LITTLE HOO GOES CAMPING

The owl family is going camping for vacation. Though Little Hoo’s parents are reassuring, the owlet (who clutches a stuffed owl under a wing) meets each new experience with trepidation (some rightfully so: carsickness). While it may be grating to adults reading aloud, the repetitive nature of the text (“What’s wrong?...Don’t worry…”) aids little listeners who are learning story patterns, giving them opportunities to chime in and guess what’s coming next. “What’s wrong, Little Hoo? Are you feeling hungry? / Don’t worry, Little Hoo. It’s time to make a fire and roast some dinner.” Little Hoo’s hooded eyes in this illustration may have readers guessing that his next worry is the dinner menu; a page turn proves them right (though readers may have a hard time distinguishing the hot dog Little Hoo eyes suspiciously, as it is similar in color to the owlet’s torso). Ponnay hits all the camping staples: setting up the tent, fear of the dark (inexplicably, these owls sleep at night and need flashlights), toasted marshmallows (that get Little Hoo sticky), and scary noises. But when it’s finally time to leave the next morning (quick trip!), Little Hoo is reluctant, finally enjoying camping. Simple illustrations keep the focus on Little Hoo’s new experiences, though young children may be confused when characters repeat on spreads, separated by only the gutter.

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