Gone Camping Read online

  Contents

  * * *

  Title Page

  Contents

  Copyright

  Dedication

  Provisioning

  Packing List

  Going Camping

  Nighttime Critters

  Shake Awake

  Change of Plans

  A Trick

  Super Duper

  Good to Go

  Be Brave, Lucy

  Grandpa—Pros and Cons

  The Woods Ahead

  Camp Ahoy

  Tent Pitching

  The Walls of Our Tent

  If a Critter Creeps In

  Sleeping Bag Charm

  Follow the Trail

  Bait Catchers

  How to Build a Bonfire

  Song of the Beanie Weenie Barbecue

  Rules for Eating S’mores

  Forest Glow

  Twinkle, Twinkle, Mighty Mars

  Dousing the Fire

  By Lantern Light

  Stick Together

  Bedtime Blessing

  To Noises in the Night

  Opposite of Creepy

  Tent Mates

  Beware

  Woodland Midnight Band

  Bedtime in the Forest

  Goodbye, Last Night

  Shadows Can’t Grab

  Wake-Up Call

  Fishing Frenzy!

  Fishing Skills

  Shore Breakfast

  Race to the Lake

  Cannon Ball!

  Tear Down

  My Favorite Parts of Camping

  Provisioning for Poetry

  Poetry Techniques

  Poetic Forms and Stanza Patterns

  Sample Chapter from GONE FISHING

  Buy the Book

  Middle Grade Mania!

  About the Author

  About the Illustrator

  Copyright © 2017 by Tamera Wissinger

  Illustrations copyright © 2017 by Matthew Cordell

  All rights reserved. For information about permission to reproduce selections from this book, write to [email protected] or to Permissions, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company, 3 Park Avenue, 19th Floor, New York, New York 10016.

  www.hmhco.com

  The Library of Congress has cataloged the print edition as follows:

  Names: Wissinger, Tamera Will, author.

  Title: Gone camping / by Tamera Will Wissinger.

  Description: Boston : Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, [2017] | Summary: “Camping is fun. Until it’s time to sleep. Then, Lucy wonders, what kinds of creatures lurk in the dark? With only her brother and grandpa as tent mates, will Lucy be able to face her camping fears? Includes a variety of poetic forms—from aubade to haiku—as well as writing tips about rhyme and rhythm.”—Provided by publisher. | Includes bibliographical references.

  Identifiers: LCCN 2016014201 | ISBN 9780544638730 (hardcover) Subjects: | CYAC: Novels in verse. | Camping—Fiction. | Nature—Fiction. | Brothers and sisters—Fiction. | Grandfathers—Fiction. | BISAC: JUVENILE FICTION / Stories in Verse. | JUVENILE FICTION / Sports & Recreation / Camping & Outdoor Activities. | JUVENILE FICTION / Family / Multigenerational. | JUVENILE FICTION / Family / Siblings. | JUVENILE FICTION / Nature & the Natural World / Environment.

  Classification: LCC PZ7.5.W57 Gm 2017 | DDC [Fic]—dc23 LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2016014201

  eISBN 978-1-328-69500-0

  v1.0317

  For Pete, who listens to my writing dreams and helps me make them come true. With love, T.W.W.

  To Romy and Dean, my very own Lucy and Sam. M.C.

  Sam

  Provisioning

  Tercet Variation

  Late night.

  House bright.

  Everybody packs tonight.

  Summer: Here.

  Trip: Near.

  Mom and Lucy check our gear.

  Map out.

  Plan our route.

  Dad named me chief camp scout.

  One more

  Final chore.

  Duffel mountain near the door.

  Next day.

  No delay.

  Campsite: We are on our way!

  Lucy

  Packing List

  List Poem

  √ Tent

  √ Poles

  √ Stakes

  √ Hammer

  √ Rope

  √ Grill kit

  √ Food

  √ Bucket

  √ Soap

  √ Sleeping bags

  √ Canoe

  √ Canteen

  √ Lantern

  √ Duffel bags

  √ Sunscreen

  √ Fishing gear

  √ First-aid kit

  √ Four campers

  √ One car

  √ Tight fit

  Sam and Lucy

  Going Camping

  Dramatic Poem for Two

  Sam

  Lucy

  We’ll set up camp,

  Go hiking,

  Catch our bait.

  We’ll build a blazing fire,

  Stay up late.

  We’ll cool off by the lake.

  We’ll barbecue.

  We’ll fish with Mom and Dad

  In our canoe.

  Tomorrow’s almost here.

  Hooray!

  Hooray!

  We’re going camping in a day!

  Lucy

  Nighttime Critters

  Confessional Poem

  Camping in the tent sounds fun—

  Until it’s time to sleep.

  That’s when nighttime critters chatter,

  Shadows twist and creep.

  The tent is one big room

  Without a single place to hide,

  But Mom and Dad will save us

  If a critter crawls inside.

  Sam and Lucy

  Shake Awake

  Dramatic Poem for Two

  Sam

  Lucy

  Jump UP! Shake awake.

  Let’s head to the lake.

  We’re ready to go.

  No time to be slow.

  The sun’s about to rise.

  We made breakfast, too—

  Surprise!

  Surprise!

  Dad, Lucy, and Sam

  Change of Plans

  Dramatic Poem for Three

  Dad

  Lucy

  Sam

  Hachoo! Hachoo!

  What’s that? A sneeze?

  Hachoo! Hachoo!

  Ha-CHOO!

  Who’s sneezing—

  Is it allergies?

  Hachoo! Hachoo!

  It’s be, kids.

  I’b too sick to camp.

  I deed to stay id bed.

  Bob will stay with be

  Ad Gramp

  will go with you idstead.

  Lucy

  A Trick

  Lament

  This must be a trick.

  Dad is never ever sick.

  The tent, no Mom? No fair!

  We won’t be safe without her there.

  Say it isn’t true.

  We won’t go camping without you two.

  Sam

  Super Duper

  Cinquain

  Although

  Dad didn’t mean

  to be—turns out he’s a

  super duper camping party

  pooper.

  Grandpa

  Good to Go

  Counting Poem

  One. Two.

  So much to do.

  Where’d I leave my other shoe?

  Three. Four.

  Behind the door.

  They’ve never asked me to camp before.

  Five. Six.

  F
iddlesticks!

  I’m almost out of candy mix.

  Seven. Eight.

  I’m running late.

  I don’t want to make them wait.

  Nine. Ten.

  I’m done—amen.

  I’m good to go, kids; just say when!

  Lucy

  Be Brave, Lucy

  Confidence Poem

  I really wanted Mom along—

  I’d feel safer with her nearby.

  But leaving Dad alone is wrong.

  Be brave, Lucy—

  At least you can try.

  Sam

  Grandpa—Pros and Cons

  Fourteener

  I don’t think Grandpa’s ever fished, canoed, or camped before.

  He putters, owns a radio, and rarely goes outdoors.

  But Grandpa’s funny, shares his candy, drives, can barbecue.

  Maybe we’ll still have fun without Mom, Dad, or the canoe?

  Lucy

  The Woods Ahead

  Rondelet

  In the woods ahead

  Branches and shadows reach everywhere.

  In the woods ahead

  How will I ever go to bed?

  Who knows what creatures lurk in there.

  Could be raccoons, or fox, or bear

  In the woods ahead.

  Sam

  Camp Ahoy

  Couplets

  Look! The campground Welcome sign.

  Water—see it shimmer-shine?

  Our campsite’s just around the bend.

  Take this road to the very end.

  Let’s park and we’ll unload our gear.

  Camp ahoy—yippee! We’re here.

  Sam

  Tent Pitching

  How-To Poem

  Choose a site that’s flat and high.

  Over here it’s smooth and dry.

  Stand the poles straight base to top.

  Careful, Gramp—don’t let it flop.

  Grip the stakes, pound them tight.

  Good job, Lucy. Use your might.

  Tie the flaps open wide,

  Scrunch down low, crawl inside.

  Our tent stands strong by an old oak tree.

  A sturdy canvas cave for three.

  Lucy

  The Walls of Our Tent

  Quatrain

  During the day the tent is bright.

  How dark will it get tonight?

  The walls of our tent are flimsy-thin.

  Could something wild wiggle right in?

  Lucy

  If a Critter Creeps In

  What-If Poem

  What if a snake slithers up from the shore?

  What if a mudpuppy slips through our door?

  What if a bat flutters onto my nose?

  What if a crawdaddy pinches my toes?

  What if a field mouse nips at my ear?

  What if a smelly skunk sprays in here?

  What if I freeze ’cause I’m too scared to shout?

  If a critter creeps in—

  What if I can’t get out?

  Lucy

  Sleeping Bag Charm

  Charm Poem

  Sleeping bag, sleeping bag,

  Soft and snug.

  Sleeping bag, sleeping bag,

  Like a hug.

  Sleeping bag—be my

  Safe cocoon.

  Sleeping bag, sleeping bag,

  See you soon.

  Sam and Lucy

  Follow the Trail

  Rondel

  Sam

  Lucy

  One by one let’s follow the trail.

  Hike—Two—Three—Four.

  Down to the lake—we’re going to explore.

  Hurdle the puddle and tiny snail.

  Under the thicket—a covey of quail

  Scratch for seeds on the forest floor.

  One by one let’s follow the trail.

  Hike—Two—Three—Four.

  Nesting beaver flaps her tail.

  Osprey searches, plunges, soars.

  Camp is this way—around the shore.

  Bye, little boat with the puffy sail.

  One by one let’s follow the trail.

  Hike—Two—Three—Four.

  Hike—Two—Three—Four.

  Sam

  Bait Catchers

  How-To Poem

  Everybody take a jar.

  We’re losing daylight—there’s a star.

  Look for different kinds of bugs,

  Spiders, worms, or even slugs.

  They’ll scatter if we hesitate.

  Go quickly, team: Let’s catch our bait.

  Sam

  How to Build a Bonfire

  Narrative Poem

  Set

  Stones in a circle

  On clean open ground. Scatter

  Sticks, tiny twigs in the round. Lay long-

  Legged logs like a great pyramid. Tuck leaves

  In layers by the twigs. Strike a match on a stone, wake a

  Single small spark. Light leaves, stand back: eclipse the dark.

  Lucy

  Song of the Beanie Weenie Barbecue

  Chant

  Queenie, queenie: boil the beanies,

  Fire, burn and roast the weenies.

  Sliced-up bits of footlong dogs,

  In the cauldron on these logs;

  Eye of onion, ketchup squirt,

  Dark brown sugar, mustard spurt,

  Stir the pot of beans and pork,

  Taste it with a camping spork.

  For a gruel of powerful beanies,

  In the cauldron roast the weenies.

  Queenie, queenie: boil the beanies,

  Fire, burn and roast the weenies.

  Cool it till there’s no more bubble,

  Come and get it—on the double!

  Sam

  Rules for Eating S’mores

  Limerick

  Eating s’mores is a blast, but it’s tricky.

  S’mores won’t let you be tidy or picky.

  You can slurp, chomp, or lick,

  Nibble slow, gobble quick.

  Makes no difference—you’re going to get sticky.

  Lucy

  Forest Glow

  Haiku

  Let the fire burn.

  Let it brighten to the moon.

  Darkness came too soon.

  Lucy

  Twinkle, Twinkle, Mighty Mars

  Wish Poem

  Twinkle, Twinkle, Mighty Mars,

  In the sky among the stars.

  Ruby planet, bold and bright,

  Here’s my wish this camping night:

  Let me be alert and strong.

  And keep the bears where they belong.

  Sam

  Dousing the Fire

  Concrete Poem

  Water Trickles, Dribbles, Drizzles, Hisses,

  Sputters, Crackles, Sizzles. Fire

  Withers, Weakens,

  fizzles.

  Lucy

  By Lantern Light

  Free Verse Poem

  The trail to the washroom seems