Der kleine Nick und die Ferien (Nicholas on Vacation)

Author: René Goscinny, Jean-Jacques Sempé (illust.)
Original Title: Les Vacances du Petit Nicolas
Genre: Children's book

Original publisher: Denoël,
Date first published: 1962
Date first read: 1994/1995

Main character(s): Nicolas (aka Nick, a boy of 7 or 8 years), Alceste (aka Otto, Nick's best friend, who likes to eat a lot), Rufus (aka Roland, Nick's classmate, whose dad is the policeman, and who therefore has a whistle he uses a lot), Clotaire (aka Chlodwig, Nick's classmate, who has the worst grades but is a great guy), Eudes (aka Franz, Nick's classmate, who is the strongest in the group and tends to resolve problems with his fists), Geoffroy (aka Georg, Nick's classmate, whose father is very rich and who is therfore very spoiled), Joachim (Nick's classmate, who likes to wear a beret and gets a little brother one day), Agnan (aka Adalbert, Nick's classmate, the best in the class and teacher's pet, who wears glasses), Maixent (aka Max, Nick's classmate, who is as fast as Nick in running), Marie-Edwige (aka Marie-Hedwig, Nick's pretty neighbor and his friend), Louisette (aka Louise, who plays soccer better than some boys), Nick's mother and father, the Teacher, the school's Principal, M. Dubon, "le Bouillon" (aka Herr Hühnerfeld, or "Herr Hühnerbrüh", a strict teacher at Nick's school)
Favorite quote: N/A

Synopsis:
Aaaaand, the third collection of stories of little Nick is upon us. This time, it's all about vacations. It's especially exciting for Nick, who gets to go on vacation alone for the first time, to a summer camp, while his parents go elsewhere. It's funny though that they seem upset about his excitement, when it was them who suggested it in the first place...but Nick is excited. At the summer camp, you make new friends, and you swim, and you have bonfires, and so much more. Mind you, it helps when your parents don't forget to give you your bag before the train departs...

Review:
This one is absolutely fun. I did miss Nick's friends in the first part of the book, but the new surroundings, with new kids and adults about whose actions and reactions he talks, makes up for it.

Prequels: Der kleine Nick; Der kleine Nick und die Schule;

Sequels: Der kleine Nick und seine Bande; Der kleine Nick und die Mädchen