Ira is thrilled to spend the night at Reggie's, until his sister raises the question of whether he should take his teddy bear.
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reviews
Oct 07, 2011
Morgan
rated it: 
Eh, this book was cute, I suppose. I don't really see any educational purposes behind this book. As a teacher, I don't think I would read this book to my class, but as a parent I may read it to my children.
I think that it has a good moral of listening to your parents before listening to your peers (in Ira's case, his sister).
Also, it talks about the universal-ness of having a comfort item. We all have our "security blankets" and Ira is no different... save for the fact More...
I think that it has a good moral of listening to your parents before listening to your peers (in Ira's case, his sister).
Also, it talks about the universal-ness of having a comfort item. We all have our "security blankets" and Ira is no different... save for the fact More...
Jul 04, 2011
Wanett
rated it: 
Ira has an older sibling who really knows how to turn the screws on him. Thanks to his big sister's taunts he's decided to leave behind his beloved bear Tah Tah while sleeping over at a friends house. Maybe. He can't make up his mind. His parents tell him not to worry and he tries to gauge Reggie's feelings about it, but he can't shake the feeling that he will be laughed at. Especially not with his sister reminding him that they will. Ira is still not sure he made the right decision when Reggie
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May 30, 2009
Robin
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Sleeping over at a friend's house for the first time is a major milestone in childhood that is often marked by a little anxiety. In Ira Sleeps Over, Bernard Waber manages to capture that anxiety with a lot of humor and very real family interactions (supportive mom and dad, not so supportive older sister).
The book opens when Ira is invited to his best friend Reggie's house for a sleepover. It's the first time he's slept away from his parents, and he's thrilled. That is until his siste More...
The book opens when Ira is invited to his best friend Reggie's house for a sleepover. It's the first time he's slept away from his parents, and he's thrilled. That is until his siste More...
Feb 16, 2010
Ira is excited to sleep over at Reggie’s house until his sister asks him if he will be taking his teddy bear. Ira has never slept without his teddy bear before. Ira worries that Reggie will tease him, so he decides not to take his bear. When Ira finds out that Reggie also has a bear, Ira goes home to retrieve his bear.
Like "Owen," "Ira Sleeps Over" depicts the difficulty and anxiety involved in giving up a treasured item that offers so much security and comfo More...
Like "Owen," "Ira Sleeps Over" depicts the difficulty and anxiety involved in giving up a treasured item that offers so much security and comfo More...
Oct 02, 2011
Kelsey
rated it:
This book tells the story of a young boy named Ira who is excited to stay the night at his friend Reggie's house until his older sister asks the question, "Are you taking your teddy bear?" He says that's the silliest thing ever and that he's not taking his teddy bear, but then he realizes that this will be a difficult decision to make. After deciding to not take his teddy bear, Ira and Reggie play with his stamps, have a wrestling and pillow fight, and then decide to go to bed. When th
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Dec 04, 2008
Stephanie
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My daughter and I read this book last night (we've read it a few times before, too), and I read it years ago as an older child. My parents actually gave the book to my brother when he turned three, and there, inside the front cover, is a very sweet inscription. This book is about -- among other things -- the teasing that big sisters can inflict on little brothers (which neither I nor my brother know anything about), and the struggles between growing up and holding on to childhood comforts. As
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Sep 10, 2008
Kaylie
rated it:
This book deals with the real problems of big sisters and bringing a teddy bear to a sleep over. It is so cute and funny and will make you laugh out loud. Students will be engaged while reading or listening to this book.
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Aug 27, 2010
babyhippoface
rated it: 
On a whim, I pulled this book off the shelf to read to 2nd grade. I hadn't read it in years and years, and I'm not even sure why it came to mind, but I am happy to say that I was surprised at how much the kids enjoyed it. They paid close attention, got a little exasperated at the way Ira kept changing his mind about taking his teddy bear to Reggie's house (I kept hearing little sighs and comments like, "Just take it!"), and openly shared about the stuffed animal(s) they sleep with. I h
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Apr 06, 2011
Melissa
rated it:
Two friends have a playdate and sleepover. The whole day, Ira contemplates taking his teddy and decides not to. Then eventually, when the friends are telling ghost stories, Regi gets his teddy and is embarressed, but then Ira goes and gets his. I liked this book. It is easy for children to relate to because most children have some type of something they keep close to them from home. At certain ages, kids dont want to be made fun of by their friends and this is a good story to share to help
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Feb 28, 2011
Carrie
rated it:
"Ira Sleeps Over" is a perfect representation of the anxieties that a child goes through when experiencing new things such as sleeping over for their first time. I enjoyed the sibling rivalry between the two characters as Ira began preparing for his big night away from home. I like how the author uses black and white illustrations with color added to them to put emphasis on certain things. I also like how an illustrations was used with just about every one of Ira's thoughts, which adds
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Jul 13, 2010
Abigail
rated it:
Excited at the prospect of his very first sleepover, at the home of his best friend Reggie, Ira is brought up short when his older sister asks whether he will be bringing Tah Tah - his beloved teddy bear - along. Convinced by her sly questioning, and outright hints, that Reggie will think he is a baby for doing any such a thing, Ira leaves Tah Tah at home, only to make a surprising discovery during the course of a bedtime ghost-story recitation.
Waber has his finger on the pre-school More...
Waber has his finger on the pre-school More...
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Dec 05, 2011
Kevin
rated it: 
Ira Sleeps Over is a very cute book that teaches children many details about staying over at a friend’s house. This is about a child who wants to take a teddy over to his friend’s house when he sleeps over. However, Ira feels it is not cool to sleep with a teddy bear. He regrets this later. Although, Reggie, Ira’s friend later can’t sleep without his teddy, so Ira should have brought his. This plays on the fear that many kids have their first sleep over.
Feb 28, 2011
Jeff
rated it:
Illustrated with a variety of techniques, Ira Sleeps Over is a newspaper cartoon-style written book (or at least reminds me of a newspaper cartoon). This is a refreshing technique, and fun to read. The story is about a boy who is about to go on his first sleep over. Excitement turns to worry as he starts to think about what his friend will think if he takes his teddy bear! The message in the story is be yourself, because most of the time, others are just like you!
Dec 15, 2009
Michele
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I was just talking to a colleague about this book and I couldn't believe that he had never heard of it or read it to his children. I believe that some of the best children's books are the ones that make children feel better about simply being themselves, and Ira Sleeps Over does just that. Bernard Waber captures the fears of childhood and the language of childhood perfectly, and puts words in the sister's mouth that ONLY an older sister could say!
Oct 19, 2009
Dolly
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This is a great story to prepare youngsters for their first sleepover. Although our girls are still too young for it, I like that Ira's first sleepover is just next door, so he is able to go home if need arises. I also like the sibling angst between Ira and his sister; it provides a good opportunity to start a conversation about peer pressure and bossy older siblings. Overall, it's a great story to read aloud to children, especially at bedtime.
Mar 01, 2010
Connie
rated it:
Ira is ready for his first ever sleepover. He's gonna have lots of fun.
At least, that's what he thinks until his (obnoxious) older sister tells him a. that his friend will laugh if he brings his teddy bear and b. that he'll be too scared to sleep without "Tah-tah".
Luckily, his friend has his own teddy bear - Foofoo - so everything ends up just fine. This is a bit wordy, save it for older kids or those with good attention spans.
At least, that's what he thinks until his (obnoxious) older sister tells him a. that his friend will laugh if he brings his teddy bear and b. that he'll be too scared to sleep without "Tah-tah".
Luckily, his friend has his own teddy bear - Foofoo - so everything ends up just fine. This is a bit wordy, save it for older kids or those with good attention spans.
Apr 10, 2011
Emily
rated it:
Anyone who has ever had a comfort item will appreciate this book. You see the internal struggle this character goes through between taking her comfort item on the first sleep over to a friends house with the possibility of being made fun of and having that comfort with him. In true Big Sister fashion Ira's sister continuously tells him he will most certainly be made fun of if he takes it when his mother tells him it will be fine.
Feb 09, 2010
Luann
rated it:
A perfect read-aloud that will be completely understood by every child who has ever slept over at a friend's house. I love the family interactions shown here. Poor Ira has quite the sister! In the beginning, I didn't like the illustrations, but as I continued reading, I felt that they fit really well with the story. I love how Ira's friend Reggie refuses to talk about teddy bears - until he absolutely has to!
Mar 08, 2010
The Reading Countess
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I initially chose this book from my school library because my youngest son was complaining that his oldest brother was having "too many sleep overs." I remember this book fondly as both a child and as a novice teacher...having had the book both read to me, reading the book to my first students ever, and now reading it to my own child. Ira still remains as fresh as he ever was. Who can't resist Tah Tah?
Apr 28, 2011
Becca
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A great story to tell to children who are trying to let go of a comfort object. Many children, whether they are still attached to their object or not, will be able to relate to this type of story. It should help children feel less ashamed about having that object, while making them feel that it is okay to let go of it as well. A great read for beginning readers and all elementary grades as well.
Feb 23, 2011
Asha
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Ira (who im not sure is a boy or a girl).. i think its a boy.. But anyway. This is a great story about friendship. Ira is sleeping over his friends house but his sister taunts him about his teddy bear. This story is great when children are attached to their stuffed animal and may be afraid to show that they need a "security blanket."
Apr 13, 2009
Amber
rated it:
This is a very cute book. It talks about a boy that is sleeping over at his friends house. He wants to take his teddybear, but his sister convinces him that his friend will laugh at him. In the end, his friend also sleeps with a teddy bear. It is a good way to teach children to not worry about what others think about them.
Dec 01, 2008
Sharon
rated it:
grades K-2
transitional/fluent
problem realism
onomatopoeia,repetition,dialogue,strong text to illustrations
Ira's first time sleeping over at friend's house and plans to take stuffed animal(best friend). Sibling teases him. Ira has inner conflict which is reasolved through self acceptance. humorous
transitional/fluent
problem realism
onomatopoeia,repetition,dialogue,strong text to illustrations
Ira's first time sleeping over at friend's house and plans to take stuffed animal(best friend). Sibling teases him. Ira has inner conflict which is reasolved through self acceptance. humorous
Feb 10, 2011
Esther
rated it:
Ira is going to a sleepover! But he has never gone to sleep without his trusty teddy bear. He thinks his friend will make fun of him so he lives it behind...little does he know that his friend sleeps with a teddy bear too! Good book to discuss fears, and what we take comfort in when we get scared :)
Apr 14, 2009
Ashley
rated it:
This book has believable dialogue and characters and is a joy to read. I would use this book to do a Choral Reading. I would have half the room be the big sister and the other half be Ira. This will give children a chance to practice playing with their voice which will help them read with expression.
Apr 14, 2011
Angela
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Loved this book. The author used humor with the older sister to relieve the anxiety in the book. I felt for Ira because when I was a child I slept with a blankie. I don't know if I could have slept the night somewhere without it. Definitely a book I would read to kids over and over.
Nov 14, 2011
Callie
rated it:
Ira is excited to go to his first sleepover, but does not know what to do about his teddy bear. He always sleeps with one, but does not want his friend, Reggie, to make fun of him. After deciding to leave it at home, he learns that Reggie sleeps with a teddy bear, too!
Apr 14, 2011
Alyce
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This is a great story that every child can relate to. We have all had some sort of comfort object we've loved. Ira has to decide to bring his to a sleep over or not. I would recommend this book to young children and would encourage every parent to read it to their child.
Dec 04, 2008
Michelle G.
rated it:
Ira is sleeping over at his friend's house for the first time. Should he or shouldn't he bring his teddy bear? What would his friend think? A great story to show students that their classmates are more like them than not when it comes to growing-up anxieties.
Oct 03, 2011
Kristin
rated it:
This book was probably my favorite as a child. I can still remember the way my mom's voice sounded as she used the same inflections when she read, "He'll laugh" said his sister....
This is definitely one I want to read to my kids for nostalia's sake if nothing else.
This is definitely one I want to read to my kids for nostalia's sake if nothing else.
