Summary: Rick doesn’t want to go to summer camp; his mom talks him into going. When he got to camp he was lonely, Consoler Kim helped Rick by showing him the lake and helping him swim. At lunch Rick was sad again so Kim talks to him at lunch and they become friends. Rick has a great week and can’t wait to go back next year.

Personal Reaction: I enjoyed how this boy is able to make a new friend even though he doesn’t want to talk with anyone. I am somewhat of an introvert myself, so I can relate.

Classroom Extensions: (1) Read this book at the beginning of the year, after reading it let the children write about their summer experience. (2) Use this book to introduce new words, such as vocabulary or spelling words. ( )

Summary:
The Night before Summer Camp is about a boy who does not want to go to summer camp. The next day came and the boy went to camp. When he got there he wasn’t having fun like the other kids, he was ready to go back home and he missed his mother. At lunch time he meets a counselor and she helps him cope with being there at camp and he begins to have fun.

Personal Reaction:
I liked this story, it rhymed to the story Twas the Night before Christmas. A lot of children go off to camp and become home sick.

Extension Ideas:
1.Students will be challenged to pack an invisible suitcase to make ready for camp. Students will share their list of everything they packed

2.Students will make s’mores for snack

The Night before Summer Camp by Natasha Wing
Illustrated by Mindy Pierce

Summary:
A little boy is very nervous to go to day camp. He gets up the nerve to go. He is doing all sorts of activities but is still sad. He ends up making friends with one of the counselors at camp. They share similar experiences about camp. After talking to her, he feels better about the whole situation. He is happy to have made a friend.

Personal Reaction: I didn’t really like this book. I don’t think the title goes with the contents of the book. I really just didn’t find it interesting at all. I think it could be good for kids that are trying new things or going new places.

Classroom Extension Ideas:
1. Have students tell stories about what happened when they went to camp (or somewhere new). What happened? Were they nervous? Did they meet new friends?
2. Have students draw a picture of their favorite activity at camp.

Summary:
This book is about a boy who goes to camp, but is really nervous about it because he won't know anyone. He goes and is pretty down and even wants to go home. He then finds out, by talking to his counselor, that this is her first time and she is just as nervous as he is. Finding out that he isn't the only one that be nervous, he feels more comfortable. She tells him that if he needs andything that she will be there to hold his hand. He goes home and pretty upset that camp is over, but is pretty happy because he is ready to go to camp next summer.
Reflection:
This book was very true in the fact that a kid is nervous about going to camp with kids he doesn't know. This book may help a lot of children with their problem and help them not be quite to nervous about new situations or meeting new people. This pictures were also very cute and fun to look at. they expressed what was going on pretty good.
1. This book could be read on the first day of school and the teacher may have to kids go around and meet their classmates.
2. The teacher could have the kids play games to introduce themselves and to meet the other kids in the classroom.

This is a story of a boy who is scared to go away to camp for the first time. Initially, he is homesick and he misses his mother. Then he ends up having fun and wanting to go back.

I remember how homesick I was when I went to Girl Scout camp. I used to cry and miss my mom terribly. This book should help children to understand that it is normal to be homesick, and you’re not going through it alone. I love the rhyming and rhythm to the story.

I would read this book at the end of the school year, when summer is about to begin, knowing that many students will be going to some kind of summer camp. We would discuss fears of being away from home, and I would have the children think of ways to cope with being homesick. I could also use this book along with a rhyming lesson, having the students point out which words rhyme.