Jennifer K. Mann

This is purely a guess, but I feel like there are a lot more books showing kids in urban or completely rural areas than there are showing kids in suburbs or small towns. And there really aren't many showing a typical camping trip. There especially aren't many showing kids of color in the outdoors. So I was on this book right away when I first heard of it.
Ernestine is very excited to go camping with her cousin Samantha and her aunt Jackie. She gets a sleeping bag and the other basic things show more she needs and they set off on a trip out of the city. With the car packed, they drive out of the city and set out on a long journey to Cedar Tree Campground. There they see trees, make their first attempt at putting up a tent, and Ernestine has her first experience of swimming in a lake, not a swimming pool. Ernestine also goes on her first hike and finds out it's a lot harder than walking on the sidewalk to school! The weekend goes on this way, with all sorts of new experiences, from finding a banana slug to eating tofu hot dogs. Ernestine has her first experience of sleeping outside (scary but wonderful) and finally conquers her fears of the lake. She says goodbye to her aunt and cousin and is reunited with her dad, happy to be home but already looking forward to going camping next year.

Ernestine and her family are all Black. She appears to live solely with her father while Samantha lives with her mother. She's a city kid and is definitely nervous about some of the new experiences she faces, but she's willing to try and her cousin and aunt are kind and helpful, comforting and not pushing her as she tries new things.

The art is drawn mostly in panels, with some separate illustrations of supplies, Ernestine ready with her backpack, and other little vignettes. The art was drawn in pencil and then colored in digitally and collaged, giving a fun depth to the pictures, especially of the natural areas.

Verdict: This is a great book for kids who have never been camping before or those who want to revisit a fun family experience. It's long for a storytime read-aloud, but would be great to read with an elementary school class or one-on-one. It also fills a gap, showing warm family relationships and outdoor experiences in a Black family. Highly recommended.

ISBN: 9781536207361; Published April 2020 by Candlewick; Purchased for the library show less

What a lovely introduction to camping for the younger crowd! Appealing for its combination of text and graphic novel-style panels as well as lovely, full-page natural area illustrations with newsprint backgrounds. The fun starts with the endpapers where line drawings of camping gear are arrayed in neat rows, from skillet to sleeping bag and binoculars to playing cards. Ernestine, who lives in the city with her Dad, is eager for her very first camping trip. She packs from a list her Aunt show more Jackie sends and makes trail mix with Dad. When she leaves her apartment, she hopes "Dad doesn't miss me too much." At first, Ernestine is timid of swimming in the pond, so unlike the Y pool, and isn't sure about Tofu hot dogs and broccoli salad. But she loves the forest of cedars ("This is the biggest tree ever" as the three come nowhere near wrapping their arms around it) and exclaims over a banana slug (my kind of kid!). Aunt Jackie provides the perfect comfort for nighttime fears, taking Ernestine under the starry sky. Ernestine is hooked on camping, and so will readers be. show less

Ginger doesn't want to invite Lyla Browning to her birthday party: she's ... different. But Ginger's mom said she invited all the girls or none. Lyla is a curious soul and deep thinker and ultimately that rubs off on Ginger who finds it's not so bad to be different. While an oh-so-familiar theme, the treatment of the theme has a freshness here - and charming cartoon-like illustrations. A good class discussion book to address exclusion.

Ernestine is invited to join her Aunt Jackie and her cousin Samantha on a camping trip. She tells us, “I’ve never been camping before, but I know I will love it.” She then shows readers everything she is packing for her trip.

The girls have fun in the car on the way from the city to Cedar Tree Campground, but are excited to get to their destination:

“Finally, we’re here! It’s so quiet. And big. It smells like trees, and fire, and dirt.”

Ernestine discovers camping isn’t just show more non-stop fun however - as she had imagined - but involves a lot of work. They have to set up the tents and all their gear, and she gets some surprises for which she wasn’t prepared, like swimming with actual fish in the water! Hiking is harder than she thought too, but there are lots of rewards along the way.

At night, they make s’mores (recipe included) and read by flashlight before going to sleep. . . . or trying to go to sleep. Ernestine is hot, then cold, then scared, and misses her dad.

Aunt Jackie shows the girls the stars and they even see a shooting star and make a wish. Finally, Ernestine is ready to sleep.

The next day, Ernestine has overcome the newness and fear, and enjoys everything, even the hard work of packing up the car. She can’t wait to come back the next year!

When she gets back home, she and dad hug, and she says, “I think Dad missed me.” “Dad,” she asked him, “have you ever tried s’mores?”

In the back matter we learn that the author/illustrator spends a week each summer camping with her family and their friends. Much of what they do in real life is echoed by all that Ernestine and Samantha experience in the story.

The earth-tone dominant illustrations, which combine simple pencil line drawings with digital collage and painting, are adorable. Their simplicity, along with speech bubbles, are reminiscent of a comic book or graphic novel style, perfect for young readers. I especially loved how Mann depicted the process of traveling, and I always appreciate when an illustrator can accurately depict emotions, even when using so few lines.

Evaluation: In addition to being a good story full of humor and gentle ribbing, this book offers plenty of useful information about camping and hiking. show less