The Ninja Club Sleepover

K-Gr 3--In this sweet story, three friends love ninjas and have created a ninja club. They decide to plan a sleepover party. For Willa, it will be her first sleepover and she is nervous, especially because the party will take place on a night with a full moon. That's not such a great thing when you are a closeted werewolf. Willa decides to make a costume that will completely cover her skin and prevent a werewolf transformation. The night of the party, things are going well until Fiona falls off the monkey bars, revealing that she is a fairy. Suddenly the moon is so bright, Willa transforms into a werewolf and Val shows herself to be a vampire. It turns out that all three girls have their own secret, and the trio realizes that they are all unique and brave. The evocative digital art includes bold colors and unique patterns, enriching the tone of the text. VERDICT These spunky characters are sure to warm every readers heart with their sincerity and bravery.--Martha Rico, Yselta ISD, TX

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. (July)