Ben Over Night

Ellie Contursi is a children’s librarian at the London Public Library.

Ben and his best friend, Peter, have a fabulous time together. Ben can
be anything when he plays with Peter. He can be a painter, a musician, a
cook—even a potato. However, Ben has trouble being a
“sleepover-nighter.” Whenever Ben stays overnight at Peter’s home,
he hears strange noises, the bed feels funny, and he misses his cat. Ben
ends up crying and Peter’s dad ends up taking him home.

One day, Ben’s big sister asks him a simple question: “What’s the
fastest way to get from Peter’s house to our house?” Peter lives
just across the street, so they discuss several ways Ben can get home
very quickly. Feeling more secure, Ben decides to give the sleepover one
more try.

This time, something surprising happens. As Ben lies in bed thinking
about all the ways he can quickly get home, he yawns, and then falls
asleep. When he wakes up the next morning, Ben realizes that now he can
truly be anything when he’s with Peter, even a sleepover-nighter.

This lighthearted story will undoubtedly calm those initial fears that
some children have when sleeping away from home. Kim LaFave’s comical
illustrations are big, bold, and full of fun, much like the two best
friends. Highly recommended.