Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

In this spirited verse tribute to the joys of camping, five little ducks (also starring in Duck Skates and Duck Dunks) pitch their tents in the backyard and embark on an evening of outdoor recreation. First they go fishing, albeit with limited success, then they roast marshmallows over a campfire ("Outside crispy, inside sticky,/ Chewy, gooey, finger-licky"), until finally it's time to tuck in for the night. Night-time noises keep the ducks awake, but when they collectively opt to ditch their solo tents and bunk up together, the problem is solved and they drift off to sleep. Berry's text is witty and playful, with descriptive details anchoring the simple narrative. The rhyming lines have a zesty cadence that nearly begs to be chanted aloud, and the lively verses pair perfectly with Nakata's ebullient watercolor illustrations. The art makes particularly good use of light and shadow, using them to indicate the movement of the sun through the day and casting an orange glow on the faces of the ducks as they sit fireside, and there is a warm domesticity in the friendship-focused scenes. This would be an excellent introduction to camping for the wary, as it describes many of the key elements while gently addressing the potentially scary parts.