Webster and Arnold Go Camping

Webster and his big brother Arnold discover that camping out all night for the first time is a lot of fun, but also a little bit scary.

PreSchool-Grade 2 The third in Roche's series about mouse brothers Webster and Arnold . This one is literally a book about camping out, but fundamentally a subtle story of imaginary and real adventure. Anticipating their first backyard camp-out with great excitement and a little apprehension, Webster and Arnold pack ``only important things,'' don their pajamas and backpacks, and settle into their tent. Webster's ghost story frightens Arnold enough to make him return to the house for his ``ducky blanket'' and his mother. Mother mouse quietly lulls them to sleep with a story, and all is quiet until the boys hear a loud ``THUNK'' on the tent. Eventually, the boys fall asleep until daylight, when they return to the house exhausted, but exhilarated. Written as a picture book with brief chapters, Webster and Arnold Go Camping offers a humorous and sympathetic view of a single incident that represents a crucial experience of child developmentthe quest for independence. Roche conveys enormous respect for her young audience through understatement. Her prose reflects children's speech in a way that always speaks to them, but never down to them. Her delicate colored pencil drawings capture with humor and imagination the gamut of children's emotions. A wise and gentle book that beautifully intertwines the magic of storytelling with the power of real adventure. Pamela Miller Ness, The Fenn School, Concord, Mass.
Copyright 1988 Reed Business Information, Inc.

In the third Webster and Arnold book, the two mouse brothers are intent on camping in the backyard. Arnold, the eldest, is sure that Webster will be scared. "I guess you're not ready for a scary story," says Arnold. Webster surprises his brother by telling his own storya story about a ghost dog and a chicken. "Chickens aren't scary," says Arnold. "This chicken was tall as a tree . . . it had fiery eyes . . . and big, sharp, green toenails!" "Oh," says Arnold. "That kind of chicken." Mother comes out to check on them and tells them another story. This tender tale is really four stories in one that reaches its conclusion with both boys falling asleep in the morning light. Roche demonstrates her well-known storytelling gifts with warmth and empathy. The illustrations, done in soft, nocturnal pencil colors, are in perfect harmony with the text; this is a humorous adventure, faultlessly paced. Ages 3-8.
Copyright 1988 Reed Business Information, Inc.