Not just a random pic. This photo will make sense after you listen to our podcast, we promise.

“Summer camp.” The words conjure up images of s’mores and sing-alongs, lanyards and lakes, creepy mysteries and nightmare campers and dictator-like camp directors… Right? No? Well, then you probably haven’t read the stories in our latest podcast, all about summer camp books. But don’t worry — we’ve got happy camp experiences too, from square dancing to saltwater taffy to ice cream sundaes at night! So tune in for a final taste of summer, Kidsmomo-style:

  (14:15) 
Download the MP3 (13.7 MB)
• A bat in Bunk Five, a sleeping bag on the floor, and romance in the air — aka our mystery book revealed, and our own camp stories
• Greetings from camp; we’ve run away/solved a mystery/captured the flag! — aka our book picks and a review by YOU (Fat Camp Commandos,
• Boxcar Children: The Summer Camp Mystery, and American Girl: Molly Saves the Day)
• “We all scream for ice cream!” — aka kid-submitted camp story

Also, don’t forget: our new theme is books related to mythology! So send us a review of your favorite book related to mythology (from anywhere around the world) and check out our picks for marvelous mythology books.

— Karen and Nancy

Tell us about your most memorable summer camp experience.

I Like Ice Cream
Submitted by Hahaha me, Age 11 from Maine

I should have gotten the credit for discovering the hot chocolate machine in the dining hall, but I didn’t. Maybe that was a good thing, because later we were banned from drinking the hot chocolate at night, because apparently it had caffeine in it. Still, each morning I dutifully did my cabin chores to keep the place clean. Whichever cabin in each grade group got the most points for having a clean cabin got a prize the last night of camp. The last day, all of the girls were freaked out because we were…DUN DUN DON–tied with another cabin. Later, we found out we came out 1 point ahead of them! And the prize: I got to eat an ice cream sundae at 8:45 in the night because I was a clean freak! That is definitely a memorable camp memory: Victory, gloating and ice cream. Who cares about hot chocolate? I like ice cream.

Wouldn’t it be awesome if there really were a Camp Kidsmomo? The grounds would have tons of hammocks and climbing trees for everyone to read in, we’d hold frequent bonfires for sharing stories, and of course we’d serve lots of delicious snacks and ice cream based on books!

Alas, no such place exists, but a girl can dream, can’t she? And while I’m at it, why stop at just having regular campers — let’s invite our favorite kidlit characters to join us for the summer! And given their fame, of course we’ll make them the stars of the camp talent show, right?

Here’s my proposed program for the night:

• Harry Potter: Demonstration of defense against the dark arts
• Hermione Granger: Spontaneous generation of little birds
• Ron Weasley: Stand-up comedy
• Percy Jackson and Annabeth Chase: Sword fighting demonstration
• Greg Heffley and Rowley Jefferson: Improv routine
• Count Olaf: Tragic monologue
• Oompa Loompas: Musical finale — a huge singing-and-dancing number

Anyone else you’d like to see on stage? Leave a comment and let me know!

— Karen

If Karen were going to perform at Camp Kidsmomo’s talent night, she would do a tap dance routine. She actually took tap classes for years when she was a kid. Get ready for some time steps and buffaloes!

More about Karen »

Stage curtain photo courtesy of markhillary on Flickr, Creative Commons License

Submitted by Jenna, Age 11 from Maine

Rating:

This is a book in the Molly series of American Girl. It’s a good read, about when a girl named Molly goes to Summer camp with her two friends, Linda and Susan. My favorite part is when the girls are divided into two teams and they play capture the flag-it’s really funny! Sorry, I’m not going to tell you about it- you’re going to have to read it for yourself!

This book trailer for There’s a Bat in Bunk Five was originally the Mystery Book Theater video for our Summer Camp theme. For more on There’s a Bat in Bunk Five, check out our “Bug Juice” podcast.

You may not realize this, but first-time campers aren’t the only ones who get nervous about sleep-away camp. Counselors-In-Training are also newbies — and for the main character in Paula Danziger’s There’s a Bat in Bunk Five, there’s A LOT to learn…

Telling ghost stories around a bonfire, bonding over the awful food in the mess hall, sharing a bunk with your new best friend… Sleep-away camp can be the most wonderful experience of your childhood — OR NOT! At least, not for all the characters in these summer camp books.

BUT just because camp isn’t perfect, that doesn’t mean these guys can’t make the best of it! See how their away-from-home adventures unfold in these summer camp books (in no particular order):

1. Fat Camp Commandos by Daniel Pinkwater (Karen’s pick)
2. The Summer Camp Mystery (Boxcar Children series) by Gertrude Chandler Warner (Nancy’s pick)
3. Summer Camp Secrets series by Katy Grant
4. Summer Ball by Mike Lupica
5. Camp Confidential series by Melissa J. Morgan
6. Amelia’s Itchy-Twitchy, Lovey-Dovey Summer at Camp Mosquito by Marissa Moss
7. Help! I’m Trapped in the First Day of Summer Camp by Todd Strasser
8. Dilly’s Summer Camp Diary by Cynthia Copeland Lewis
9. Lunch Lady and the Summer Camp Shakedown by Jarrett J. Krosoczka
10. How I Survived My Summer Vacation by Bruce Coville
11. Letters from Camp by Kate Klise

If you’ve read any of these, send in your book review. Or send in a review of your favorite summer camp book.

UPDATE 8/17/10: We revealed the answer to our Summer Camp Mystery Book Theater in the “Bug Juice” Podcast, so take a listen if you want to know the answer. Or just tune in if you want to hear Nancy and Karen giggle over a stupid mispronunciation. We’re immature.