by Kathi Appelt
First published 2004
Bubba and Beau face a familiar challenge when relatives arrive for a visit. The two friends need to keep their cousins Arlene and Bitsy entertained, but what activity will work? They decide to share their most beloved secret: a special muddy patch in the garden where they love to play. The four children head outside together, ready to get wonderfully dirty. What follows is exactly the kind of messy, joyful playtime that makes childhood memorable. Bubba and Beau discover that the best way to welcome family is to share the simple pleasures that bring them happiness. Sometimes the most ordinary moments create the strongest bonds between cousins.
Genres: fiction, family, humor
Vibes: emotional, heartwarming, whimsical
Tropes: found-family, slice-of-life
32 pages · Hardcover · Harcourt Childrens Books