When We Go Camping

Nikki Tate-Stratton writes novels for preteens; her latest books are
Jo’s Triumph; Jessa Be Nimble, Rebel Be Quick; Raven’s Revenge; and
Tarragon Island.

This picture book follows two children throughout a day of camping in a
quintessentially Canadian landscape. From the moment they wake up in the
chilly tent until the last story is told around the campfire, the
children’s time is filled with glimpses of wildlife and the many
simple pleasures (hiking, picking berries, fishing, cooking over an open
fire) typical of a day in the woods.

Ruurs is once again teamed up with Andrew Kiss (A Mountain Alphabet)
whose detailed oil paintings depict the many activities enjoyed by the
family. In addition to the flora and fauna featured in the
illustrations, Kiss has included hidden creatures on each page. Animal
tracks are discretely printed alongside the text and readers can match
these to examples listed in a glossary of tracks at the back of the
book. This legend also includes additional details about the animals
illustrated in the paintings. The result is a book to be enjoyed by a
range of ages and on more than one occasion.

Ruurs’s direct style is well suited to the simple story. Kiss’s
illustrations are both appealing and informative. Both author and
illustrator clearly respect the natural world and, through this
collaboration, share their appreciation with young readers. Recommended.