When We Go Camping

by Margriet Ruurs, Andrew Kiss (Illustrator)

In this beautifully illustrated book, one busy family finds lots to do from sun up to sunset. At the campsite, there’s wood to chop for the fire and fish to catch. And there’s lots of time to explore, climb rocks, splash in the lake, and discover animals in the shadows of the woods. As afternoon turns to evening, supper needs to be made, and just before bed, stories are told around the campfire.

When We Go Camping is as instructional as it is delightful. Each painting highlights the tracks of one animal, which curve from the text into the illustration. Readers can turn to the glossary for more details about the wildlife depicted on each page.

When We Go Camping is a perfect way to preserve summer memories all year long.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Animals, Nature, Adventure, Realistic Fiction

32 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2001

About the author

Margriet Ruurs is the author of more than 40 children's books, many of them award winners.
Margriet lives on Salt Spring Island where she runs BETWEEN THE COVERS, a booklovers' B & B (see: http://www.betweenthecoversbandb.com/)
She writes regular book reviews of YA and picturebooks here: http://margrietruurs.blogspot.ca/

Margriet visits schools around the world to conduct dynamic author presentations, slideshows of the writing process and poetry writing workshops for students and teachers. She also speaks at many literary conferences each year.
Margriet has a Master of Education degree from Simon Fraser University.

She also conducts school talks via Skype.

For more details visit her website and blog: www.margrietruurs.com
Join her Facebook Fan page here: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Margrie...

Reviews

[FM Family · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a nice one for getting pumped in a calm way about camping. A few weird illustrative details though - first off on the cover it seems like they are sleeping in a tent with no bottom, just a cover over grass, which I have never seen before and really you wouldn't have grass like that on a wilderness campsite. So that was just a weird detail. Then there was this thing of including hidden animals throughout each spread which was only sort of effective. Often they went unnoticed and then sometimes it was like - wait, why does this tree look like...an otter?

But good for a youngish kid to talk and think about the kinds of things you'd do when camping, my 4 year old who likes rich illustrations enjoyed it

[Natasha · Rating 3 out of 5]

Looks very much like my memories of the Rocky Mountains. Lots of hidden animals on each page, with interesting extra facts at the end.

[Bonnie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful illustrations!

[Krista · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book wonderfully captures the beauty of camping,
exploring and living life outside.

[milk book · Rating 5 out of 5]

When We Go Camping is a nerve-calming book about a family going camping….the cold and calm of the morning, the slip of a canoe on a still lake, the chickadee song and chatter of a squirrel, the slow explore, swimming, cooking food on a fire, and the face-warming and mind-emptying stare of a night blaze. The pictures are rich and realistic oil paintings that give the book depth and make it a book that keeps giving. It can be read through as a story, or you can spend time really looking at each page. On each page there is a squirrel to be found, but children and adults alike will particularly enjoy finding the hidden animals worked into the painting, almost like a magic eye auto stereogram. We didn’t begin to notice them until a third reading. Each page also features animal tracks that can be identified. The glossary at the back provides a key of the animals and tracks on each page with additional information. The book is a realistic portrayal of camping (although lacking the bugs found in many parts), and shows responsible camping procedures such as hoisting food, wearing life jackets, and identifying correct berries to eat. The author also includes a foreword on the joys and responsibilities of camping.

[Vivian · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great illustrations, slim story -- but good to use as a "talk about" book, whether you're in front of a group or snuggled in a chair with a child or two. Possible questions-- "what do you see", or "I spy with my little eye something red" -- that sort of thing, depending on the age and interest of the children. Children love chiming in with their own experiences and sometimes it's okay to just let them talk awhile.

This particular book concludes with information about the wildlife shown in the pictures. At this point you can thumb back through the book looking for the animals. If you've familiarized yourself with the list before sharing the book you might "wonder" aloud if you will see a moose, a deer, or a beaver (just three of the animals mentioned). You could also ask them BEFORE reading the book what animals and birds the children in the book might encounter. They will get to practice "predicting" , and not even realize they are exercising a literacy skill!

[Tricia · Rating 3 out of 5]

What a fun adventure---this title brings the sensation of camping right into the reader's lap starting with views from the tent and ending with campfire time. Tracks shown throughout the book are explained in the back with annotations regarding the animals represented.

[Kathleen Garber · Rating 4 out of 5]

You can read my review here.

[Brenna Call · Rating 3 out of 5]

atmospheric with realistic illustrations

[Nikki · Rating 3 out of 5]

Love the illustrations!!!!

[MJ]

camping or adventure?

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great book to teach children what may happen when they go camping (hiking, seeing animals, tents, cooking, and roasting marshmallows). Great illustrations!

[Tim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful paintings. They show a day of camping with beautiful portrayals of light, scenery, animals. Each painted illustration also has a shadow of an animal in the scenery.

[Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love the realistic artwork. Story of a family camping. Great for read aloud for k or older. Would have terrific conversation starters. The setting looks like northern Minnesota or Canada with loons and moose. There is a guide to animal tracks at the back.