Danny and the Dinosaur Go to Camp by Syd Hoff

Danny and the Dinosaur Go to Camp Reviews

• 
  Tatiana

  Today at fieldwork, I worked one-on-one with a student who has rapidly grown close to my heart. She has autism and frequently frustrates her teacher because she is prone to distraction and works at her own slow pace. I understand where the teacher is coming from, with 21 other students to instruct, but whenever I get the opportunity to teach this girl, I know it helps all who are involved.
  
  During our session, among other assingments, she read Danny and the Dinosaur Go to Camp and when she got 100% on the AR test for it, her ecstatic grin was pure light and accomplishment (her regular average is 60%). It's a cute book to be sure, but in this instance, it was the particular reader who frosted the pie, so to speak.
• 
  Caleb

  Caleb (age 4), "I like it because of the story. I don't want a dinosaur, but I like Danny's dinosaur. I didn't know camps had games, lakes, and snacks."
• 
  Josiah

  It seems as though Danny and his dinosaur's joint birthday wish in Happy Birthday, Danny and the Dinosaur! that "we can all be together again next year" was granted: that book came out in 1995, and 1996 saw the release of Danny and the Dinosaur Go to Camp, the finale of Syd Hoff's easy reader trilogy about a boy who gains a dinosaur for a playmate. Danny's dinosaur was never his to keep, having to return to the museum's prehistoric animals exhibit between outings with Danny and his friends, but Danny invites him along whenever he's about to have an especially fun experience, and summer at sleep-away camp is no exception. How can you not have a blast when your camp roommate is a friendly behemoth straight out of the Jurassic period?
  
  We skip the formality of Danny's invitation to the dinosaur this time, cutting right to their jubilant exit from the museum. The camp itinerary is designed for kids Danny's age, but the dinosaur finds ways to amuse himself, and helps the other campers have a better time than they could without him. The dinosaur is unbeatable at footraces and football games, but he's a lifesaver after you've gone on a long nature hike and feel too weary to walk anymore. Danny's dino can carry him, his friends, and the camp counselor on his long, broad back with ease, and bring them back to camp without any further effort on their part. Supplies of ketchup, roasted marshmallows, and other foodstuffs tend to run short when one of your campers has the gastric capacity of a dinosaur, but they'll find ways around that. Danny's dinosaur is the first ever to attend summer camp, and Danny wouldn't consider trading the unique experience for more food or a better chance to win camp games.
  
  When their first wonderful day at camp ends, the dino discovers that his bunk is much too small for him, so he takes his pillow outside to sleep beneath the sackcloth skies. It's no inconvenience for him, as long as Danny wakes him in time for breakfast. When a fantasy comes true that our normal life doesn't have the capacity to contain, we may need to find a less restrictive arena to let it roam, just as Danny lets his dinosaur sleep in the boundless outdoors when the camp cabins prove inadequate. And that's okay; a dream as gigantic as a dinosaur of our own is too large for most conventional setups to accommodate. But we don't have to shrink it down or cancel our plans in order to adapt. All we have to do is arrange to let our dream live somewhere that can handle its unique dimensions, and it'll be waiting there in the morning for us. The lone dinosaur in a modern world is beautiful to behold.
  
  All three of Syd Hoff's Danny and the Dinosaur books have poignant moments, and the main one in Danny and the Dinosaur Go to Camp is the goodnight shared by boy and sauropod on the first day of camp, Danny leaning through the window of his cabin to wish his long-necked friend a nice night's rest. It's also a goodnight to the series, as this was the final book done by Syd Hoff with these characters (at least one other author wrote more with a new illustrator). Danny and the Dinosaur Go to Camp isn't quite as good as Danny and the Dinosaur, in my opinion, but it surpasses Happy Birthday, Danny and the Dinosaur!, the second book. Danny and the Dinosaur Go to Camp is a comical story with some mild social commentary leavened in, and I liked it. Live long and prosper, Danny and the Dinosaur. You've meant more than you know to so many young readers.
• 
  Lara's

  Synopsis: Guess who's going to summer camp with Danny? His good friend the Dinosaur! Whether he's racing, rowing or hiking, this gigantic camper is a huge hit!
  Review: Who wouldn't want to have a Dinosaur like Danny's along on a grand summer camping adventure? The illustrations are bright and colorful and the text rewarding because of the silly humor of the situation. This book might also provide some comfort to little ones getting ready for their first summer camp as it shows all of the great activities of racing, swimming, hiking, etc that summer camp involves. This book makes early reading fun and that is what it is all about.
  Critical Reviews:Amazon.com Review offers " these are reassuring stories of simple adventures, and are a gentle introduction to the dinosaur universe." School Library Journal gets picky with this observation, "On one page, the dino is large enough to carry all the campers on its back; on another, it is small enough to eat at the table and hold a fork.' Details, details..kids will still love the imaginative spirit of a dinosaur at camp.
• 
  Nora

  MCL. I liked when he said that Danny could have the ketchup after he finished the bottle. And when the dinosaur and Danny wrote letters home and asked for pizza and ketchup.
• 
  ElleryS

  Modern fantasy
  K-2nd grade reading level
  My enjoyment of this book was multiplied because it was read to me by a second grader. That showed me firsthand that this was 1) a book a child would choose to read by themselves 2) a story that would entertain them all the way through and 3) a story with vocabulary and syntax that would be understandable to them. I don't think it's outstanding literature, but I did see that it is literature that truly appeals to children, and I loved seeing how they enjoyed it.
• 
  Molly Cluff (Library!)

  The dinosaur is hilarious. I love how he wins all the games, because no one can tackle him in football, and no one can outrun him with his big steps. I loved the "please send me my own ketchup" part (the dinosaur used up all the kethcup, haha)
• 
  retrieverfever

  Little kid book
• 
  Oriyah Nitkin

  Danny doesn't always look like himself, and we definitely wish the book were longer, but this was good classic silly Danny and the Dinosaur fun.
• 
  Liz Lowe

  Cute dinosaur story.
• 
  Nathan

  A Christmas present from my 7-year-old. Now I'll have to have him read it to me.
• 
  Richard Edwards

  Classic early reader book. New readers will enjoy it.
• 
  Pinky

  Danny and Dinosaur have fun at camp together.
• 
  kim

  alright
• 
  Annette Heslin

  Another story that was enjoyable, where everyone is involved in enjoying time with Danny the Dinosaur.
• 
  Rachel Rouleau

  The story was fine; the audiobook was read painfully slow. It's an I Can Read level 1, so I understand why, but we are just getting into audiobooks and there are many that are so well done (not this).
• 
  Angie

  Synopsis: "Danny's going to camp––and he's taking the dinosaur! First introduced in 1958 with Danny and the Dinosaur and the recent stars of Happy Birthday, Danny and the Dinosaur, this popular pair is together again in an adventure sure to please beginning readers and happy campers alike. Children's Choices for 1997."
  
  My Review: This one seemed to be a little more advanced for a Level 1 book but as I have mentioned before, the ones published years ago seem to expect more of young readers. That said the dinosaur going to camp adds a fun element to keep kids interested in this longer story. It may also help easy any worries about a first time going to camp, meeting new friends, or sleeping in a new place.
• 
  Julie Barrett

  Danny and the Dinosaur Go To Camp by Syd Hoff
  Audio book about Danny went to camp with his friend the dinosaur for the summer.
  Book tells all about the different things they can do: racing, football, rowing the boat,
  and then they had lunch. Funny things happen because the dinosaur is there, too funny!
  Letters home are just perfect! Other camp things happen to make it a perfect day at camp.
  I received this book from National Library Service for my BARD (Braille Audio Reading Device).
  
• 
  Patricia

  In this story Danny takes his dinosaur to camp. They eat together, play together, sail together, and have a wonderful time. At night though, the dinosaur can't share the same bunk since he is so big. The dinosaur gets the pillow off his bed and sleeps under the stars. A sweet story about a boy and his pet dinosaur. This is an AR level 1.8 book.
• 
  Terry

  While
  perfect for our practicing reader, I found it more tedious than others we've read together. [Link to full review.]
• 
  Lavinia

  I loved it so much. It was so exciting. I loved the part where they go to camp. I will go there someday soon. I will miss my old camp, but this one will be a swimming lesson camp. I have a bag and a towel and I am bringing them to summer camp. It will be so fun I bet.
• 
  Mandy

  (3.5 stars)
  
  Danny takes his friend the dinosaur to camp with him. But the camp has never has a dinosaur before. Are they prepared for one?
  
  This book is meant to be read more as a beginning reader, and because of it, lacks a few story elements.
• 
  Rosa Cline

  I've always really loved Danny and the Dinosaur growing up, so when I found this book knew I wanted to read this to my granddaughter. This book continues Danny and the dinosaur's friendship. They go to camp and have fun together along with their friends.
• 
  Cara

  Level 1 I Can Read book
  Danny and Dinosaur go to camp where they both of lots of fun participating in camp events.
  My son loves the pictures and he 's a huge fan of dinosaurs, however unrealistic this one is.
• 
  Kresten

  This book was the first book I ever read on my own. I Love this book it almost taught me how to read.
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  Dara

  I liked this book because it was really funny.
• 
  Katherine

  The dinosaur totally owned that camp.