Having your first sleepover can be a lot of fun! But what happens when someone gets homesick? From the New York Times bestselling creators of How to Babysit a Grandpa comes a sweet Step 2 early reader full of sleepover hijinks and good friends. It's sleepover time! You have the games, snacks, and activities all planned out. But what do you do when your friend feels homesick? It's time to get creative and help her feel better. Together, you can have the best sleepover ever. Plus, learn a few tips and tricks from the experts — kids! This Step Into Reading story features two friends having their first sleepover together, and all the highs and lows that come with it. Perfect for children who are ready to read on their own! Step 2 readers use basic vocabulary and short sentences to tell simple stories. They are perfect for children who recognize familiar words and can sound out new words with help. PreS-Gr 1-This short transitional book truly does instruct readers on how to host a sleepover. An unnamed Black girl has invited her friend Mia over to spend the night. They have fun trying a variety of activities, like dancing, magic, and making pizza. When it's finally time for bed, Mia gets nervous and calls her dad to pick her up. Thankfully, she changes her mind and makes it through the night. When the girls wake up, they're rewarded with pancakes for breakfast. This story, while instructional, lacks spark. Many of the sentences are very short, like "We draw." and "Mom reads a story." This is helpful for learning to read, but doesn't do much to excite readers. The story ends a bit abruptly as the children eat pancakes and then exclaim how excited they are for the next sleepover, which will also feature pancakes. There is a rather large emphasis on pancakes in this title, with the word being mentioned five times. Art features diverse characters and leans into the illustrator's apparent appreciation for colored pencils. It showcases Wildish's consistent style of fun and appealing child-friendly art. VERDICT With so many quirks, this book may help children learn to read, but it won't excite or dazzle. Best as a secondary purchase.-Sarah Westα(c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. JEAN REAGAN was born in Alabama but spent most of her childhood in Japan. She now lives in Salt Lake City with her husband. In the summers, they serve as backcountry volunteers in Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming. To learn more about Jean and her work, please visit JeanReagan.com. LEE WILDISH has illustrated a number of children's books, including the How to... series by Jean Reagan. To learn more about Lee and his work, please visit WildishIllustration.com.