Summer Camp Queen

by Marci Peschke

  When we have eaten everything but the crumbs, Charlotte reminds us that we need to find our favorite pink canoe. Then we paddle happily around the lake singing camp songs.

  We’re tired when we’re done with our canoe trip, but we still have time for a bonfire before bed. We gather sticks, and then Jane Ellen piles the sticks together and sets a blaze.

  We watch the sun set like a tangerine against a watermelon sky. Lucy gets out the marshmallows, graham crackers, and chocolate bars for the s’mores.

  I jab three sticky white puffs on my stick and listen while we each share what we’ve loved most about Mariposa Ranch Camp.

  As the night creeps in around us, we get quiet for the first time all day and I see tiny flashes of light like a million little blinking stars.

  I whisper, “Look, fireflies!”

  In the quiet darkness, we are filled with marshmallows and happiness.

  Dear Momma and Daddy,

  Today was the best day of summer camp. We were all queens all day! Our day was filled with fun. Each girl picked out something she wanted to do. At first I was afraid we might not have enough time to do everything, but just like magic, we did it all.

  I have been creative, done a lot of things, and been a leader for a day. I think I'll always be a Mariposa girl.

  I can't wait to see you tomorrow and tell you more!

  Love,

  Kylie Jean

  Marci Bales Peschke was born in Indiana, grew up in Florida, and now lives in Texas with her husband, two children, and a feisty black-and-white cat named Phoebe. She loves reading and watching movies.

  When Tuesday Mourning was a little girl, she knew she wanted to be an artist when she grew up. Now, she is an illustrator who lives in South Pasadena, CA. She especially loves illustrating books for kids and teenagers. When she isn’t illustrating, Tuesday loves spending time with her husband, who is an actor, and their two sons.

  achieve (uh-CHEEV)—do something successfully

  binoculars (buh-NOK-yuh-lurz)—an instrument that you look through to make distant things seem nearer

  convince (kuhn-VINSS)—make someone believe you

  counselor (KOUN-suh-lur)—someone trained to help campers

  course (KORSS)—a series of events or tasks

  decorated (DEK-uh-rate-id)—added something to make an object look prettier

  divine (duh-VINE)—wonderful

  eerie (IHR-ee)—strange and frightening

  experience (ek-SPIHR-ee-uhnss)—something that happens to you

  inspire (in-SPIRE)—to encourage and influence someone

  scholarship (SKOL-ur-ship)—a prize that pays for something

  sportsmanship (SPORTS-muhn-ship)—fair and reasonable behavior while playing a sport

  1. Kylie Jean had a hard time getting along with Miley. What could she have done to make this better?

  2. Have you gone to summer camp? If not, do you want to? Talk about your experiences with camp.

  3. What do you think happens after this story ends? Talk about it!

  1. Kylie Jean’s dream is to be a beauty queen. What’s your number-one dream?

  2. Who is your favorite character in this story? Draw a picture of that person. Then write a list of five things you know about him or her.

  3. In this book, Kylie Jean writes lots of letters. Choose a favorite person to write a letter to.

  From Momma’s Kitchen

  This is the perfect treat for any summertime queen! Just make sure to ask a grown-up for help.

  Love, Kylie Jean

  PERFECT SUMMMERTIME LEMONADE

  YOU NEED:

  1 cup sugar

  1 cup water

  1 cup lemon juice (fresh or from a bottle)

  3 1/2 cups cold water

  ice cubes

  a grown-up helper

  1. In a small saucepan, mix 1 cup water and 1 cup sugar. Ask your grown-up helper to cook, stirring occasionally, until the sugar has dissolved. Let this simple syrup cool.

  2. In a pitcher, mix the syrup and the lemon juice. Add the cold water until it’s the perfect taste (you might need a little more or a little less).

  3. Serve over ice cubes in tall glasses.

  Yum, yum!

  www.capstonekids.com

  Kylie Jean is published by Picture Window Books

  A Capstone Imprint

  1710 Roe Crest Drive

  North Mankato, Minnesota 56003

  www.capstonepub.com

  Copyright © 2013 by Picture Window Books

  All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in whole or in part, or stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without written permission of the publisher.

  Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

  Peschke, M. (Marci)

  Summer camp queen / by Marci Peschke ; illustrated by Tuesday Mourning.

  p. cm. -- (Kylie Jean)

  Summary: School is over and Kylie Jean and her cousin Lucy are going to summer camp for a week of fun, but a girl named Miley seems determined to spoil the experience for everyone, and Kylie decides to discover what her problem is.

  ISBN 978-1-4048-7583-8 (library binding)

  ISBN 978-1-4795-1531-8 (ebook PDF)

  ISBN 978-1-4795-2307-8 (ebook)

  1. Camps--Juvenile fiction. 2. Children of divorced parents--Juvenile fiction. 3. Acting out (Psychology)--Juvenile fiction. 4. Friendship--Juvenile fiction. [1. Camps--Fiction. 2. Divorce--Fiction. 3. Behavior--Fiction. 4. Friendship--Fiction.] I. Mourning, Tuesday, ill. II. Title. III. Series: Peschke, M. (Marci) Kylie Jean.

  PZ7.P441245Sum 2013

  813.6--dc23 2012028533

  Graphic Designer: Kristi Carlson

  Editor: Beth Brezenoff

  Production Specialist: Eric Manske

  Design Element Credit:

  Shutterstock/blue67design