A COUPLE OF BOYS Have the BEST WEEK EVER!

HARCOURT, INC. 2008

The holidays reminded me of the limitless joy kids often have when relegated to the care of their grandparents. The timing must have been right, because I heard a podcast about this, read short humor pieces, and heard a few personal stories in conversations. That's why I felt compelled to feature a throwback favorite, a Caldecott honor book from 2008. MARLA FRAZEE is the author/illustrator of A COUPLE OF BOYS Have the BEST WEEK EVER. Frazee has produced some most memorable picture books in her celebrated career, some of which I've featured HERE, HERE, and HERE.

This delightful offering was nearly true according to  back jacket flap copy from Frazee. With that note, the humor is even more of a treat. Some of it, I would have guessed. Grandmas tend to overfeed, grandpas are less carful than parents about filtering certain vocabulary, and a couple of boys of a certain age can be extremely creative in each others' company.

It's also true that summer nature camp may not be everything the could imagine, but that didn't eliminate their imaginations from producing an unforgettable week. Excess sugar. eager-to-please-elders, and a seacoast nearby provide ample images that blend cartoonish kids' antics and eyeballs with swirls of gorgeous seascapes.The fun narration is supplemented with speech bubble humor and delightful details in illustrations that kids will giggle about on every re-reading. 

An approach like this invites imitation, with young storytellers encouraged to depict times spent with friends and without parental presence. It could even provide practice in partners authoring/illustrating, each taking on one or the other perspective (adult or kids). It opens up discussion of point of view and alternate perspectives for older writers, too. This is a great throwback option, since I'm betting that these kids (who we've been told are real boys) will be talking about that summer week for years to come. Try it out now, pull it out during summer camp weeks, and any time when grandparents are offering to host the young ones for extended stays!

Whenever you choose to read (or reread) this picture book, prepare to smile!