School Library Journal Review

K-Gr 2-Little monster Doris cleans up her house so a vampire, a mummy, and other creepy creatures can visit for a sleepover. The page layout and design effectively relate various episodes in the evening's escapades. Each spread features a different activity, such as fortune-telling or playing "Simon Says." The illustrated panels of sequential art and speech balloons evoke comic books targeted at older readers. A single line of text appears under the panels. The short, simple sentences and controlled vocabulary are well suited to beginning readers. For instance, the narrator asks, "Is she getting ready for a party?" and then realizes, "Oh, it IS a party! It's a sleepover party!" The book's episodic structure does not make for a sustained, linear narrative; however, it captures the frenetic atmosphere of an elementary school sleepover. Bright, acrylic paintings enhance the lively tone. Beck's silly sense of humor will delight young readers, who will giggle when Doris's mom sends the little monsters to bed and tells them, "Don't bite the bedbugs tonight!"-Mary Landrum, Lexington Public Library, KY (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.