Mosquitoes Are Ruining My Summer!

March 21, 2011
With grim and gruesome verses set to tunes like "On Top of Old Smokey" and "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star," Katz and Catrow address summer camp hazards in their latest "silly dilly" collection. In a riff on "Skip to My Lou," the "mystery goo" served at lunch has one camper chanting "Skip, skip, skip every meal"; another camper has bad luck during arts and crafts time, while playing with the sound effects of "Old MacDonald" ("With a saw, saw here,/ and a drill, drill there;/ here a bang, there a bangâ/ this thing will not hang hang"). Camp-wary readers may shudder at some of the fearsome scenarios, but those who gleefully hop on the bus each summer should devour the hyperbolic comedy. Ages 4â8.

July 1, 2011

K-Gr 3-This eighth "Silly Dilly" title explores the highs and lows of summer camp in 14 new songs. Laundry woes are sung to the tune of "The Mexican Hat Dance," and the mosquito problem is solved with the tune of "My Bonnie Lies over the Ocean." Other topics include mail, arts and crafts, and hygiene (to "Pop Goes the Weasel"): "My friend Jimmy is a nice kid./He tells jokes by the hour./But one fact just cannot be hid: /Jim needs a shower!" The lyrics should entertain those familiar with the camp experience, and though there is no notation for the music, the tunes are fairly well known. The exaggerated cartoon illustrations heighten the humor and the drama.-Julie Roach, Cambridge Public Library, MA

Copyright 2011 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

April 15, 2011
Grades 3-5 Like other titles in the Silly Dilly series, this picture-book applies new lyrics to familiar songs. Here, the pages offer witty takes on summer camp; for example, Somebody Send Me Home Now! is intended to be sung to the tune of Skip to My Lou: Breakfastits / banana peel, / fresh cement / they call oatmeal. Few elements of the camp-going experience are exempt from the tongue-in-cheek riffing, and lively cartoon-style illustrations extend the hyperbolic humor through caricature and perspective. Musical notation isnt included, but the selections are mainly well known. Entertaining, especially for veteran campers.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2011, American Library Association.)