A Camping Holiday

With their distinctive illustrations and witty stories, Kathleen Hale's classic tales of Orlando the Marmalade Cat are as enchanting now as when first published over 70 years ago. In this, the very first book, Orlando, his wife Grace and their kittens Blanche, Pansy and Tinkle head off to the country for a fun-filled camping adventure . . .

New Way, renowned for its phonic focus and success with generations of children, has always been committed to a balanced phonic approach.

Ernestine has never been camping before, but she’s sure it will be lots of fun . . . won’t it? An endearing story about a girl’s first experience with the great outdoors. My aunt Jackie invited me to go camping with her and my cousin Samantha this weekend. I’ve never been camping before, but I know I will love it. Ernestine is beyond excited to go camping. She follows the packing list carefully (new sleeping bag! new flashlight! special trail mix made with Dad!) so she knows she is ready when the weekend arrives. But she quickly realizes that nothing could have prepared her for how hard it is to set up a tent, never mind fall asleep in it, or that swimming in a lake means that there will be fish — eep! Will Ernestine be able to enjoy the wilderness, or will it prove to be a bit too far out of her comfort zone? In an energetic illustrated story about a first sleepover under the stars, acclaimed author-illustrator Jennifer K. Mann reminds us that opening your mind to new experiences, no matter how challenging, can lead to great memories (and a newfound taste for s’mores).

For the Seventies child, summer holidays meant being crammed into a car with Grandma and heading to the coast. With just a tent for a home and a bucket for the necessities, we would set off on new adventures each year stoically resolving to enjoy ourselves. This memoir is a reminder of just what it was like during summer holidays.