The Scary Sleepover
| The Scary Sleepover | |
|---|---|
| Author(s) | Ulrich Karger |
| Original title | Geisterstunde im Kindergarten |
| Translator | J. Alison James |
| Illustrator | Uli Waas |
| Country | USA |
| Language | English |
| Genre(s) | Children's |
| Publisher | North South Books |
| Publication date | 2002 |
| Published in English |
2002 |
| Media type | picture book |
| Pages | 24 |
| ISBN | 073581712X hardcover-edition |
| OCLC Number | 48767627 |
| Dewey Decimal | [E] 21 |
| LC Classification | PZ7.K134 Sc 2002 |
The Scary Sleepover is a children's picture book, written for children between three and six years of age. The story is written by Ulrich Karger and illustrated by Uli Waas.
Contents |
[edit] Plot summary
The book tells about a group of children having a Halloween sleepover party at school (Kindergarten). The children prepare for it by making decorations and costumes. As night draws near, so do the children's fears. One student, Mary, shares a trick her father taught her with the other students. He gave her a special bright star - whenever she feels afraid to go to bed, she has only to think about her star. This sends the darkness and the evil ghosts from her heart. Jonas does not believe in that, but he also thinks he is not afraid of ghosts. In the end, all the children need another, older trick: keeping the hallway light on all night.
[edit] Themes
The Scary Sleepover focuses on children who learn to overcome their fears of the dark by the example of a Halloween sleepover at school. Incidentally is detected: "The most boastful of the children becomes the most afraid. The Halloween setting with masks and long shadows in the dark is the perfect backdrop for this discussion."[1]
[edit] Reception
All reviews for the English edition are consistently agree that the illustrations by Uli Waas are well done. For example Sharon Salluzzo says: "The illustrations present happy-faced children as they create their costumes, carve pumpkins and prepare the room for their party. It is a warm and safe environment with a soothing ending for anyone afraid of the dark."[1]
But in contrast to the German original, in the English translation by J. Alison James some passages of dialogue are absent. Perhaps this fits well to the statement by Hannah Hoppe: "The narrative doesn't flow well, and is flat in comparison to the active pictures that emphasize positive classroom dynamics. The illustrations of the classmates are appealing and well drawn. The art outperforms the text in every way."[2]
Vicki Arkoff positively evaluates the text and the illustrations, but she sees another problem especially for American readers: "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. (..) Putting the slightly awkward premise aside, this is a gently reassuring bedtime story sure to soothe bedtime jitters in homes everywhere."[3]
But most reviews comment the book favorably without any ifs or buts. So Sharon Salluzzo says: "With its combination of imaginative and practical measures for dealing with fear of the dark, this book is certain to be popular with children."[1] A similar view has a reviewer of a Canadian Library: "A wonderful Halloween story about a classroom sleepover."[4] Georgia Cartner says: "If you need more Halloween books in your collection, this would be a good addition. (..) Children will relate to this cute story."[5] And finally Stan Steiner also sees in this picture book "a cute solution to help overcome those ghastly fears around Halloween."[6]
[edit] 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)
In addition, this picture book with the illustrations by Uli Waas is published and translated also in the following languages:
- German original by Ulrich Karger: 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
- Slovene by Andreja Sabati-Suster: Ples duhov v otroškem vrtcu, 2002 ISBN 86-7823-284-6
[edit] References
- ^ a b c Quote from: Sharon Salluzzo in childrenslit.com, Themed Reviews Halloween, October, 2002
- ^ Quote from: Hannah Hoppe in Miles City Public Library, MT, 2002
- ^ Quote from: Vicki Arkoff, USA, in Midwest Book Review - Reviewer's Bookwatch / Vol. 2 / Nr 11 / Nov. 2002
- ^ Quote from: Youth Services at the Powassan, Ontario & District Union Public Library, Ontario, Canada; October, 2002
- ^ Quote from: Georgia Cartner in South Sound Book Review Council; Washington State; 2002
- ^ Quote from: Dr. Stan Steiner; in The Bookman; Boise State University; 2002
[edit] External links
- The Scary Sleepover - summary, text-sample and reviews
- worldcatlibraries.org - a site to find all libraries in Great Britain, Canada and the USA which lend the book.
- Ulrich Karger
