Iris and Walter: The Sleepover

by Elissa Haden Guest, Christine Davenier (Illustrator)

Overview

Iris cannot wait to have her first sleepover at her best friend Walter's house. They will put on a puppet show. They will ride Walter's horse Rain in their pyjamas. They will stay up very, very late. But on the big night, when it is time for bed after all the fun, Iris lies awake missing Grampa's songs, her parents' kisses, and Baby Rose sleeping nearby. Maybe, just maybe, this sleepover wasn't such a good idea after all.
The fourth book in this critically acclaimed and award-winning series will reassure any child who is anxious about spending a night away from home.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780547745565
Publisher:	HarperCollins
Publication date:	08/07/2012
Series:	Iris and Walter
Pages:	44
Sales rank:	1,114,866
Product dimensions:	5.80(w) x 8.80(h) x 0.20(d)
Age Range:	6 - 9 Years

About the Author

Elissa Haden Guest is the author of Baby Builders, illustrated by Hiroe Nakata, and the award-winning Iris and Walter series. She holds an MFA in children's literature from Hollins University and teaches classes in writing for children and young adults at Stanford Continuing Studies. She lives in San Francisco, California.

Christine Davenier is an illustrator for young readers and for the French and American press. She illustrated the Very Fairy Princess books by actress Julie Andrews and her daughter Emma Walton Hamilton. She studied at the National School of Applied Arts in Paris and at the Rhode Island School of Design in the United States

Editorial Reviews

"Iris and Walter will join Frog and Toad and Henry and Mudge in a prominent place on the easy-reading shelves." —The Bulletin
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From the Publisher

In the stars' fourth title, excitement turns to skittishness as Iris prepares for a sleepover at Walter's house. When she decides to come home in the middle of the night, Iris gets a big welcome from her family. Ages 6-9. (Aug.) Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.

Publishers Weekly

K-Gr 2-In this splendid entry in the easy-reader series, Iris eagerly plans a sleepover at her friend Walter's house, where they will put on a puppet show, ride Walter's horse in their pajamas, and camp out on the front porch. At school some friends share her enthusiasm about sleepovers, but Benny casts a shadow with his story of leaving his cousin's house in the middle of the night because, "I missed my pillow." Undaunted, Iris packs and says her good-byes and has a wonderful time at Walter's house. But then her homesickness becomes unbearable when her friend falls asleep before she does. She wakes him, and Walter and his father drive her home to the loving arms of her family. As in earlier titles, Iris's exuberance is reflected in Guest's text as well as in Davenier's pen-and-ink and watercolor-wash illustrations that nearly lift the child off the page. Readers will delight in the youngsters' friendship, and bask in the reassuring love and support they receive from their families.-Laura Scott, Baldwin Public Library, Birmingham, MI Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information.

School Library Journal

Best friends Iris and Walter eagerly look forward to their first sleepover. Iris has grand plans for the big night. When she shares her exciting news with her schoolmates, Iris blithely disregards cautionary tales of woe, determined that her first sleepover will not be marred by homesickness. Yet, when all the fun is done and it is time to settle down to sleep, Iris discovers that she misses the familiar comforts of home. An urgent whisper in Walter's ear soon has Iris back within the warm embrace of her family. Guest has perfectly captured that unique moment in child development when a little one is precariously balanced on that fragile cusp between parent-dependent young childhood and the more emancipated older child. Everyone's easy acceptance of Iris's change of heart offers her all the support she needs; she goes to sleep in her own bed, confident that when the time comes, she will be ready to try another sleepover. Separated into four chapters, this is a manageable tale for beginning readers ready to move beyond simplistic chapter books. Davenier's bright pen-and-ink illustrations capture the ebullience of Iris as she prances about in a frenzy of anticipation for the big event. Artful, haphazardly colored-in, and loosely drawn images convey an energy and vibrancy to the pictures. Readers will welcome this latest installment in the true-to-life stories of these charming friends. (Easy reader. 5-7)

Kirkus Reviews

[Editor’s Note: This is a combined review with IRIS AND WALTER AND COUSIN HOWIE]--The books in the Iris and Walter series thoughtfully explore different facets of friendship and family life. IRIS AND WALTER AND COUSIN HOWIE addresses the shifting nature of friendship (focusing on that tricky moment when “three’s a crowd”). THE SLEEPOVER captures the roller-coaster ride of a child’s first night away from home (though Iris doesn’t actually manage to stay the whole night, a decision that all adult characters are quite accepting about). Through each of these stories, Barbara McCulloh is particularly good at expressing Iris’s varying emotions, and her well-paced, thoughtful voice provides good company for early readers. J.C.G. © AudioFile 2005, Portland, Maine

OCT/NOV 05 - AudioFile