Destiny Ink: Sleepover ­Surprise

Gr 1-3–In this debut from British author and illustrator Sokunbi, young Black girl ­Destiny Ink is kind of ready for her first sleepover; she’s actually a bit nervous. What if there are monsters?? She and her BFF ­Olivia are sleeping outdoors after all. Destiny decides to do a trial run in her room. That’s where she meets Trog, a monster who got lost exploring the human world. Like Destiny, he’s never had a sleepover before. Destiny walks him through the sleepover activities. When she wakes up, Trog is gone and ­Destiny is ready for the best sleepover with her best friend. This transitional chapter book will leave readers laughing. There are gags such as eating a whole raw onion and pouring water over one’s head. The tone is light and warm, compelling readers through the ­pages. Destiny is a relatable character with fears that children can empathize with. Nearly every page has a doodle or illustration. The art is easy to read, though in some cases it exists as decoration rather than to amplify the story.