The Sleepover Book

Sylvia Pantaleo is an assistant professor of education specializing in
children’s literature at the University of Victoria. She is the
co-author of Learning with Literature in the Canadian Elementary
Classroom.

The Sleepover Book includes everything necessary for a successful
slumber party. A chapter on preparty planning asks readers questions
about party details, sleeping quarters, and food, and offers suggestions
for making invitations and creating decorations. Other chapters describe
dozens of entertaining ideas on creating theme parties and generating
games and things to do. The chapter, “Beauty Fun,” details nine
activities for the hair, nails, and skin. Many of the products required
for the activities can be found in kitchens or purchased from craft
stores. Griffin describes 11 crafts (e.g., dream catcher, critter
slippers, candles) that require minimal, if any, adult supervision and
assistance. The final chapter on cooking for a sleepover includes
recipes for dinners, desserts, midnight snacks, and breakfasts.
Directions for completing the various activities are numbered and
Kurisu’s accompanying illustrations provide additional information.
The cartoon-like illustrations help to create a partylike atmosphere
throughout the book.

Several of the games and crafts could be used at parties other than
slumber parties. Some of the activities would appeal to both genders but
overwhelming, the book’s target audience is girls. Recommended.