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by Julie Sternberg; Illustrated by Matthew Cordell
Harry N. Abrams (April 1, 2013)
Description from GoodReads: I hate camp. I just hate it. I wish I didn’t. But I do. Being here is worse than bug juice on a burger. Or homework on Thanksgiving. Or water seeping into my shoes. In this sequel to the critically acclaimed Like Pickle Juice on a Cookie, Eleanor is off to summer camp. At first she’s excited to carry on the family tradition at Camp Wallumwahpuck, but when she gets there she finds icky bugs, terrible food, and worst of all: swim class, where she just can’t seem to keep up with everyone else. But as the days go on, Eleanor realizes that even the most miserable situations can be full of special surprises and that growing up is full of belly flops.
My thoughts on the book:
Finding fun reads for 2nd to 4th graders can be difficult. Two years ago, I discovered Like Pickle Juice on a Cookie. It was a great read that was fun, but also had a wonderful story about dealing with and accepting change. When I discovered Like Bug Juice on a Burger, I was thrilled to have a sequel to the first book.
Ellie is back and this time she is going to summer camp. The same summer camp that her mother attended when she was a girl. Her initial excitement about camp soon fills with uncertainty. Yes, camp may be a family tradition, but it also has icky bugs, and terrible food, and the dreaded swim class.
Sternberg approaches first time camp experience with humor and sensitivity. Readers experience camp right along with Ellie. And as with the first book, Sternberg shows readers how they can learn and grow from their experiences.
If you haven't read Like Pickle Juice on a Cookie, I would highly recommend reading it along with Like Bug Juice on a Burger.
A Little Small Talk with Julie Sternberg - an interview video with Julie as she talks about her first book:
Check out the activity pages for both books on Julie Sternberg website.
