Celebrate the joys of summer with these wonderful new kids' books:

• "Spectacular" is the best description for "Wave" (Chronicle Books, $15.99), the new picture book by author-artist Suzy Lee. Using a limited palette of black, white and blue, Lee vividly captures a young girl's reactions as she plays in the waves at the beach. There are no words in this book, but Lee's pictures speak volumes as they show the little girl exuberantly splashing in the waves, then bravely sticking out her tongue as a huge wave crests near her, and finally discovering the shells left on the beach as the wave ebbs away. All the while, her encounter with the waves is humorously mirrored by a flock of five playful gulls.

In depicting the young protagonist's glee, Lee masterfully makes use of the picture-book format, building up to a climax at which the waves take over a two-page spread. Overall, "Wave" is one of those memorable picture books that can easily sustain repeated readings. (Ages 3-7.)

• James and Eamon are spending a summer week together, eating and sleeping at Eamon's grandparents' house and going to a nearby nature camp during the day. The grandparents are excited about extending the boys' camp experience with maps, facts and an offer to see a penguins exhibit at the local museum. The boys, however, are most interested in having fun -- playing video games, eating mountains of banana waffles and roughhousing with each other.

In "A Couple of Boys Have the Best Week Ever" (Harcourt, $16), author-artist Marla Frazee comically spotlights the contrast between the types of summer activities well-meaning adults plan for kids and the kinds of things kids really want to do. Frazee's illustrations further broaden the humor and add emotional punch to the book's final story twist. (Ages 4-7.)

• Carl -- every family's dream canine baby sitter -- is back in a new adventure, "Carl's Summer Vacation" (Farrar Straus & Giroux, $12.95), written and illustrated by Alexandra Day. As Carl's many fans know, he's a Rottweiler who often is charged with guarding a toddler named Madeleine during her naptimes. When Madeleine's parents aren't looking, however, Carl and Madeleine sneak out to have the time of their lives. In this new book, dog and girl paddle and then overturn a canoe (Carl, of course, has first ensured that Madeleine wears her life jacket), frolic at a playground and then snitch some snacks from unsuspecting picnickers. They head back just in time to pretend to be waking up from their afternoon siesta. As usual, Madeleine's parents are clueless, wondering why Carl and their daughter are too tired to watch the fireworks display after such a long nap. Day's story is pure whimsy, while her watercolor illustrations are both beautiful and expressive. (Ages 3-6.)

• Fans of Maisy, the mouse character created by author-illustrator Lucy Cousins, will welcome her return in "Maisy's Nature Walk" (Candlewick Press, $12.99). In this book, subtitled "A Maisy First Science Book," Cousins uses an array of brilliant colors and clever pull tabs as she invites readers to join Maisy on a summer outdoor adventure. Cousins increases the book's interactive potential by asking readers to find certain things (pictured on one side of the page) in each main picture. (Ages 2-5.)

Four new books depict the ups and downs of summer camp:

• In "Froggy Goes to Camp" (Viking, $15.99), author Jonathan London and illustrator Frank Remkiewicz tell what happens when the irrepressible Froggy heads off to Camp Run-A-Muck. Fans of Froggy's previous adventures will love this new book, while those who haven't yet met Froggy are in for a treat. (Ages 3-6.)

• Buster, the pup who learned to live with his family's new cat in "Buster," makes a triumphant return in "Buster Goes to Cowboy Camp" (Henry Holt, $16.95). Author-illustrator Denise Fleming uses her trademark pulp-paper illustrations to wonderful effect, while her story -- told in short bursts -- gives readers a sense of summer-camp fun and challenges. (Ages 4-7.)

• Amelia, the cartoon-drawing, journal-keeping heroine who stars in the popular series by Marissa Moss, gets an important lesson in friendship in "Amelia's Itchy-Twitchy Lovey-Dovey Summer at Camp Mosquito" (Simon & Schuster, $9.99). "Amelia" fans also will enjoy her other new book, "Amelia's Guide to Babysitting" (Simon & Schuster, $9.99). (Both ages 10-13.)

• Despite somewhat stereotyped characters and a predictable plot, teen readers still are likely to enjoy "Huge" (Simon & Schuster, $8.99). In this novel, Sasha Paley details what happens when two girls -- one desperate to lose weight and the other wanting to snub her health-nut parents by gaining weight -- meet at Wellness Canyon camp. (Ages 12 up.)