Darcy's First Sleepover

June 7, 2021
In this sweetly encouraging picture book, Fortenberry follows Darcy, a light brown–skinned child who adheres to a bedtime routine guided by her father—and aided by beloved stuffed animal Little Cat. When Darcy visits her freckled, light-skinned cousin Kayla, the visit turns into a sleepover. Though Darcy notes routine differences with some unease (“I have strawberry toothpaste at my house,” she says), a phone call to her father provides welcome support, and Fortenberry’s assured third-person narrative brings the tale to a triumphant close: as the cousins plan another sleepover, Kayla confesses that she’s never slept over elsewhere, and Darcy reassures, “It might be a little scary at first. But it’s really fun.” Fortenberry’s digital paintings, meanwhile, emulate watercolors in hue and texture. A gentle, confidence-boosting volume about a common milestone. Back matter features an author’s note that reveals the story’s personal inspiration. Ages 4–8.

May 15, 2021
Darcy loves her bedtime routine. Every night, she brushes her teeth with strawberry toothpaste right after she gets into her polka dot pajamas. Then her father reads her a picture book while she snuggles with Little Cat, her favorite animal and the hero of her favorite bedtime story. Finally, she falls asleep to the comforting sound of her father doing the dishes. When Darcy and her dad go to cousin Kayla's house, the two girls have so much fun that Kayla asks if Darcy can sleep over. Darcy says yes, but it's her first time sleeping away from home, and everything is just a little bit different. The nightgown she borrows from Kayla is scratchy, and the toothpaste is peppermint. The house is full of strange, new sounds. In this strange new place, will she ever be able to fall asleep? This gentle story is full of specific details that are both lyrical and comforting in their familiarity. Darcy's conflicting feelings about her first sleepover feel authentic and are recognizable. In the end, Darcy is the one who solves her own problem, thereby modeling actions that children can take to soothe themselves. The illustrations use a cool palette and smudged lines that make the text feel intimate and cozy. Darcy, her dad, and her aunt all have brown skin and black hair; Kayla has pale skin and red hair. A sweet, well-paced tale about a common anxiety. (author's note) (Picture book. 3-6)

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June 1, 2021
Preschool-Grade 2 Darcy loves her familiar bedtime routine, which includes comfy pajamas, strawberry-flavored toothpaste, and cuddling with Little Cat, her favorite stuffed animal, while Dad reads a picture book to them. But when she decides to sleep over at her cousin Kayla's house, everything seems different. She's wearing one of Kayla's nightgowns, brushing her teeth with mint toothpaste, and missing Little Cat at bedtime. While a phone call to Dad provides reassurance, and seeing the familiar moon through Kayla's window comforts Darcy, sleep is a long time coming. Still, Darcy has a brilliant idea for another sleepover: "This time, at my house," she tells Kayla, who admits that she has never slept over in someone else's home. In the author's note, Fortenberry recalls her daughter's first, not-entirely-successful sleepovers and offers a little practical advice. Focusing on the differences between Darcy's and Kayla's bedtime rituals, the well-structured story makes it clear why Darcy couldn't sleep. Fully resonant with the text, the illustrations have a winsome look that is most appealing. A realistic, first-sleepover picture book with a happy ending.

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