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 trade.permissions@hmhco.com 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