Picture Book #16

Title:  Pictures from Our Vacation

Author:  Lynne Rae Perkins

Illustrator: Lynn Rae Perkins

Genre:  Children's Fiction 

Subgenre:  Youth Realistic Fiction

Themes:  vacations, family reunions, family relationships, photography, photo albums, adventures, maps

Primary and Secondary Characters: little girl, her brother, mother, father, grandparents, cousins and Aunt Charlotte

Awards:  ALA Notable Children's Book

Date of Publication:  2007

Publishing Company:  Greenwillow Books

Summary:

A family is getting ready to go on a vacation and the mother hands her two children cameras.  They are excited that they will be able to scrap book their pictures from the vacation.  Their vacation spot is their grandparent's farm that feels "so far away."  Once they arrive, their father is reminded of all his childhood memories.  The children are excited to play and begin their vacation.  They play badminton, but it begins to rain.  Much to their dismay, they are forced to be cooped up in their grandparent's house.  They use their creativity and draw, play cards and read.  They agree that it's not feeling like a vacation.  Once the rain passes, their mother suggests that they all go swimming.  Excitedly, the children get dressed and they adventure out to go swimming.  Their father remembers a short cut, but they can't find the lake to swim at.  After searching up and down, they finally arrive at the lake.  They go on the dock to get ready to cannonball into the water, when suddenly, it begins to rain again.  They are so tired of rain!  However, the next day, the rain passes and ironically, it's a beautiful sunny day!  A family reunion was scheduled for that day, and the children cherish their time with their cousins.  The next day, it's time for them to go back home.  Looking back at the pictures the little girl and brother took, there weren't too many that told a story about their vacation.  Instead, they both agree that the best memories are kept in their minds!

How it will be used in the classroom:
This would be a great book to break the ice with on the first day of school.  I think it opens the door to discussing what everyone did the summer before school started.  It would also be great to tie this into a journal writing entry.  The students could write in their journals about their summer vacation or their favorite vacation.  I would like to use this book for grades 2-4.