The Bathing Costume: Or the Worst Vacation of My Life

It's summer vacation and this year, instead of sticking with Mom, it's all about visiting grandparents and having new experiences.

The book's protagonist is Michel, an eight-year-old Parisian boy. His brother Martin, who's twelve, detests him, and he detests Martin right back. This summer, Michel will go away alone, which really means without his mom, to stay with his grandparents while his parents move apartments. To add to the horror, Michel's older boy cousins will be going, too. As Michel says, "To put it simply, they are big, strong, and pals with Martin. I am their scapegoat." Recounted by Michel himself, his vacation doesn't turn out to be such a complete zero after all. Between a competition to see who can shower the least, wild bike rides without gear, and a tooth that finally falls out, Michel discovers both independence and real moments of happiness.

The text is both very funny and moving, with good reason, for we see an eight-year-old's vacation with his grandparents and older cousins through his own eyes, with all of the little things that are important to a boy of eight: the dumb things that he'll never tell his mom; the small triumphs; the disregard and mocking of the older cousins; the shame of having a bathing suit that slips off in the pool; the freedom of being away from home; and the satisfaction of overcoming fears. As always, Olivier Tallec's illustrations render all the emotions of our little hero with an enormous amount of expressiveness, talent, and sheer gorgeousness.

Gr 1-3–Eight-year-old Myron is sent to spend a week in the country with his grandparents while his parents prepare for a move. This is his first vacation without his mother.  He is dreading the separation and is a little afraid of his Grandpa and his bigger, stronger cousins. To make matters worse, this is the summer he is expected to fulfill the family tradition of jumping off the 10-foot diving board. Myron is sure he's not ready, especially since he's using his older brother's swimsuit, which is too big and certain to come off when he jumps. His evolution from timid Mama's boy to a more confident and independent kid feels genuine. By the end of the week, Myron has gained the respect of his cousins, overcome his fear of his grandfather, jumped off the high dive, and, most importantly, forgotten about missing his mother. Though the text is somewhat lengthy, the translation is smooth and the narrative is broken down into daily vignettes that can be read as short chapters. Expressive illustrations have a sunny summer feel and are full of humor and appealing details. For children who have nervously anticipated their first independent trip, this book not only acknowledges the anxiety, but also gently and realistically demonstrates that being on your own can turn out to be fun.–Teri Markson, Los Angeles Public Libraryα(c) Copyright 2013. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.