Review by Booklist Review
Herman and Henry are planning a vacation, but everything's too expensive! The only thing they can afford is camping, and sunny Herman, a sturdy brown bear, is pumped. Red raccoon Henry, on the other hand, is decidedly not. But Herman is his best friend, so he soldiers on, enduring harrowing rope bridges, an uncooperative tent, scary night noises, and some vicious fish. Percival inserts loads of funny details in his warm-toned, cartoonish illustrations, particularly when Herman obliviously enjoys nature while Henry, damp and terrified, sulks in the background. Eventually, Herman catches on, and in a series of postcards included as flaps so little ones can see both sides he asks his friends back in town to help make camping more palatable for Henry by bringing the comforts of home to the campsite. His scheme is comically over the top and heartwarmingly demonstrates how much he truly values his friend, though some readers might be puzzled by the logistics of the plan. Still, little ones willing to suspend their disbelief will appreciate this silly forest frolic.--Hunter, Sarah Copyright 2016 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by School Library Journal Review
PreS-Gr 2-Herman the bear and Henry the raccoon have different ideas about what constitutes a fun camping trip. Herman wants Henry to be happy on their holiday, but because money is tight and they cannot afford to go to Jelly Bean Falls or Cake World, the friends travel by donkey to a rugged campsite called Lucky Well. They bring with them overstuffed backpacks twice their size, but it keeps feeling like something essential is missing for Henry-like some hot chocolate or his sofa and TV. Herman and Henry send postcards to their respective uncle and aunt, Herman describing all the fun they're having and Henry asking Aunt Winifred to please send supplies. There are seven flaps to open in this beautifully illustrated story about the sacrifices and compromises of friendship. The details in the drawings add humor and heart. VERDICT A goofy and fun picture book about friendship and vacations.-Tanya Boudreau, Cold Lake Public Library, AB, Canada © Copyright 2015. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
Henry the magenta raccoon would really like to go on an expensive jaunt to Cake World or Jelly Bean Falls with his bear pal Herman, but their limited funds necessitate a sojourn at Luckywell discount campsite. The term "roughing it" is not in Henry's limited lexicon, so when he packs his TV, boom box, hair dryer, and roasted turkey, he feels somewhat prepared for the worst. But falling into a stream in the middle of the nightafter his ineptly pitched tent collapsesdoes not help them to be enamored of the joys of Mother Nature. Lift-the-flap postcards from each of the friends give diametrically opposed perspectives as to the entertainment value of the vacation choice. In response to Henry's misery, Herman sends for building supplies. The term "compromise" acquires a rather grim cachet when he fells a swath of pristine forest in order to build his spoiled friend a hotel and waterslide. The nifty, interactive postcards and plentiful sight gags, such as a bale of hay labeled "Donkey Fuel," a rattler perched on the sign pointing to the economy campsite, and a fish draped over Henry's head, intervene to save the day. Percival's cartoonlike illustrations keep the story moving past Henry's litany of complaints. The benefits derived from this friendship are pretty one-sided, as is Percival's notion of a happy ending. (Picture book. 3-6) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
