The engaging sister-and-brother duo from the highly acclaimed Stella & Roy are back for a second outing that will delight young readers. This time Stella and Roy are camping with their mother, and Roy really hopes to see a bear. Every time he thinks he sees bear tracks, new reader Stella is pleased to say, Wrong, Roy, and to look in her book of animal tracks for ones that match the prints. There are coyote tracks and marmot tracks and raccoon tracks and lots of other animal tracks -- but, to Roy's chagrin, no bear tracks.At night, however, things change. Lying awake in his sleeping bag, Roy hears a clunking, rolling sound. Could it be the black plastic bear barrel, into which all leftovers have been tightly shut? Who or what is out there?Ashley Wolff's high-spirited story gives equal weight to the pleasures of reading that Stella has recently discovered and to the rewards of persistence that younger brother Roy enjoys. Wolff's distinctive hand-tinted linocuts beautifully render the splendors of an outdoor hike, as well as the spookiness of a shadowed night. Readers will enjoy identifying tracks along with Stella and Roy, and they will thrill with Roy when he glimpses the nighttime visitor.
I read this book to my integrated preschool class, most of whom have never been camping. It was a nice realistic introduction to camping with vivid illustrations and characters that the children could relate to(previously I had only been able to find camping books whose main characters were nonhuman.) The camping experience in the story is true to life, touching on many details including making a safe campfire and even putting food in a bear proof containter. The story is interesting enough and the sibling ..
Ever go camping? Stella and Roy and their mother won't forget this trek. Young readers won't either. This charming book will invite you and your youngster back again, over and over all through the year, to search out the wildlife hidden long the trail. Although set in Yosemite, the story can easily be translated into where you live. Talking over the family's last summer adventure and anticipating the next one will be the natural outcome of sharing this amusing tale of sibling interaction.
This is one of the few realistic and up-to-date books I've read to my six-year-old son about going camping. In addition, it has great illustrations and a surprise ending to keep children interested. My son can relate to it because he has gone backpacking with us.Mother and backpacker
