Postcards from Camp
by Simms Taback

     This funny book brought back memories of a popular song from my childhood which started with the lines “Hello Muddah, Hello Faddah, here I am at Camp Grenada.”  The main character of this picture book, Michael Stevens, has to attend summer camp at Camp Woodlands. Michael begins the dialogue with a note to his father saying he will go because his dad wants him to, but he knows he won’t like it. The story is told through amusing postcards and letters exchanged by Michael and his father, in which Michael details the horrors of summer camp. The first post card contains a drawing of a one-eyed, 8-limbed alien who Michael claims is his counselor. It also contains a desperate plea from Michael for his father to come and rescue him. Not to be outdone, Michael’s father responds with a post card detailing the horrors of  hot, crowded New York City, and encourages Michael to enjoy camp because it will get better once he makes new friends. The back and forth post card conversations throughout the book, show that his father’s predictions were accurate: by the end of summer camp, Michael has made new friends, had a great time, and can’t wait to come back next year.

   I had a great time reading this book, and think that kids and adults will both be entertained by reading it. The pictures of the hand-made post cards are bright and colorful. Interactive features such as the fold-out supply list and actual envelopes with removable letters make this story even more interesting to the reader. Simms Taback is both the author and illustrator of this funny book. He has illustrated and at times authored many other children’s books. His repertoire of awards includes I Know an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly for which he won a Caldecott Honor Award Medal and a New York Times Best Illustrated Children's Book.

Book Jacket source: barnesandnoble.com

Click here to view book trailer.