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Ben
Ben Over Night
"A 2006-2007 Chocolate Lily Book Award Nominee in the Picture Book category""Ontario Library Association Best Bets List 2005
Blue Spruce Award shortlist, 2005"
Ben likes nothing more than to go over to Peter's house. When the two friends play together, Ben can be anything he wants: a pirate, a musician, a cook. He can even be a potato! But when it comes to sleepovers, all Ben can think about is going home - right away. He doesn't like the strange bed or the unfamiliar noises in the night. And he doesn't have his own cat to warm his tummy.
Mum and Dad try to come up with some ideas, but flashlights and familiar blankets don't make Ben feel better. Joe offers to come along for protection, but Ben doesn't want his big brother going on sleepovers with him. It looks like Ben just can't be a sleepover-nighter. Or can he?
A delightful sequel to the bestseller "Big Ben," this is the perfect book for preschoolers and beginner readers who are facing their own overnight challenges or have younger siblings who might need a little encouragement.
- GenresPicture BooksChildrens
32 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2005
5 people want to read
About the author
Sarah Ellis
87 books41 followersWriter, columnist, and librarian Sarah Ellis has become one of the best-known authors for young adults in her native Canada with titles such as The Baby Project, Pick-Up Sticks, and Back of Beyond: Stories of the Supernatural. In addition to young adult novels, Ellis has also written for younger children and has authored several books about the craft of writing. Praised by Booklist contributor Hazel Rochman as "one of the best children's literature critics," Ellis "writes without condescension or pedantry. . . . Her prose is a delight: plain, witty, practical, wise."
Ellis was born in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, in 1952, the youngest of three children in her family. As she once noted, "[My] joy in embroidering the truth probably comes from my own childhood. My father was a rich mine of anecdotes and jokes. He knew more variations on the 'once there were three men in a rowboat' joke than anyone I've encountered since.
Ellis was born in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, in 1952, the youngest of three children in her family. As she once noted, "[My] joy in embroidering the truth probably comes from my own childhood. My father was a rich mine of anecdotes and jokes. He knew more variations on the 'once there were three men in a rowboat' joke than anyone I've encountered since.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
September 12, 2019
Ben has trouble sleeping over at his friend's house.
What I loved most about this book was the way the story was told, starting with:
"Ben can be almost anything over at Peter's house" and ending with "Ben can be anything at Peter's house."
Never have I seen so much growth and development of a character, so much love spilling off the page from a child's family, nor such beautiful descriptions to so eloquently put a child's fear into words. The solution to the story is precious and perfect and something any child can do, it's so simple.
These stories amaze me in their complexity and simplicity all at the same time. Really loving Ben and his family and the honesty in how these words are taken.
What I loved most about this book was the way the story was told, starting with:
"Ben can be almost anything over at Peter's house" and ending with "Ben can be anything at Peter's house."
Never have I seen so much growth and development of a character, so much love spilling off the page from a child's family, nor such beautiful descriptions to so eloquently put a child's fear into words. The solution to the story is precious and perfect and something any child can do, it's so simple.
These stories amaze me in their complexity and simplicity all at the same time. Really loving Ben and his family and the honesty in how these words are taken.
September 1, 2023
This well-intended picture book is supposed to help very young children to do what? To overcome their fears, then embrace the fun-and-delight of sleepovers.
Good luck with that, parents.
* On the other hand, this book isn't intended for me, such as when I became a parent of a toddler who had his first sleepover.
* Nor does this book have any relevance to what I remember of myself as a child, having my own first sleepover.
* In theory, the approach in this book can work fine... for people who believe that nicely illustrated stories can really solve problems.
Getting results from this story might hinge on how well your child identifies with Ben, the hero of this book.
WILL YOUR CHILD START IDENTIFYING WITH BEN?
Ben is cutely portrayed near the start as being:
- A pirate
- A musician
- A cook
FWIW, what if I had read this picture book at the age of three. Or my had son read this book at the age of three. Neither of us would have identified with this odd little boy. Not in the least.
Be that as it may, much problem solving is applied to help Ben learn how to like sleepovers.
Although my personal opinion continues to be, good luck with that...
As a reviewer I'm keeping in mind the intended audience: those readers who believe their child can be helped through this book. Or perhaps they will find wondrous examples of how they can help to solve their children's problems. All of that could be good.
So FIVE STARS.
Good luck with that, parents.
* On the other hand, this book isn't intended for me, such as when I became a parent of a toddler who had his first sleepover.
* Nor does this book have any relevance to what I remember of myself as a child, having my own first sleepover.
* In theory, the approach in this book can work fine... for people who believe that nicely illustrated stories can really solve problems.
Getting results from this story might hinge on how well your child identifies with Ben, the hero of this book.
WILL YOUR CHILD START IDENTIFYING WITH BEN?
Ben is cutely portrayed near the start as being:
- A pirate
- A musician
- A cook
FWIW, what if I had read this picture book at the age of three. Or my had son read this book at the age of three. Neither of us would have identified with this odd little boy. Not in the least.
Be that as it may, much problem solving is applied to help Ben learn how to like sleepovers.
Although my personal opinion continues to be, good luck with that...
As a reviewer I'm keeping in mind the intended audience: those readers who believe their child can be helped through this book. Or perhaps they will find wondrous examples of how they can help to solve their children's problems. All of that could be good.
So FIVE STARS.
July 13, 2018
Ben Over Night is a children's picture book written by Sarah Ellis and illustrated by Kim La Fave, which is a book about a boy named Ben who loves playing at his best friend's house, but staying overnight is a different story.
Ellis' text is rather simple and straightforward. It conveys a story about Ben and how he deals with feeling about staying the night at his best friend’s house. It is an adorable book filled with childlike exuberance during the day, but at night childhood fear in equal measure. La Fave's illustrations are simply wonderful and are beautifully rendered and accentuated the text extremely well.
The premise of the book is rather straightforward. It about a boy named Ben who loves going to his best friend's house to play, but has yet been successful in sleeping over. His parents' has made several suggestions, but flashlights and blankets doesn't make Ben feel better and he refused his older brother's, Joe, offer to come along for protection. In the end it was the sensible reasoning of his older sister Robin that made it possible for Ben to sleep through the night at his best friend’s house.
All in all, Ben Over Night is a wonderful children's book about how a boy who conquered his fears with the help of his family and friends – even if it's something as innocuous as sleeping over at a best friend's house.
Ellis' text is rather simple and straightforward. It conveys a story about Ben and how he deals with feeling about staying the night at his best friend’s house. It is an adorable book filled with childlike exuberance during the day, but at night childhood fear in equal measure. La Fave's illustrations are simply wonderful and are beautifully rendered and accentuated the text extremely well.
The premise of the book is rather straightforward. It about a boy named Ben who loves going to his best friend's house to play, but has yet been successful in sleeping over. His parents' has made several suggestions, but flashlights and blankets doesn't make Ben feel better and he refused his older brother's, Joe, offer to come along for protection. In the end it was the sensible reasoning of his older sister Robin that made it possible for Ben to sleep through the night at his best friend’s house.
All in all, Ben Over Night is a wonderful children's book about how a boy who conquered his fears with the help of his family and friends – even if it's something as innocuous as sleeping over at a best friend's house.
December 8, 2018
Ben can be anything at best friend Peter's house... even a potato! LOL Ben loves spending time with Peter but any time they attempt a sleepover at Peter's house, Ben always ends up calling his dad to come get him in the middle of the night. Ben just can't get over the strangeness of not being in his own house. But with a little help from family, Ben learns some skills that help him overcome his fears and discomfort.
This one features wonderful illustrations (that almost remind me of a PBS style cartoon) and a good message that will be of great help to any young readers struggling with this same issue.
This one features wonderful illustrations (that almost remind me of a PBS style cartoon) and a good message that will be of great help to any young readers struggling with this same issue.
May 13, 2022
When is a child ready to spend the night at a friend's house? This easy reader explores Ben staying overnight and it takes a few tries.
January 15, 2014
A really nice choice for children learning how to deal with fear of sleeping over at a friends house. I particularly like the Ben has tried several times before he finally is successful.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews