This was adorable. I’m not a fan of camping myself so I laughed along with the family as they encountered absolute chaos on their first camping trip. When they came upon a camping theme park, I thought it sounded like fun as well. No danger! No bugs, no bears, no creepy crawlies, no sleeping outside. But also, the family found, no adventure. So they decided that they would try again, it this time they would be better prepared and learn how to camp. And I think you’ll be delighted by how their next camping trip goes.

I received this book for free in exchange for my honest review.

‘Campingland’ by Ame Dyckman is a charming children's book that takes readers on a whimsical adventure in the great outdoors. It's a story filled with the excitement and wonders of camping, aimed at young readers who might be experiencing their first camping trip through the pages of this book.

Plot: ★★★☆☆

The plot is cute and straightforward, revolving around a family's camping adventure. While the storyline is sweet, it may feel a bit simple for some readers. However, it effectively captures the essence of camping and the small joys that come with it.

Character: ★★★☆☆

The characters, though adorable, are somewhat difficult to connect with on a deeper level. They serve their purpose in driving the story forward, but they lack the depth and development that would make them truly memorable.

Illustrations: ★★★★☆

The illustrations are the highlight of this book. They are vibrant, cute, and full of life, perfectly complementing the light-hearted nature of the story. The artwork does a fantastic job of bringing the camping experience to life, making it visually engaging for young readers.

Engagement: ★★★☆☆

Engagement was a bit lacking for me personally, but I can see how children, especially those who have never been camping, might find it more captivating. The story's simplicity and the colourful illustrations should hold their attention and spark their imagination.

Readability: ★★★★☆

The readability of ‘Campingland’ is great. The language is simple and accessible, making it easy for young readers to follow along. The book is well-paced, with a good balance of text and illustrations on each page.

Enjoyment: ★★★☆☆

While ‘Campingland’ wasn't the most enjoyable read for me, it has its charm. Young children are likely to enjoy the story and the delightful illustrations, especially if they have an interest in camping or outdoor adventures.


‘Campingland’ by Ame Dyckman is a charming children's book that offers a whimsical introduction to camping. Though the plot and characters might feel a bit simplistic, the vibrant illustrations and accessible language make it a delightful read for young children. It’s a good choice for parents looking to spark their child's interest in camping and outdoor adventures.

Campingland is about a family that wants to g9 camping but they are unprepared. Then they found Campingland, an indoor theme park, but it was boring. They finally want to go camping again as they feel more prepared and experienced. This book is a funny story for younger kids.

A sweet book about camping outside in nature and why it still beats being inside! I think this was very cute and I loved the illustrations and the message it sent to kids! -- Esp nowadays with so many electronics being so accessible.

Ame Dyckman creates an amazing story filled with twists and turns. The characters are amazing. The visuals are fantastic. And I was not ready for the twist that comes near the end of the book! This is a great read for children between the ages of two and five. Storytime will never be the same after reading this adventurous tale.

Campingland was a book full of adorable illustrations. As someone who is NOT a fan of camping, this book is hilarious to me. Its very relatable and would be a fun introduction to comedy for children. This book shows the benefits of spending time in nature and preparation. I would have loved it to be longer with more depth to the story but the illustrations were a winner.

Such a cute and fun book! There was a clear, defined plot, an unexpected ending, colorful and interesting illustrations, and funny details in the dialogue. I was so entertained and invested through the entire story, and I had a lot of fun reading this book. It shows kids a little bit of problem-solving skills through a delightful camping story. On top of that, this camping story demonstrates the power and importance of family, especially when problems might arise. Lastly, the illustrations will make kids chuckle out loud, and the illustrator's attention to detail is spectacular and impressive. I have nothing bad to say about this book.
Bravo!

What a fun take on “indoor people” vs. “Outdoor people” A family takes a camping adventure and fails miserably. Around the corner is an alternative that makes them appreciate the joys of nature. Good characters, great pacing and length. Illustrations are excellent and really grab the reader. This is a title I will be bringing into my classroom as a writing prompt.

This was a cute book with a family trying their hand at camping and then learning a thing or two and trying again. The illustrations were really cute too.

Thanks NetGalley for this ARC

I read this with my four year old, as we have recently been camping, and she was able to relate it to her experiences. I think this is especially valuable in children’s books!

The camping theme was great, and showed that camping can often have challenges, but those challenges lead to fun times. I loved the ending - I did not see the twist coming!

The illustrations were bright and engaging. My daughter was immediately drawn to them. They supported the story well!

Overall, a fun book with a great message, perfect for Summer!

This brought back some memories of childhood camping trips for sure! The illustrations are very cute and colorful. This would make a great gift for a child in your life for sure!

Really enjoyed the direction they went with this! About halfway through I wasn't so sure about where it was heading, but it was a fun, and very cutely illustrated journey!

Is camping easy? Is it fun? Read this book to find out.
Absolutely fantastic characters and illustrations.
The Campingland folk are crazy and situations the family experiences are hilarious.
We wish this were longer.

A fun and engaging book that really encourages the use of your imagination with vibrant art. I liked the message about quality family time.

I loved this book! My family loves to camp, so it was relatable and funny. The illustrations were cute and hilarious. So glad that they went and tried again. It reminded me of our first camping trip.

I like the message in this book that to be prepared if you are going camping and glam camping is not so great. The illustrations really added to the story and emotions this family felt. The first trip to camping was a nightmare and I think anyone who has gone camping can relate to some of it. They then go glam camping and realize it was fake and go back to camping with more knowledge. I think this a great book both fun and educational. I recommend this for any library or home library.

Review to come in a few days on my blog/other places.

I received this book from the publisher/Netgalley in exchange of an honest review.

A perfect summer book! This one is all about a family of 4 (parents and two kids) who decide to go camping! They have ZERO idea what they need to bring, what camping is exactly, and are totally not prepared! So I was 100% prepared for chaos! But they are eager and I loved that. I looked forward to the camping. And the chaos. And boy what a chaos! Which leads them to a special place, Campingland. A dome-like building with safe camping! But is Campingland so fun? I mean, I would have ran immediately at seeing those animatronic animals, those are freaking terrifying as HECK. But our family stays and I love seeing them have fun, but also compare how their campingtrip went before they got to this place, and BOY oh boy, I was just laughing my butt off at all that happened to them (sorry but it was just too funny). From fallen sausage (5 seconds rule??) to skunk hug (never do that) to no toilet paper (just bring some with you man) to mud and poison ivy (OUCH) to much more. It was truly a disaster and I was wondering how the HECK did these people have so much bad luck. Yes, they are novices, nay newbies, nay just stop camping people but it was as if they never have been truly outside. XD 

But is Campingland fun? I can imagine that after everything it looks fun. But everything is curated. Everything is handled for them. It is like a kiddie place, all padded, all sweet, no danger, no rain... no excitement. I loved seeing our family realise things, see the bright in the dark, and I am so proud of them in the last pages. Many people would have opted for something else, but they decided on that and I was just cheering for them.

That last page, that had me in stitches. Oh no. 

The art was just SO SO much fun and I loved every bit of it! 

All in all, a fun camping trip gone rogue and is a curated place really that fun? Find out now in this delightful, laugh out loud, hilarious book perfect for summer!

My kids and I so enjoyed reading this book together! It was darling. They loved the story, and the illustrations were so cute! It was s great read for kids. Highly recommend.