camping will begin....
Eleanor, a nine-year old is off to summer camp compliments of her grandmother Sadie. She will attend for a whole ten days and she is happy to know that it is the same camp that her mother, long ago went to named Camp Wallumwahpuck. At camp she can ride horses, jump on a floating trampoline, swim to her heart's content, learn to dive and always be eating M&M's....sounds like so much fun. Every day will be a new adventure and she will meet many new friends that are like-minded and will want to be her friend forever.
As the time gets closer to leave Eleanor worry sets in. What will it be like to be so far away from home? Will she miss her parents too much and not have any fun? These and other questions plague her and she is not too sure she wants to go now.
On arrival Eleanor sees that the alumni are happy and bonded which makes her feel isolated and all alone. Not good. She falls over a root on the way to her cabin scraping her hands and knees...ouch...not good. She is assigned the top bunk which she finds hard to put together...not good. The other five girls in her cabin are already best friends, she fails her swimming test which lands her in the "kiddie" swim group, she discovers that spiders are in the bathroom and the only food she will eat are salads and rolls washed down by Bug Juice.... REALLY not good. Almost immediately she hates camp and writes a letter home begging to be picked up.
She sums up the camp experience by saying it is like Bug Juice on a Burger. She hangs in bless her heart, and by the end of camp when her parents arrive to pick her up she is able to show them her accomplishments and be a living testimony to them that she did indeed survive her mother' s summer camp.
The story is written in short simple sentences and the text is accessible to young readers. It is a tender hearted story written in free verse that any child who has ever struggled with being away from home can identify with and understand. The illustrations are detailed, cartoonish and really carry the text and flavour of camp along. I love the colour pallet, it is bold and funky and portrays summer perfectly.
March 5, 2013
Like Bug Juice On A Burger is a delightfully fun and entertaining read from author Julie Sternberg. I quickly devoured this middle-grade book and am hungry for more stories about Eleanor and more of Sternberg's work!
Nine year old Eleanor is excited when her grandmother surprises her with a two week trip to Camp Wallumwahpuck, the camp Eleanor's mother attended as a girl. But Eleanor quickly begins to doubt the trip as she gets nervous about being away from home. And when she arrives at camp, she finds it isn't exactly what she thought it would be. Bugs, less than appetizing food, and dreaded swim class are what she finds instead. But Eleanor decides to really give camp a try and finds that maybe it isn't so bad afterall.
Julie Sternberg has created a plucky and unforgettable character in Eleanor and her free-verse writing style is refreshingly unique. I really enjoyed this simple, but laugh-out-loud funny and endearing story and I think readers of all ages will find it immensely amusing and entertaining as well.
You don't often see free-verse in middle-grade, but Sternberg's writing style and voice are pitch-perfect for her intended audience. I loved the natural flow of the free-verse and how well it fits the story. Eleanor's adventures and misadventures at camp are equal parts funny, touching, and thoughtful, and always believable. Sternberg creates realistic situations that young readers will relate to and understand.
I love Eleanor and her honest, curious personality. She has a plucky spirit and a wonderfully observational wit. And boy did I feel for this girl! Her first few disastrous days at camp reminded me so much of my first few days of summer camp when I was a child *cringes *. I too took a less than graceful tumble on the first day of camp, found myself terribly homesick, and hated swim lessons. But Eleanor really makes the best of her situation and sets out to make sure her entire camp experience isn't ruined. And with the help of some new friends, a goat, and a trampoline, she ends up having a lot of fun.
Matthew Cordell's simple but charming illustrations are the perfect companion to Eleanor's story and I really loved them.
MY FINAL THOUGHTS: Like Bug Juice On A Burger is a wonderfully fun, amusing, and well written book. Sternberg's charming free-verse writing style and her awesome main character will delight readers of all ages.
Nine year old Eleanor is excited when her grandmother surprises her with a two week trip to Camp Wallumwahpuck, the camp Eleanor's mother attended as a girl. But Eleanor quickly begins to doubt the trip as she gets nervous about being away from home. And when she arrives at camp, she finds it isn't exactly what she thought it would be. Bugs, less than appetizing food, and dreaded swim class are what she finds instead. But Eleanor decides to really give camp a try and finds that maybe it isn't so bad afterall.
Julie Sternberg has created a plucky and unforgettable character in Eleanor and her free-verse writing style is refreshingly unique. I really enjoyed this simple, but laugh-out-loud funny and endearing story and I think readers of all ages will find it immensely amusing and entertaining as well.
You don't often see free-verse in middle-grade, but Sternberg's writing style and voice are pitch-perfect for her intended audience. I loved the natural flow of the free-verse and how well it fits the story. Eleanor's adventures and misadventures at camp are equal parts funny, touching, and thoughtful, and always believable. Sternberg creates realistic situations that young readers will relate to and understand.
I love Eleanor and her honest, curious personality. She has a plucky spirit and a wonderfully observational wit. And boy did I feel for this girl! Her first few disastrous days at camp reminded me so much of my first few days of summer camp when I was a child *cringes *. I too took a less than graceful tumble on the first day of camp, found myself terribly homesick, and hated swim lessons. But Eleanor really makes the best of her situation and sets out to make sure her entire camp experience isn't ruined. And with the help of some new friends, a goat, and a trampoline, she ends up having a lot of fun.
Matthew Cordell's simple but charming illustrations are the perfect companion to Eleanor's story and I really loved them.
MY FINAL THOUGHTS: Like Bug Juice On A Burger is a wonderfully fun, amusing, and well written book. Sternberg's charming free-verse writing style and her awesome main character will delight readers of all ages.
September 11, 2016
Review copy from Netgalley
I am always happy to find early chapter books that are fun and engaging. Like Bug Juice on a Burger is a great book for those early readers who want to start chapter books, but are still intimidated by lots of words on the page. There is a lot of white space on these pages. The addition of Matthew Cordell's refreshing illustrations also keeps this chapter book entertaining and friendly during a transition from picture books.
Whether children have experienced summer camp or not, this is a book that most can connect with as all children have dealt with fear of new situations. Eleanor runs into difficulties, but nothing that she truly can't handle. She rises up to meet the challenges in spite of her fears.
I did wonder about the formatting of the text. There are no traditional paragraphs, but there are breaks and many short lines. I thought that the author may have chosen to avoid paragraphing for easy reading. It truly did not seem like it was written in verse though the text was sometimes lyrical. Because I was wondering about the formatting and whether or not it was a novel in verse, I was happy to find this interview from the International Reading Association. The book is not exactly a novel in verse, though some refer to it that way, but I believe that the formatting she used, definitely benefits struggling and beginning readers.
For anyone looking to stock up on early chapter books, this is definitely something to purchase. It would make a nice read aloud in primary classes and would be great for reading alone when students are venturing into the chapter book realm.
**There is an Activity Kit available through Julie's website
Review posted at http://readingtl.blogspot.com/2013/12...
I am always happy to find early chapter books that are fun and engaging. Like Bug Juice on a Burger is a great book for those early readers who want to start chapter books, but are still intimidated by lots of words on the page. There is a lot of white space on these pages. The addition of Matthew Cordell's refreshing illustrations also keeps this chapter book entertaining and friendly during a transition from picture books.
Whether children have experienced summer camp or not, this is a book that most can connect with as all children have dealt with fear of new situations. Eleanor runs into difficulties, but nothing that she truly can't handle. She rises up to meet the challenges in spite of her fears.
I did wonder about the formatting of the text. There are no traditional paragraphs, but there are breaks and many short lines. I thought that the author may have chosen to avoid paragraphing for easy reading. It truly did not seem like it was written in verse though the text was sometimes lyrical. Because I was wondering about the formatting and whether or not it was a novel in verse, I was happy to find this interview from the International Reading Association. The book is not exactly a novel in verse, though some refer to it that way, but I believe that the formatting she used, definitely benefits struggling and beginning readers.
For anyone looking to stock up on early chapter books, this is definitely something to purchase. It would make a nice read aloud in primary classes and would be great for reading alone when students are venturing into the chapter book realm.
**There is an Activity Kit available through Julie's website
Review posted at http://readingtl.blogspot.com/2013/12...
December 3, 2019
This book definitely brought back memories! I loved the idea of summer camp and many of the activities, but I hated the bugs and the food and the changing in front of other people. There are many times when I was away that I just wanted to go home; however, there were things that saved me- specifically, like Eleanor, the animals. I loved working in the barn with the horses and it is what saved me and then got me going back year after year. I remember walking into the barn and being able to be part of these horses' lives and the scene where Eleanor meets Cornelius the goat brought me right back to that moment.
This book would be a wonderful read aloud for right before summer because even if students are not going to summer camp, there is probably something new and scary that they will try this summer and this book will definitely cause discussion about how something new may be scary, but that doesn't mean you won't like it eventually. Julie Sternberg's writing also lends itself to some amazing discussions about free verse poetry and, in this one, letter writing. Maybe use the letter writing part of the book to segue into writing a letter to next year's class.
Finally, I love the idea of the Wall of Feelings! The Wall of Feelings is where the campers put up how they feel about camp; however, Eleanor is given the job of writing about how she used to feel about camp and then how she feels about camp now. What a great way for students to express themselves! This would be a great formative assessment for looking at how students feel about reading or school or some other topic at the beginning of the year vs. the end.
This book would be a wonderful read aloud for right before summer because even if students are not going to summer camp, there is probably something new and scary that they will try this summer and this book will definitely cause discussion about how something new may be scary, but that doesn't mean you won't like it eventually. Julie Sternberg's writing also lends itself to some amazing discussions about free verse poetry and, in this one, letter writing. Maybe use the letter writing part of the book to segue into writing a letter to next year's class.
Finally, I love the idea of the Wall of Feelings! The Wall of Feelings is where the campers put up how they feel about camp; however, Eleanor is given the job of writing about how she used to feel about camp and then how she feels about camp now. What a great way for students to express themselves! This would be a great formative assessment for looking at how students feel about reading or school or some other topic at the beginning of the year vs. the end.
March 14, 2013
Just as Like Pickle Juice on a Cookie gave us a glimpse at a child's separation anxiety with faced with losing her favorite babysitter, Like Bug Juice on a Burger gives us all the nerves, trauma, and yes, some of the fun, of your first time at sleepaway camp. Eleanor thinks she'll love camp, because her mother did, but when she arrives at Camp Wallumwahpuck, she realizes she hates it. I mean, really hates it. Almost immediately, she writes home begging to be picked up. While waiting to be rescued, Eleanor suffers the indignity of being placed in a "kiddie" swim group, spiders in the bathroom and nothing good to eat but salads with tomatoes (yuck!) and croutons (yay!).
Like Bug Juice on a Burger is a tender-hearted little tome, written in (very) free verse that any kid who has ever spent a night away from home can understand. Eleanor is a relatable everygirl who displays complex emotions and real heart. A very solid second outing.
Like Bug Juice on a Burger is a tender-hearted little tome, written in (very) free verse that any kid who has ever spent a night away from home can understand. Eleanor is a relatable everygirl who displays complex emotions and real heart. A very solid second outing.
July 10, 2013
Like Bug Juice on a Burger by Julie Sternberg, illustrated by Matthew Cordell
Amulet Books, 2013 (Provided by publisher for review)
Novel in Verse/Realistic Fiction
166 pages
Recommended for grades 2-4
If you teach grades 2-4 this is pretty much a must for your classroom library! With short, simple sentences this text will be accessible to young readers. Written at a reading level that seems comparable to Magic Tree House books, but feels so much more sophisticated and authentic to the "kid experience."
If you've ever been to summer camp you can relate in one way or another to Eleanor. I myself have some loathsome memories of a certain YMCA camp in Boothbay Harbor, Maine. I'm sure this is a fine, fine camp. However, when you are from out of town, don't know anyone, play tennis for beans and are deathly afraid of dock spiders...well let's just say camp feels less than fine to that girl. I could be Eleanor, I felt her experience that well. At the end of the school year I had a student mentioning multiple times how much she hated summer camp because of the BUGS. I get it, I truly get it. And, I can't wait to hand this book to that girl in September!
I also made sure to buy Like Pickel Juice on a Cookie, which came out in 2011, and which I did not know about until I fell in love with this little bit of a story.
Amulet Books, 2013 (Provided by publisher for review)
Novel in Verse/Realistic Fiction
166 pages
Recommended for grades 2-4
If you teach grades 2-4 this is pretty much a must for your classroom library! With short, simple sentences this text will be accessible to young readers. Written at a reading level that seems comparable to Magic Tree House books, but feels so much more sophisticated and authentic to the "kid experience."
If you've ever been to summer camp you can relate in one way or another to Eleanor. I myself have some loathsome memories of a certain YMCA camp in Boothbay Harbor, Maine. I'm sure this is a fine, fine camp. However, when you are from out of town, don't know anyone, play tennis for beans and are deathly afraid of dock spiders...well let's just say camp feels less than fine to that girl. I could be Eleanor, I felt her experience that well. At the end of the school year I had a student mentioning multiple times how much she hated summer camp because of the BUGS. I get it, I truly get it. And, I can't wait to hand this book to that girl in September!
I also made sure to buy Like Pickel Juice on a Cookie, which came out in 2011, and which I did not know about until I fell in love with this little bit of a story.
April 11, 2013
Nine-year-old Eleanor is thrilled when her grandmother sends her to Camp Wallumwahpuck for ten days. Since her mother remembers her camping days there fondly, Eleanor is sure she will also have great fun. But going to camp is not the same experience for her, either because the camp itself has changed or because Eleanor reacts differently to its challenges than her mother. Her cabin mates already know each other from previous years, the food is terrible, and bugs plague her. She can't wait to go home. Eventually, though, she finds things that she enjoys and experiences a series of small triumphs, leading her to realize that she, too, can survive camp with the help of supportive new friends like Joplin. As in the earlier title introducing Eleanor, Like Pickle Juice on a Cookie, the voice of the main character rings true even while serving as a great example of learning to make the best of unpalatable situations. If my own experiences with camp hold true for Eleanor, her second time attending camp will be even better. Young readers will smile at her frantic attempts to swim and her affection for the camp's goat. The simple line illustrations add to the enjoyment, of course. I hope the author plans to add more titles following Eleanor's adventures.
May 28, 2015
This is a story about a girl named Eleanor who has never been to camp. Eleanor's grandmother sends her to Camp Wallumwahpuck for the summer. When she first arrives, she is very homesick and doesn't like any of the camp food. Also, there are spider webs near her bed in the cabin, which make her very uncomfortable. To make matters worse, she is placed in the "baby" swim group because she can't swim. Later, Eleanor begins to make friends at camp and even learns to swim. Through several ups and downs, Eleanor discovers that camp isn't so bad after all. In the end, she enjoys her time at camp more than she thought she would, but is happy to see her family again at the end of the summer.
Although I don't typically enjoy poetry books, this novel in verse was better than I expected. The readers can relate to Eleanor's character because most have probably experienced some of the same fears that she faced like being away from her family and sleeping in an unfamiliar environment. Also, Eleanor is able to persevere and make camp an overall positive experience. This novel in verse is an okay book to read if you are looking for an easy to read, funny book that explores the adventures of what a true summer camp looks like.
Although I don't typically enjoy poetry books, this novel in verse was better than I expected. The readers can relate to Eleanor's character because most have probably experienced some of the same fears that she faced like being away from her family and sleeping in an unfamiliar environment. Also, Eleanor is able to persevere and make camp an overall positive experience. This novel in verse is an okay book to read if you are looking for an easy to read, funny book that explores the adventures of what a true summer camp looks like.
January 8, 2013
This book is the sequel to Like Pickle Juice on a Cookie and I hope there will be more to come. In this story, Eleanor is off to sleepover summer camp. The trip was a gift from her grandmother. Eleanor will be carrying on a family tradition as her mother attended, and loved, the same camp when she was young. Eleanor thought it sounded like a good idea, but when the time to leave draws near, she begins to have doubts about leaving her parents. As soon as she arrives at Camp Wallumwahpuk, she starts to try to find a way to get home. Many things go wrong for Eleanor at camp. She hates the food, her bed is uncomfortable, and she is the only one in her cabin that has to wear a life jacket (which she calls a diaper) to the water trampoline. However, she also meets her new friend, Joplin, who is a camp veteran. Perhaps, with Joplin's help, she might be able to tolerate camp after all.
I really enjoyed first-person narration of this story. The reader can really see what Eleanor is feeling and thinking. I also love Matthew Cordell's illustrations. I think children in grades 2-4 will enjoy this book.
I really enjoyed first-person narration of this story. The reader can really see what Eleanor is feeling and thinking. I also love Matthew Cordell's illustrations. I think children in grades 2-4 will enjoy this book.
April 7, 2015
Julie Sternberg's sequel to Like Pickle Juice on a Cookie follows a young Eleanor through many up's and down's of her forced, first camp experience.
In family tradition, Eleanor is sent to Camp Wallunmwahpuck one summer by her grandmother. While the thought was exciting, reality set in. Once at camp, Eleanor realized that things were not going to go as smoothly as they seemed. She had no friends there, the food was disgusting, she was homesick, she couldn't swim to save her life and to top it off, there were bugs...EVERYWHERE! Through KISS (Keep it Simple Stupid) styled verse, Sternberg was able to captivate her readers and make them feel Eleanor's emotions every step of her journey.
This book would be best used in a classroom library for grades 2-5. I believe that the age gap doesn't matter because the content should be relatable and easily understood by students in these grades. Students will gain an understanding on things not being what they seem and how to make the best out of every situation.
Tags - Camp, Bugs, Nasty Food, Family, Friends, Swimming, Problem Solving
Pages - 176
Genre - Fiction
In family tradition, Eleanor is sent to Camp Wallunmwahpuck one summer by her grandmother. While the thought was exciting, reality set in. Once at camp, Eleanor realized that things were not going to go as smoothly as they seemed. She had no friends there, the food was disgusting, she was homesick, she couldn't swim to save her life and to top it off, there were bugs...EVERYWHERE! Through KISS (Keep it Simple Stupid) styled verse, Sternberg was able to captivate her readers and make them feel Eleanor's emotions every step of her journey.
This book would be best used in a classroom library for grades 2-5. I believe that the age gap doesn't matter because the content should be relatable and easily understood by students in these grades. Students will gain an understanding on things not being what they seem and how to make the best out of every situation.
Tags - Camp, Bugs, Nasty Food, Family, Friends, Swimming, Problem Solving
Pages - 176
Genre - Fiction
February 12, 2013
This book is so cute and well illustrated I hated to see it end. The main character is a little girl who is about to go off to her first camp and spend some time away from her mom and dad.
I think any child could identify with this character's feelings and uncertainty over what will happen to her while she is away from home. The story is laced with humor and fun illustrations, making it a pleasure to read. On top of that, what a great title!
This book teaches kids about friendship, growing up and how to express themselves and meet new people in an entertaining way. The relationship between the main character and her family was another thing that made me enjoy this book. Her mother, grandmother and father are all supportive of her and treat her with respect. In turn, the girl is respectful also and gets her greatest wish by the end of the story.
I would recommend this book to any parent or grandparent. Even younger kids would more than likely enjoy this story.
This review is based on a digital copy from the publisher.
I think any child could identify with this character's feelings and uncertainty over what will happen to her while she is away from home. The story is laced with humor and fun illustrations, making it a pleasure to read. On top of that, what a great title!
This book teaches kids about friendship, growing up and how to express themselves and meet new people in an entertaining way. The relationship between the main character and her family was another thing that made me enjoy this book. Her mother, grandmother and father are all supportive of her and treat her with respect. In turn, the girl is respectful also and gets her greatest wish by the end of the story.
I would recommend this book to any parent or grandparent. Even younger kids would more than likely enjoy this story.
This review is based on a digital copy from the publisher.
April 9, 2013
I admit I am not the biggest poetry fan and I'm always a little bit cautious when I read novels that are written in verse because it takes a talented writer to be able to pull it off. Being able to write in enough detail while still keeping a nice rhythm takes skill. Julie Sternberg pulls it off nicely in Like Bug Juice on a Burger.
Eleanor finds herself in a situation she has no idea how to handle. While her mother loved summer camp, Eleanor finds little to like and soon finds herself writing home with a plea to be picked up. But as she adjusts she realizes that there are some good things and while she isn't likely to ever love camp, she did have some fun after all.
I have to say this book brought back my own camp experiences with a vengeance both the good and the bad. Luckily, I always had people I knew around me so it wasn't as bad as Eleanor's experiences and in fact I always had a blast. I'm grateful for authors like Sternberg who can create stories and characters that it is so easy to relate to. Recommended.
Eleanor finds herself in a situation she has no idea how to handle. While her mother loved summer camp, Eleanor finds little to like and soon finds herself writing home with a plea to be picked up. But as she adjusts she realizes that there are some good things and while she isn't likely to ever love camp, she did have some fun after all.
I have to say this book brought back my own camp experiences with a vengeance both the good and the bad. Luckily, I always had people I knew around me so it wasn't as bad as Eleanor's experiences and in fact I always had a blast. I'm grateful for authors like Sternberg who can create stories and characters that it is so easy to relate to. Recommended.
June 28, 2013
I admit I am not the biggest poetry fan and I'm always a little bit cautious when I read novels that are written in verse because it takes a talented writer to be able to pull it off. Being able to write enough detail while still keeping a nice rhythm takes skill. Julie Sternberg pulls it off nicely in Like Bug Juice on a Burger.
Eleanor finds herself in a situation she has no idea how to handle. While her mother loved summer camp, Eleanor finds little to like and soon finds herself writing home with a plea to be picked up. But as she adjusts she realizes that there are some good things and while she isn't likely to ever love camp, she did have some fun after all.
I have to say this book brought back my own camp experiences with a vengeance both the good and the bad. Luckily, I always had people I knew around me so it wasn't as bad as Eleanor's experiences and in fact I always had a blast. I'm grateful for authors like Sternberg who can create stories and characters that it is so easy to relate to. Recommended.
Eleanor finds herself in a situation she has no idea how to handle. While her mother loved summer camp, Eleanor finds little to like and soon finds herself writing home with a plea to be picked up. But as she adjusts she realizes that there are some good things and while she isn't likely to ever love camp, she did have some fun after all.
I have to say this book brought back my own camp experiences with a vengeance both the good and the bad. Luckily, I always had people I knew around me so it wasn't as bad as Eleanor's experiences and in fact I always had a blast. I'm grateful for authors like Sternberg who can create stories and characters that it is so easy to relate to. Recommended.
October 17, 2013
Like Bug Juice On A Burger by Julie Sternberg, illustrations by Matthew Cordell - Realistic Fiction/Novel in Verse, 2nd grade and up – I love coming back to visit Eleanor in a another book after Like Pickle Juice on a Cookie. This time she’s headed to camp and has precious experiences that I actually identified with- joining up with a group that knew one another before, not swimming well, bug bites, not-so-enticing food, and more… but how she rises to the occasion and grows is what I loved about this book. Terrific read aloud for spring time with students. I especially appreciated when she had to write what she thought about camp twice, once for her perspective at the beginning of camp and then also after being there for a while… would be a good writing prompt for children. Example: we began learning kickball this week, write how you feel about the rules, being on a team, etc… then return after three weeks to the prompt again to have the student reflect on how they’ve grown. Great book. Fantastic simple text that makes me call it a novel in verse.
April 6, 2015
"Like Bug Juice on a Burger" is a Monarch Nominee written by Julie Sternberg and illustrated by Matthew Cordell. A second installment in a series of three chapter books, The main character being Eleanor is off to Summer Camp where she finds out what camp is really all about. At camp Wallumwahpuck Elenor find herself hating everysecond: the bugs, the food, the activities. One activity she finds to be the worst is swim class. During her time at camp she triumphs over all the obstacles that come her way and realizes that camp is not as bad as she had thought. I really enjoyed the way this novel was written. The short choppy lines made the reading really flow along, straight to the point, much like Eleanor. The small feats that she was able to surpass leave room for interpretation for children. The illustrations in the book were not intricate but really helped move the story along. I'd recommend this to second-fourth graders because although it is a chapter book the reading level was fairly easy. I give this book a four out of five stars. (176 pages)
July 27, 2017
I'm a sucker for a series. In this installment, Eleanor is going to carry on the family tradition of attending camp at Camp Wallumwahpuck just like her mother did. At first, she is excited about the adventure, picturing snacks of M&Ms, puffy sleeping bags, and quaint white cabins. However, camp isn't quite what she expected. I could relate to this book, as I wasn't a big fan of camp as a child. A good title to share with kids to share the lesson that things that start out tough can end up more positive in the end.
October 15, 2018
Eleanor is off to the same summer camp her mom went to, Camp Wallumwahpuck. At first, she's thrilled with the idea of camp. But when she arrives, she discovers all kinds of not-so-fun surprises: food she doesn't like, a weird bunkmate, and having to participate in activities she's not that great at. As time passes, though, Eleanor learns a few lessons: it's important to try new things, what once seemed weird can be really cool, and, most of all, you don't have to love everything you try to do. You just have to survive it.
November 18, 2013
Sweet little follow up to Like Pickle Juice on a Cookie. Eleanor is pretty sure she will not like camp but is going to give it a try. I can relate to her apprehensions, the wall of feelings is a great idea. May need a happy Kleenex for the ending. Looking forward to Eleanor's next adventure.
July 26, 2015
This novel in verse is perfect to share with students during National Poetry Month in April. Many students will relate to Eleanor's difficulties at camp. Funny and cute at the same time this novel is sure to make a lot of readers smile and chuckle.
June 22, 2013
This book is For every girl that dreams of going to Sumer camp or has been. Eleanor experiences the dream of the idyllic camp experience based on her mom's stories and memories and then she arrives at camp. Perfect summer reading for elementary school girls.
July 2, 2013
Very cute follow up book. I loved how Eleanor tried to make the best of camp and realized that while it wasn't always the best, or the most fun thing to do in the world, sleepover camp could be fun if you gave it a chance.
August 7, 2013
This book reacquaints us with Eleanor from the story LIKE PICKLE JUICE ON A COOKIE! This time Eleanor gets to go to summer camp like her mother. Read this book to find out the surprises Eleanor experiences!
September 15, 2013
Great novel written in verse. What's worse than bug juice on a burger? Wonderful story to start the summer or use as a back to school read aloud to launch a discussion about summer camp. Read Eleanor's other stories in Julie Sternberg's first book called Like Pickle Juice on a Cookie.
March 3, 2014
Enjoyable story for young readers, aimed primarily at girls, but I didn't get the format at all. The verse format didn't seem to suit the story or the actual text, and I don't think kids will get that at all.
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