There's Something About Sam

April 1, 2020
The birthday boy accidentally invites a werewolf to his sleepover. At first, Max doesn't want to invite new kid Sam to spend the night along with his other friends. "There's something different about him," he argues, but his mom counters that "that's no reason to leave him out." The third grader conveys his concerns to his other friends, but they seem to like the weirdo--apparently he "can run really fast," says Michael (similarly initially left off Max's guest list for nose-picking), and Elliott enthuses that he "always knows what's cooking in the cafeteria way before lunchtime." Sam himself seems hesitant, his hair standing on end as he says "I'm not sure I can...there's a full moon that night." But Sam decides to show up after all, and during the course of the sleepover he and his oddities start to grow on Max. Before long it's revealed that the rare-meat-loving, hairy boy who's inclined to bite is, in fact, a werewolf. The beastly reveal at the end is fun, but the journey there is bogged down by confusing transitions between scenes and awkward sentences. All the characters, including the protagonists, are awfully bland, and their somewhat interchangeable names make it hard to distinguish between them. The illustrations are unfortunately drab for such a lively concept. Max, his mother, and all his guests save Jeremy, who presents black, seem to be white. It's got a werewolf, but it's bloodless. (Picture book. 4-7)

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June 1, 2020

K-Gr 2- When Max is told he has to invite all the boys in his class to his birthday party, he balks at asking Sam, a new kid with something a little different about him. As the days to the party approach, Max learns many of Sam's charms and notices that his other friends are also starting to appreciate Sam. But the clues to just how unusual Sam is keep adding up. There's the full moon, and the rare hamburger, and finally, a hairy, clawed hand. Yup-Sam is a werewolf. With a nod to Maurice Sendak, the group joins in for a wild rumpus until late in the night, and when the sleepover ends, friendships are solidified. VERDICT Some well-written, lightweight fun with a little deductive reasoning thrown in. Recommended for large collections.-Lisa Lehmuller, Paul Cuffee Maritime Charter Sch., Providence

Copyright 2020 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

May 1, 2020
Preschool-G Making invitations to his birthday sleepover party, Max hesitates over inviting Michael, who picks his nose, and the new kid, Sam, because there's something different about him. He decides to include them both. Sam seems reluctant initially, saying that the full moon falls on Max's birthday, but decides to attend. At the party, he's the only kid who likes his hamburger rare and, when darkness falls, the only one to develop hairy hands, sharp claws, and fangs. Though three of the boys scream and hide, Max reacts to the surprising changes with admiration: Awesome! He and Sam run into the yard, where the others soon join them in a wild rumpus. Barnaby's text hits just the right notes, from Max's initial uneasiness about Sam to his joyful acceptance of his friend's differences. Rereading the story, kids may find clues they missed the first time. Wilsdorf captures the action in the line-and-wash pictures, from the realistically chaotic party scenes to the closing image of Max happily writing Sleepover / Sam! on every calendar page. Good fun.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2020, American Library Association.)

August 17, 2020
Barnaby’s gently rhythmic picture book imparts the importance of open-mindedness and inclusion in a clever, supernatural-tinged tale. When blond third grader Max hosts a birthday sleepover and invites all the boys in his class, he almost doesn’t include the new kid, Sam—“there’s something different about him.” At his mother’s urging, however, Max extends the invitation, and the pale, wild-haired Sam ends up attending, even though “There’s a full moon that night.” As the evening progresses, Max’s suspicions about this particular guest, who loves rare burgers and sprouts hair on his hands, begin to be confirmed, and the third act brings a welcome, generous twist. Delicately lined ink illustrations, supplemented by gradient watercolor washes, are reminiscent of classic picture books; Wilsdorf’s emphasis on movement adds to the art’s engaging quality. An endorsement of moving past uncertain first impressions—and accepting people despite, or because of, their idiosyncrasies. Ages 4–7.