Monk Camps Out

by Emily Arnold McCully

In a charmingly illustrated family tale, a young mouse decides to spend the night camping out alone in his backyard, but his parents have other ideas. By the creator of Mirette on the Highwire.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Family, Animals, Adventure

32 pages, Hardcover

First published April 1, 2000

About the author

Emily Arnold McCully received the Caldecott Medal for Mirette on the High Wire. The illustrator of more than 40 books for young readers, she divides her time between Chatham, New York, and New York City.

Reviews

[Erin · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a silly book about a young mouse who wants to camp out on his own in the backyard. His parents keep saying they're not going to help him and do anyway. Eventually, they decide to go outside to sleep with him at the same time he thinks about coming back inside. They use different doors, so they completely miss each other. So the parents slept in the tent outside while the young mouse slept in his mother's still warm chair.

Okay for preschool storytimes.

[Anthony · Rating 3 out of 5]

When Monk decides to camp out in the back yard all alone his parents agree to let him. But deep within they are both very nervous, and try not to show it. Monk says nothing bothers him, and the camp out alone is going well until the unexpected happens. This tale of the first steps of independence, and letting go is a familiar one, that everyone has or will experienced.

[Christine Grant · Rating 3 out of 5]

Camping Story Time. Monk camps out by himself for the first time. Parents are more worried than he is about his night in the backyard. Simple and sweet.

[TCNS]

2 copies available

[David H. · Rating 3 out of 5]

An amusing story of Monk the little mouse camping out in his backyard, but his parents get too nervous. I liked the amusing ending, though the text was a little hard to read in its font.

[Cyndie Courtney · Rating 4 out of 5]

A cute little book about a kid taking on a new adventure and facing their fears, while his parents face their own fears of letting him.

[Ellias · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mommy can't figure out exactly why I love this book so much. It's about a mouse who decides to camp out in his backyard and his worried parents. Maybe I like the tent, or the fact that he has a flashlight? There's a part when Monk comes back inside and his parents aren't there because they have gone outside to sleep near Monk's tent. He finds that "Mommy's chair was still warm" and climbs up to sleep in it. I like to say that line to Mommy, and make her get out of her chair so I can sit in it. :)

[Tricia · Rating 3 out of 5]

At first glance, not so impressed but once I was reading it, enjoyable. Monk decides to set up camp in the backyard...fun switcheroo in the middle of the night tickled the girls. May not be best group readaloud due to comic-dialogue during story.

[Jami · Rating 4 out of 5]

A cute story about the little ones first camping out in the backyard. Loved the last page.

[Jen]

This story reminds me of camping in the backyard with my friend's family. I can see a little bit of Monk in each of the three kids I camped out with.