cover image The Ninja Club Sleepover

The Ninja Club Sleepover

Laura Gehl, illus. by MacKenzie Haley. Page Street Kids, $17.99 (32p) ISBN 978-1-62414-940-5

This sweet tale of three BFFs sharing secrets at a birthday sleepover on a night with a full moon takes on a bit of a Halloween vibe. Willa is eager to attend her very first sleepover, where she’ll join her fellow ninja enthusiasts—and brave Ninja Club members—Fiona and Val for Val’s ninja-tastic birthday party. As the full moon rises that night, Willa nearly backs out, worrying that her friends will be afraid of her when they find out she’s a werewolf. But when the fun is in full swing and the trio heads out into Val’s moonlit backyard to play, Willa learns that she needn’t have been concerned: Fiona and Val have been hiding interesting metamorphoses, too. Though the ninja focus may be a draw, the overarching themes of acceptance and celebrating true friendship win the day here. Digital illustrations featuring rosy-cheeked girls and a smiling moon keep this outing on the not-so-scary side. Ages 4–8. [em](July) [/em]