CAMPING IN THE TEMPLE OF THE SUN

A realistic story about the weekend experiences of a family of novice campers. After they buy an orange-and-yellow dome tent, Dad names it the ""Temple of the Sun""--ironically, it turns out: the weekend starts out wet. Still, though the ranger's program is rained out and changing the baby in a clamp tent is a challenge, Jeannie makes friends with an older girl in a nearby camper, and the nature museum is fun. Best, the sun finally comes out in time for a taste of swimming, hiking, and toasting marshmallows under the stars. The events are simple, but the believable dialogue and well-chosen details bring this family and their cheerful coping with minor adversity engagingly to life--as do Paterson's fluid, impressionistic watercolors.