Camp Rex

Tea Rex #2

by Molly Idle

What could be more fun than a camping trip with a good friend?
When that friend is T. Rex!

It’s important to set a few wilderness safety guidelines first. . . like making sure he stays on the trail. And does not disturb the local wildlife. And knows how to build a safe campfire. But sometimes dinosaurs have a different way of doing things, and that’s why it’s best to be prepared . . . for anything!

Following in the extremely large and funny footsteps of Tea Rex, Camp Rex is for anyone who loves to roast a marshmallow or two around the campfire . . . or the whole bag at once! 

Genres: Picture Books, Dinosaurs, Childrens, Humor, Storytime, Animals, Summer

40 pages, Hardcover

First published April 1, 2014

About the author

Molly Idle has been drawing ever since she could wield a pencil. But while she started scribbling before she could walk, her professional career as an artist began slightly later…

It was upon her graduation from Arizona State University, with a BFA in Drawing, that Molly accepted an offer to work for DreamWorks Feature Animation Studios. After five years, a number of film credits, and an incredibly good time, she left the studio and leapt with gusto into the world of children's book illustration!

Molly now lives in Arizona with her brilliant husband, two wonderfully mischievous sons, and two snugly cats. When not making mischief with her boys or watching old Technicolor musicals, she can be found at her desk scribbling away, with a pencil in one hand and a cup of espresso in the other- creating a plethora of profoundly whimsical picture books!

Reviews

[Jon Nakapalau · Rating 5 out of 5]

Camping with dinosaurs! Dinofanatics of all ages will love this book! You have to be careful when you are exploring; there are lots of things that you need look out for when you are on your own! This would have been the perfect book for me as a small boy going to summer camp - lots of things to read about to add to the fun!

[Kathryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Super cute! I always enjoy Rex and friends and their sweet, fun mis-adventures. You know those magnets and cards with the retro housewives on them where they look super cheerful and perfect but the words indicate it’s all actually going to heck? This book is the opposite. We have the calm, collected guidebook narration while the images show how that is not exactly what happens to our own adventurers (for example, “In the morning, you’ll awake refreshed!” while we see our bleary-eyed girl sitting up in her sleeping bag with a raccoon on her head, ha!) But, in the end, a fun time is had by all and you can totally feel their joy and camaraderie!

[Holly Mueller · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another entertaining story with T. Rex by Molly Idle. Kids will love the discrepancies between the text and illustrations. Great for inferring! This story reminds me of some of my camping experiences.;-)

[Abigail · Rating 3 out of 5]

The two little human children and their T-Rex friend, who enjoyed high tea together in Molly Idle's Tea Rex , return in this second adventure, this time setting out on a camping trip. The simple narrative reads like an instruction manual on safety whilst in the great outdoors - always stick together, avoid disturbing local fauna (like bees!) - while the accompanying illustrations show how the campers (especially T-Rex!) don't always live up to those instructions.

Like its predecessor, Camp Rex pairs a simple, straightforward text with amusing, somewhat less than straightforward illustrations. The humor of the tale lies in the disconnect between visuals and words, as our T-Rex friend gets into mischief aplenty, dragging his human friends along with him. Author/artist Molly Idle is an animator, and this really shows in her lovely artwork, which captures the sense of motion and excitement in the story. Recommended to all young campers and dinosaur-lovers, as well as to anyone who enjoyed the first story about this mischievous T-Rex.

[Elizabeth Blake · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute dinosaurs

Story about a girl with a tiny head or super big hat going camping. This was a bit distracting from other cute dinosaur illustrations. Fun and quick story for kids about 3-5 years old.

[Jae · Rating 4 out of 5]

Best read in the voice of a 1950s educational film narrator.

[Becky B · Rating 4 out of 5]

T-Rex and his friends go camping, which proves to be a challenge for the little girl who has to remind T-Rex about all the safety rules of outdoor life. Still they manage to have lots of fun.

Endearing illustrations, subtle educational value, and of course fun make this one a winner. A great pick for anyone preparing for an outdoorsy adventure as the safety rules reviewed are good ones but this covers them in a totally fun way.

[Kaethe · Rating 5 out of 5]

july 19 2014

Idle's art in these Rex books reminds me a lot of William Joyce. I love the retro feel. Plus, camping with dinos goes pretty much as I would expect.

Library copy.

[Lauren · Rating 4 out of 5]

Super cute! Wish it were still in print.

[Homegrown Reader · Rating 4 out of 5]

We are very often silly at home or even out and about. We roll down non-existent hills in the park and sing silly songs while walking around town. As a parent, my dignity takes a back seat when it comes to having safe fun with my child. My husband has just peeked over my shoulder and would like to remind me that I was this way before Bug. Oh well. In any event, I like silly books that can laugh at themselves and make us, in turn laugh. Camp Rex does this with such wonderful finesse and grace.

The book is laid out as a guide to camping and hiking in the great outdoors but it’s soon evident that even though all the characters (dinosaurs included) are wearing scout uniforms, they don’t know anything about camping. They’re respectful but constantly at odds with the nature surrounding them. In the end, they return to they’re backyard enjoying the most honored of camping traditions from the comfort of their own home, roasting marshmallows.

Molly Idle’s delightful illustrations don’t give us much of a background story. Why are this lady and her son marching around with a Tyrannosaurus Rex, Stegosaurus, Triceratops, and Pterodactyl in tow? It doesn’t matter. It’s a silly story, embracing its silliness. The dinosaurs cleverly go about pitching tents and roasting marshmallows in such a ridiculous way, that even Bug was laughing and he’s never even been camping.

It was cute, entertaining for all the parties reading it, and endearing. We’ll definitely be checking out more Molly Idle books in the future.

[Lynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This embodies many qualities of a good picture book, the most important being how the illustrations interpret the story (in my opinion). This text could have been illustrated in a number of ways (see marshmallow comment below), with a number of different characters in a number of different styles. This one apparently builds off the previously published "Tea Rex" (which I've not yet read), so I can't comment on that. I like the 'guide to camping' path of the story and how it ends "...in their own backyard."
Illustrations have an outdoorsy green hue, and fill the page with the girl & boy's dinosaur friends. I can't tell if the girl is a girl because in some pictures she looks more like an old lady - almost an elderly Juliet Low, and in one she resembles an evil Disney character. My favorite illustration is when the Rex uses the tree trunk with it's many branches each holding a marshmallow over the campfire!

This would be a great one to read aloud without showing the pictures, and having students interpret it to come up with their own illustrations.

[Jennifer Strong · Rating 5 out of 5]

What could be more fun than camping with friends? A girl and her younger brother set out to camp with their dinosaur friends. They hike, set up tents at the campsite, and explore the area (avoiding dangerous plants and wildlife, of course). Canoeing is fun until they all end up in the water. Building a fire takes teamwork, but it pays off when they roast marshmallows and sing under the stars. Ghost stories and strange nighttime sounds keep everyone from falling asleep too quickly, but in the morning they have pancakes, pack up, and hike back home. It has been a wonderful adventure!

The storytelling is expertly done through gorgeous illustrations. The text reads like a how-to manual for camping. The little brother just cracks me up! All the characters are so expressive and the situations they get themselves into are funny. Great book for your little wilderness explorer!

[David Turner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another Molly Idle children's book, and another book I love! It might be safe to say that Molly Idle is my favorite Children's book author/illustrator at the moment. Her background working for Disney Pixar really shows in her illustrations that are so animated and detailed. Camp Rex is a fun book about camping with your friends, in this book the friends happen to be dinosaurs! Different from her Flora series, this picture book has words. The story is simple but fun to read. Great for beginning readers and even upper elementary students to show them how illustrations help to tell a story and make it come alive.

[Drew Graham · Rating 4 out of 5]

When going camping, one must be prepared to experience the out-of-doors responsibly and enjoyably, including those would-be campers who are of the dinosaur variety.

This follow-up to Tea Rex doesn't work quite as well as its predecessor, but it still has the same charm and fun and wonderful illustrations. Cordelia and her little brother have so much appeal it's crazy and the dinosaurs have tons of personality and just look and feel like giant plush toys. The kids (3/1.5) have been loving both of these books.

[Margaret · Rating 5 out of 5]

Camp Rex written and illustrated by Molly Idle is fun...fun...fun. It's a must have for all those storytelling sessions about camping and summer activities. As a read aloud it's exquisite; the difference between the reader's (narrator's) voice (prim and particular) and the pictures will have listeners giggling continuously. You'll never hear the word camping again without getting a big grin on your face; this title will remain in your memory for a long time.


My full review: http://bit.ly/QDpsLm

[Heidi-Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

The gem of Idle's Rex books are the illustrations. So much in there--particularly in small details, it would be impossible to share all of it in a storytime setting. But a lap-read and read-alone or perfect. And this one was fabulous. SO, SO much--even more than in Tea Rex. Something on every page. I found myself going back through some pages to see what I missed, or to connect various storylines that were being continued yet I had missed an element somewhere. So much fun. Perhaps I'll at least put it out on display in a dino theme.

[Donna]

CAMP REX In another gorgeously illustrated book by Molly Idle, her adorable, entertaining cast of characters, all of whom we first met in TEA REX, are at it again.

Though Cordelia makes detailed "how to" checklists, when executed with her brother and dinosaur pals, fortunately--for our enjoyment--things never work out as planned. Inevitably mayhem ensues, and although their camping trip takes unexpected turns, the destination is ultimately satisfying for all--even Cordelia, who happily accepts the results :)

[Stephanie Croaning · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love how the text and the pictures show two different versions of camping. The words read almost as a how-to manual for camping, and expound of the vast delights of communing with nature. The pictures, however, show that camping, especially if your companions are dinosaurs, might not live up to all the hype. As a non-camper, I got a lot of chuckles out of this one! Make sure to start inside the front cover and compare it to the illustration on the back cover. Molly Idle has used all of the book to tell her story.

[Jessi · Rating 2 out of 5]

It seems to be a common theme lately that I choose books for the kids' bedtime story that are not entertaining. While this book had great pictures, I was hoping for a book about dinosaurs going camping - not simply a book about camping in general with dinosaurs in the drawings. Honestly, it could have been titled simply, Camping, and had pictures of only children and I don't think the story would have changed at all. My boys laughed at a couple pictures, though, so I guess bedtime story hour wasn't a total failure.

[Diane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Playful interaction between text and illustrations will make this a crowd pleaser. A little girl takes her little brother and assorted dinosaurs on a camp out. She being the "experience camper" tries to keep the others out of trouble with the help of her Wilderness Guidebook, but it's not easy.

Kids will have fun (I know I did) seeing what the teddy bear and the dinosaurs are up to in each illustration.

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute follow-up to Idle's book Tea Rex. I enjoyed the first book more, but Camp Rex still delights with clever moments in the illustrations, such as the t-rex gathering firewood by pretty much uprooting a whole tree, and then roasting marshmallows on all the branches. Or the triceratops roasting marshmallows on his horns.

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

The illustrations!!! I could just lose myself in the illustrations! When I read this, I hear the narrator in my head, in the tone of a 50s/60s teaching film. Love this even more than the first book, which I didn't think was even possible.

[Lindsay Ross · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love the illustrations!

[Irina Su · Rating 4 out of 5]

Camp Rex has sparse text, but the illustrations tell such a fun tale of camping with dinosaurs. When a girl and her younger brother are accompanied by a T-Rex, a triceratops, a stegosaurus, and a pterosaur, pitching a tent can be quite a challenge. The triceratops pokes holes into his tent with his horns. The pterosaur gets a suspicious look from an owl in a tree when he tries to tie his hammock to its branches. The T-Rex just manages to cover his head with his tent. Little brother improvised a tent book for his teddy bear, and they're ready to explore the campsite. While picking pine cones, T-Rex mistakes a bee-hive for a pine cone and everyone has to run, fast. They make their escape into a lake but the canoe topples over, but now they have fish for their dinner. Everyone help build a fire, except the T-Rex got carried away and pulled a tree out with its roots. He can now roast up to twenty marshmallows at a time. After spooky stories every sound they hear in the woods is cause for concern. They cuddle up together and they are ready to start another day exploring the woods around them. A great book for dinosaur lovers or for planning a camping trip.

[Alicia · Rating 5 out of 5]

The thing I adore about it is the second person narrative, the illustrations, and the fact that it's a picture book in which the words don't match what's happening on the page. They are completely intertwined but not a directly connected because the hijinks of a set of dinosaurs traipsing through the woods with our little boy and little girl is not all fun and games. Kindling logs for the fire doesn't mean an entire tree trunk. Catching a fish or two is more like an accident than skilled fishing (when the boat capsizes and they find a fish underneath her hat).

Idle is skilled as the adorableness of introducing dinosaurs and two little kids on a camping excursion from the little hat that the TRex is wearing so to the girl scout/boy scout outfit that the kids are wearing. It's a delightful feast for the eyes.

[Donna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Challenges: BookADayMay 2023: 11/31; Reading Goal Posts/Stacking the Series - Category 21/23 - New series started in 2023. Rex and his friends learn to appreciate the rigors and surprises of camping as well as coming home. Another beautifully drawn, comical installment in this series. Longer than most children's illustrated books, the care and expertise to provide so many drawings in layered pencil that consistently reflect her style makes for a branding that keeps the reader coming back for more. So pleasant to the eye. Sweet characters that make one reflect on the fact that dinosaurs lived in nature and now are house-bound creatures who must camp to experience nature. Also teaches children about some do's and don'ts of camping.

[Carina · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve been really interested by the idea of camping lately, and can’t wait until my grandpa takes me camping this summer. So my mom thought I might be interested in this story about a girl camping with her dinosaurs. The pictures are beautiful - though perhaps appreciated by adults more than children. There isn’t much text, as the pictures are supposed to fill in the story, but it was over my three-year-old head.

[Erin · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book goes through the basics of camping sort of like a how-to guide with the words. The illustrations are a bit more on the humorous side. How could that not happen when dinosaurs are camping with humans after all?

This could work for smaller storytimes, but I'm afraid the intricacies of the illustrations won't be seen in a larger crowd.

[Viviane Elbee · Rating 5 out of 5]

The kids loved this book, especially the scenes with the marshmallows roasting over the fire. They kept pointing out fun details in the illustrations and laughing.

This book is great for fans of Molly Idle's other "Rex" books (Tea Rex, Sea Rex, etc...), for dinosaur fans, for camping fans & marshmallow fans.

[Evianrei · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute stylized illustrations of camping dinosaurs. My 1-year old found this book mildly interesting to look at, but didn't pay too much attention. The story was mostly just talking about the benefits of camping with accompanying silly imagery, cute but not super memorable.