Karen's School Trip is the twenty-fourth book in the Baby-Sitters Little Sister series.
Back Cover Summary[]
Karen's class is studying wild animals. They are even going to see some at the zoo. Karen and her friends can't wait for their field trip.
But then the "mean green bug" hits Ms. Colman's class. Everyone is getting the flu! Karen hopes the school trip doesn't get canceled. But she doesn't want to give the animals the bug, too!
Summary[]
Karen's class has been learning about wild animals, and they are so excited when Ms. Colman announces a trip to the zoo. One day at school, Ricky begins feeling sick. Karen escorts him to the nurse, who sends him home. The next day, more students in the class are home sick. Even Ms. Colman gets the bug. Mrs. Hoffman fills in for her. Karen is excited to see Mrs. Hoffman, but she's feeling a little off herself. That night, she can barely finish her supper. She falls asleep early and wakes up the next morning with a high fever. She stays in bed all day and for most of the weekend. On Sunday night, Karen thinks that she is better, but she wakes up vomiting just a few hours after bedtime.
Finally, on Tuesday, Karen is well enough to return to school. She is concerned, though, because there are still several students absent. On Friday, the day of the trip, Jannie is the only student who is still sick, so Ms. Colman decides that they can have their zoo trip after all. Karen is especially excited because Daddy is one of the chaperones. The class has fun at the zoo. When it is time to go home, Karen is very concerned because she does not know where Ms. Colman is. Karen thinks that her teacher is lost.
To the class' great surprise, Ms. Colman had placed their wild animal sculptures on display in the zoo. Karen feels famous. on the way home, Karen asks Ms. Colman if she bought a souvenir. Ms. Colman shows Karen a book of postcards she bought for Jannie since Jannie missed the trip. Karen thinks that is a nice gesture even though she is not fond of Jannie.
Characters in this book[]
Karen's Family
- Karen Brewer
- Andrew Brewer
- Big House - Watson Brewer, Elizabeth Thomas-Brewer, Charlie Thomas, Sam Thomas, Kristy Thomas, David Michael Thomas, Emily Michelle Brewer, Nannie
- Little House - Seth Engle, Lisa Engle
Kids
Adults
- Ms. Colman
- Mrs. Pazden - school nurse
- Mr. Counts - school librarian
- Mrs. Hoffman
Places in this book[]
- Stoneybrook Academy including the nurse's office
- Little House
- Bedford Zoo
Continuity and Inconsistencies[]
Continuity
- On page 23, Karen brings up the time Mrs. Hoffman was a substitute for a month in Karen's New Teacher.
Inconsistencies
- On the cover is Karen, Hannie, Nancy, Ricky, and Bobby. This is the only time Bobby is drawn with black hair on any cover.
- Natalie was part of Karen's group and is missing from the cover.
Trivia[]
- Everyone in the class had been sick at least once. Jannie Gilbert was the only student to miss the school trip.
- Hootie is mentioned.
- Pop culture and real life references include: The Wizard of Oz, The Twenty-One Balloons (book), Our Miss Brooks, I Love Lucy, Jeopardy, Let's Make a Deal, Concentration, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (book), Esio Trot, Caddie Woodlawn,
- Karen says that the nurse's office always smells funny.
- The first people to get sick were Ricky and Natalie.
- The animal Karen studies is a capybara, Ricky studied a pygmy marmoset, and Hannie studied a snow leopard.
- The library has a storyteller come in to perform.
- Watson is a room parent in this book.
- Karen misses going to her dad's house because of her fever.
- Natalie is afraid of the reptile house.
- Ms. Colman told Natalie to use her indoor voice.