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Camping Is a Terrible Idea

Cammie likes routines. She likes schedules. She likes things to happen on time and when she expects them. She likes order in her city life, her classroom, and at home with her family. When life is predictable, it is perfect. Then one day her father says that he has planned a weekend camping trip for their family. Camping? Oh no! Camping means messes and mishaps. Camping means chaos and calamity. No, no, no, Dad, warns Cammie. Camping is a terrible idea!

But her father doesn’t change his mind and off they go. And sure enough, camping is chaos. There are trees with roots that trip, pesky biting mosquitoes, and campfire smoke that blows in one’s face. Cammie wants to go home. But, as it turns out, Mother Nature has her own set of rhythms and routines, from sunrises and sunsets to ocean tides rolling in and out. There are calming nighttime sounds and reassuring orderly patterns in the night sky. Will Cammie find out that perhaps camping isn’t as terrible as she expected?

Format List Price Your Price Qty
On pre-order until 04/15/2026 $18.99 $18.99
On pre-order until 04/15/2026 $30.99 $30.99
Interest Level Kindergarten - Grade 3
Reading Level Grade 1
Dewey
Lexile 580L
ATOS Reading Level
Guided Reading Level K
Publisher Sleeping Bear Press
Language English
Available Formats Hardcover (9781534113442), PDF (9781668972113), ePub (9781668971994), Hosted ebook (9781668972236)
Copyright 2026
Number of Pages 32
Dimensions 9 x 11
Graphics Full-color illustrations

Author: Kirsten Pendreigh

Kirsten Pendreigh is a poet and children’s author who lives on Canada’s West Coast. Kirsten owns several green pets, including a rambunctious Stephanotis floribunda, which perfumes her whole house when it blooms! To learn more about Kirsten’s writing, visit her at kirstenpendreigh.com and say hello!

Illustrator: Tiffany Everett

Tiffany Everett thinks camping is always a great idea. She’s camped through storms, freezing temps, wildfires, bear sightings, and mosquito invasions—and still believes every trip is worth it. After all, the worst camping trips often make for the best stories. Around camp, you can find her drawing, birding, cooking over the fire, snapping wildlife photos, or playing video games on her handheld. She lives in Auburn, Alabama.

Author/Illustrator biography
Contributor Note
Educational front/back matter
Note to parents and educators
Original artwork
Full-color illustrations