In the title tale, an increasingly annoyed music-hating witch transforms a persistent minstrel into a still-warbling cow, horse, sheep, goat, pig, duck, and rock in succession-then is horrified to catch herself humming a tune. In the nearly wordless “Hip Hop Wish,” a frog inadvertently rubs a magic lamp and finds itself saddled with an importunate genie eager to shower it with inappropriate goods and riches. Lachenmeyer freely borrows familiar folkloric elements, subjecting them to mildly comical twists. The theme of persistence (for better or worse) links four tales of magic, trickery, and near disasters. Race, ethnicity, and sexual orientation are not explicitly addressed characters’ names and physical appearances indicate a broadly diverse cast starting with brown-skinned Vega and her two dads.Ī classic story of outsiders making friends-with a little something more. The clean, bright artwork is enhanced by panels of varying shapes and clear, easy-to-follow speech bubbles. An unexpected twist toward the end of this fast-paced adventure that reveals the truth behind the camp will surprise readers. The story smoothly incorporates STEM facts with insets on the page to define and highlight terms or tools.

It quickly becomes clear that this is no ordinary outdoor adventure, and Vega and her fellow campers try to figure out what is really going on. Vega is not exactly eager to go but makes a deal with Wes, agreeing to try out camp as long as he tries to make a new friend too. Vega’s dad Javi thinks making new friends will help her adjust, so he signs her up for Camp Very Best Friend, which is designed to help introverted local children build new friendships. Vega is not happy about this change and doesn’t want to leave her best friend behind, worrying they will grow apart. When astronomy-obsessed 9-year-old Vega’s dad Wes gets a new job, the family moves from Portland to Seattle. After moving to a new city, a girl attends a wilderness camp to help her make new friends.

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