Swallows and Amazons by Arthur RansomeDavid R. Godine, 1985 (14th printing, 2005), originally Jonathan Cape, 1930

Megan and I read this book aloud to one another over the course of several months, and oh, it was the perfect book for reading aloud. A family on summer holiday, the children allowed to go sailing and camping on their own: all the details of their camp, the tents and the teakettle, and all of the adventures that they have. Clever & sweet & exciting.