The Scary Sleepover

"The Scary Sleepover" is written by Ulrich Karger, illustrated by Uli Waas and translated into English by J. Alison James. This picture book tells about mysterious things are happening in Mary's classroom. Her class is having a Halloween sleepover party at school (Kindergarten). The children busily prepare for it, making wonderful decorations and fanciful costumes. But as night draws near, so do the children's fears. Mary shares a trick her father taught her when she was afraid go to sleep. Will it help the children through the night?

"Right off the bat it's clear that this simple picture book is a translated work because of its "this would never happen in this country" premise. After all, how many parents do you know who let their pre-schoolers and kindergarteners have sleepovers at school? Sure enough it's a German tale about what happens during a Halloween sleepover party as nighttime falls and common fears begin to arise. The little goblins and witches have a ball together, romping. reading stories, and gazing at the night sky. When one girl points out her very own star that her daddy helped her choose to watch over her as she sleeps, she suggests everyone else choose their own too. The comforting thought instantly puts nervous minds at ease...as does the hallway night light.
Putting the slightly awkward premise aside, this is a gently reassuring bedtime story sure to soothe bedtime jitters in homes everywhere." Vicki Arkoff, USA (in Midwest Book Review - Reviewer's Bookwatch / Vol. 2 / Nr 11 / Nov. 2002)

In addition, this picture book with the illustrations by Uli Waas is published and translated also in the following languages:
*German original: "Geisterstunde im Kindergarten", 2002 ISBN 3-314-01151-2
*Dutch by Sander Hendriks: "Spoken in de speelzaal", 2002 ISBN 90-5579-684-0
*French by Anne Ruck-Sultan: "Halloween à l'école", 2002 ISBN 3-314-21536-3
*Italian by Alessandra Valtieri: "Halloween all'asilo", 2002 ISBN 88-8203-504-2
*Slovenian by Andreja Sabati-Suster: "Ples duhov v otroškem vrtcu", 2002 ISBN 86-7823-284-6

Book Information

*ISBN 0-7358-1712-X (Hard Cover / North South Books Inc., New York)
*ISBN 0-7358-1713-8 (Library Edition / North South Books Inc., New York)
*ISBN 0-439-44863-8 (paperback for the school market / Scholastic Inc., New York)

External links

* [http://home.arcor.de/karger/uk-geist-en.htm The Scary Sleepover] - summary, text-sample and reviews
* [http://www.worldcatlibraries.org/wcpa/ow/721a23d237ce44fda19afeb4da09e526.html worldcatlibraries.org] - a site to find all libraries in Great Britain, Canada and the USA which lend the book.
* [http://home.arcor.de/karger/uke-indx.htm Ulrich Karger]