A ROOM WITH A VIEW

Young Oliver is reluctantly pulled into yet another camping trip.

“C’mon, bud! It’s time for an adventure!” Mama’s enthusiastic call has Oliver quaking. Though he dons a helmet and head lamp and packs water bottles, a walkie-talkie, and an umbrella, “nothing quite prepares him for this highway that stretches farther than forever.” True, Oliver enjoys some aspects of camping—pitching a tent is “a teensy bit fun,” as is a game of hide-and-seek on the trail—but they are overshadowed by frightening dark nights and tiring hikes. Nevertheless, Mama greets every new scene with the same refrain: “Now this is a room with a view!” Oliver’s grievances mount: the “spaghettiblackbeanbroccolihamburgermeatmush” that Mama serves at meals, unpredictable weather, and an impromptu haircut—the result of a s’more mishap. He dreams of never having “to go places or do things again,” but soon he begins reflecting on the moments he does enjoy: “car-ride concerts and epic dance battles,” as well as Marshmallow Roasting Championships. Ho’s narrative unfolds naturally as she crafts a convincing portrait of a less-than-outdoorsy youngster who nevertheless finds joys all around him—and in being with his mother. Teeming with wildlife and other fun details, Mesquita’s strikingly colored illustrations, richly textured with splatters and deft use of shadows and composition, fill every inch of the page. Oliver and Mama are brown-haired and tan-skinned.

A heartfelt and family-oriented call to the wild.