Truly Winnie - Hardcover

Jennifer Richard Jacobson’s favorite camp memory is of canoeing to a river island, where she and her paddling friends built a campfire and slept out under the stars until dawn. Jennifer lives with her husband and two children in Cumberland, Maine, where they like to sing silly camp songs.

This gentle chapter book highlights the challenges and delights of summer camp, where, as Winnie discovers, "you can be someone else for a while." Laura Hamilton's low-key narration explores the consequences of reinventing oneself. For example, Winnie capriciously decides to have her deceased mother become a famous--living--artist. Hamilton has a knack for creating a large and appealing cast of characters that includes kids and grown-ups alike. She invites listeners of all ages to consider whether "not telling" is the same as lying. Imbuing the production with a genuine summer camp ambiance, Hamilton shares chants, camp songs, and counselor names (like Spunky, Dolphin, and Picasso) that ring true to the ear. J.C.G. © AudioFile 2010, Portland, Maine