  | There's something about Sam Author: Barnaby, Hannah Rodgers | |
| Price: $6.50 | ||
Summary:
Third-grader Max did not want to invite Jeremy or the new student, Sam, to his birthday sleepover, but soon discovers that differences can make a person fun and interesting.
| Illustrator: | Wilsdorf, Anne |
Reviews:
Kirkus Reviews (-) (04/01/20)
School Library Journal (06/01/20)
Booklist (05/01/20)
Full Text Reviews:
Booklist - 05/01/2020 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. - Copyright 2020 Booklist.
School Library Journal - 06/01/2020 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 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.
