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Larry the Polar Bear #6
Sleepover Larry
Larry is a polar bear with style. He likes blueberry muffins, enjoys dancing ballet, and takes pride in his job as a lifeguard. He lives with the Frobisher family in the hotel that they named after him. One day, Larry invites his bear friends from the zoo for a sleepover. That’s when all the fun begins! Jill Pinkwater’s pen-and-ink and colored-marker illustrations capture Larry’s appealing character as he and his friends have the best sleepover ever.
32 pages, Hardcover
First published September 28, 2007
50 people are currently reading
29 people want to read
About the author
Daniel Pinkwater
156 books422 followersDaniel Manus Pinkwater is an author of mostly children's books and is an occasional commentator on National Public Radio. He attended Bard College. Well-known books include Lizard Music, The Snarkout Boys and the Avocado of Death, Fat Men from Space, Borgel, and the picture book The Big Orange Splot. Pinkwater has also illustrated many of his books in the past, although for more recent works that task has passed to his wife Jill Pinkwater.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
February 4, 2020
In this sixth and latest book devoted to the delightful adventures of Larry the polar bear, our hero decides that he would like to have a sleepover party. Naturally, he invites his brother Roy, as well as Bear Number One and Bear Number Three (presumably Irving and Muktuk, of Bad Bear fame), to spend the night at the Hotel Larry. But will the party be a success? Will the bears enjoy their "scary" movie? Will they want to sleep outside...?
Sleepover Larry is another amusing story from the marvelous Pinkwaters, with some hilarious dialogue, as in this exchange between Larry and Mildred:
"I have chosen Wild Polar Bears in the Frozen North," he said. "It is a documentary."
"I thought you were going to show a scary movie at your sleepover," I said.
"This is scary," said Larry.
Aha! Documentaries CAN be scary, it turns out, especially when they star "Uncle Dave..." Unfortunately, although I greatly enjoyed both the story and illustrations, my copy had some printing errors, and I had to jump around from page to page. Oh well, I suppose it's a sign of how much I love these books, that I was completely willing to go searching around for the right order...
Sleepover Larry is another amusing story from the marvelous Pinkwaters, with some hilarious dialogue, as in this exchange between Larry and Mildred:
"I have chosen Wild Polar Bears in the Frozen North," he said. "It is a documentary."
"I thought you were going to show a scary movie at your sleepover," I said.
"This is scary," said Larry.
Aha! Documentaries CAN be scary, it turns out, especially when they star "Uncle Dave..." Unfortunately, although I greatly enjoyed both the story and illustrations, my copy had some printing errors, and I had to jump around from page to page. Oh well, I suppose it's a sign of how much I love these books, that I was completely willing to go searching around for the right order...
June 30, 2019
More fun with Larry! My kids enjoyed it, especially the callbacks to earlier books, such as the ice cream from Ice Cream Larry and the bunny from Bad Bears and a Bunny. They were annoyed that Irving and Muktuk are still getting called "Bear #1 and Bear #3," and they were sad that this is the final polar bear book.
I enjoyed this book okay, but not as much as some of the more focused books in the series.
I enjoyed this book okay, but not as much as some of the more focused books in the series.
May 25, 2008
Grease your muffin tins and defrost your blueberries, it’s time for another adventure in friendship and frivolity as two thrillingly familiar polar bears let the good times roll at Larry’s first ever sleepover.
You can listen in on our chat about this book on our Just One More Book! Children's Book Podcast.
You can listen in on our chat about this book on our Just One More Book! Children's Book Podcast.
October 10, 2017
Ok, despite the fact that Mildred, not Larry, narrated this, it's pretty darn funny. "Oh no, walrus, run away!" "Nothing bothers the bunny." And I want Larry's flowered chair and footstool....
January 29, 2022
Cute, funny, and awesome psychedelic illustrations.
April 24, 2023
Silly and humorous!
May 1, 2025
Larry watches his human friend have a sleepover and decides polar bears can do it too! I like the bunny.
October 11, 2014
Blueberries, Codfish and Muffins
In this, his sixth outing, Larry the Polar Bear is settled quite nicely at the Hotel Larry. After the owner's daughter, Mildred Frobisher, has a sleepover with her friends Larry asks if he might have a sleepover with his polar bear friends. Of course he may.
MILD SPOILERS, BUT HOW MANY FIVE YEAR OLDS ARE READING THESE REVIEWS? In addition to snacks, (blueberries, blueberry muffins, blueberry ice cream and codfish), there is a movie, and games. The guest polar bears, (who thought ahead and brought pillows and blankets), as well as a wolf and a bunny, (because, why not?), have never been outside of the zoo or to a sleepover, so many surprises await. A good, though confusing, time is had by all. Playing with the flashlights turns out to be especially fun.
This is one of the best Larry books. As always, the narrative is written in an archly formal style. The people are kind, Larry is generous, and a particularly engaging current of good humor runs through the entire story. The tale is narrated by Mildred, who always adds an engaging note of affection for Larry and his friends when she's telling the stories.
The illustrations in this book are particularly appealing. Sometimes the drawing takes a back seat in the Larry books, but here the drawings add a good deal to the enjoyment of the story. (Especially the drawings of the bears dancing, watching movies, and playing in the back yard.)
Sometimes the Larry books can be a bit too hip for younger readers and they can miss some of the skewed humor. This book is particularly accessible and understandable, while losing nothing of that idiosyncratic Pinkwater charm. So this might be a very nice volume with which to start your Larry reading adventure.
Please note that I found this book while browsing kindleunlimited freebies. I have no connection at all to either the author or the publisher of this book. (And remember - nothing bothers the bunny.)
In this, his sixth outing, Larry the Polar Bear is settled quite nicely at the Hotel Larry. After the owner's daughter, Mildred Frobisher, has a sleepover with her friends Larry asks if he might have a sleepover with his polar bear friends. Of course he may.
MILD SPOILERS, BUT HOW MANY FIVE YEAR OLDS ARE READING THESE REVIEWS? In addition to snacks, (blueberries, blueberry muffins, blueberry ice cream and codfish), there is a movie, and games. The guest polar bears, (who thought ahead and brought pillows and blankets), as well as a wolf and a bunny, (because, why not?), have never been outside of the zoo or to a sleepover, so many surprises await. A good, though confusing, time is had by all. Playing with the flashlights turns out to be especially fun.
This is one of the best Larry books. As always, the narrative is written in an archly formal style. The people are kind, Larry is generous, and a particularly engaging current of good humor runs through the entire story. The tale is narrated by Mildred, who always adds an engaging note of affection for Larry and his friends when she's telling the stories.
The illustrations in this book are particularly appealing. Sometimes the drawing takes a back seat in the Larry books, but here the drawings add a good deal to the enjoyment of the story. (Especially the drawings of the bears dancing, watching movies, and playing in the back yard.)
Sometimes the Larry books can be a bit too hip for younger readers and they can miss some of the skewed humor. This book is particularly accessible and understandable, while losing nothing of that idiosyncratic Pinkwater charm. So this might be a very nice volume with which to start your Larry reading adventure.
Please note that I found this book while browsing kindleunlimited freebies. I have no connection at all to either the author or the publisher of this book. (And remember - nothing bothers the bunny.)
April 29, 2013
Larry the polar bear lives with Mildred Frobisher and her parents. When Mildred has a sleepover with her friends, Larry decides to have one as well.
The book style reminded me of the Clifford books narrated by Emily Elizabeth--this book was narrated by Mildred Frobisher as she tells the reader about Larry's first sleepover. It was a very bland, drawn out story as Larry sends out the invitations, plans the menu, rents a video and asks permission to use the record player (yes a record player?!?). The guests, Larry's brothers, finally arrive on the zoo bus along with two uninvited guests. The reader may think that perhaps the addition of Bunny and Wolf will add some conflict or action, but no -- the party progresses boringly without a hitch and the reader has to sit through 4 pages of song lyrics as the party guests dance. All ends happily and the guests go home.
I really don't see the appeal of this book at all. The story was incredibily boring. The language was strange--lots of stilted dialoge--with none of the beautiful language you expect in a picture book. It was sort of written like an easy reader, but not in easy reader format. I have to say I was amazed that this is part of a series . . . I guess the Larry books must have its audience, but that audience sure isn't me. Sorry.
The book style reminded me of the Clifford books narrated by Emily Elizabeth--this book was narrated by Mildred Frobisher as she tells the reader about Larry's first sleepover. It was a very bland, drawn out story as Larry sends out the invitations, plans the menu, rents a video and asks permission to use the record player (yes a record player?!?). The guests, Larry's brothers, finally arrive on the zoo bus along with two uninvited guests. The reader may think that perhaps the addition of Bunny and Wolf will add some conflict or action, but no -- the party progresses boringly without a hitch and the reader has to sit through 4 pages of song lyrics as the party guests dance. All ends happily and the guests go home.
I really don't see the appeal of this book at all. The story was incredibily boring. The language was strange--lots of stilted dialoge--with none of the beautiful language you expect in a picture book. It was sort of written like an easy reader, but not in easy reader format. I have to say I was amazed that this is part of a series . . . I guess the Larry books must have its audience, but that audience sure isn't me. Sorry.
June 13, 2013
I wasn't familiar with the Larry Series, but I wanted to try this new installment as it sounded quite cute.
Larry, is a very cute polar bear who is hoping to have his first sleepover for his zoo friends. The party will be held at the hotel where he lives. What do animals do at Larry's sleepover? Pretty much what children do when their friends sleep over: order pizza, play games, and even watch a scary movie.
The illustrations by Jill Pinkwater are cute, but the story was just so so, and even though it's a book for young children, I think the grammar should have been corrected....just my opinion. I think children need to be taught proper English early on - no excuses. If you are curious, the Kindle Edition is available for only $1.00, while the hardcover is $15.00.
Larry, is a very cute polar bear who is hoping to have his first sleepover for his zoo friends. The party will be held at the hotel where he lives. What do animals do at Larry's sleepover? Pretty much what children do when their friends sleep over: order pizza, play games, and even watch a scary movie.
The illustrations by Jill Pinkwater are cute, but the story was just so so, and even though it's a book for young children, I think the grammar should have been corrected....just my opinion. I think children need to be taught proper English early on - no excuses. If you are curious, the Kindle Edition is available for only $1.00, while the hardcover is $15.00.
March 19, 2016
07/09: The bunny cracked us up.
Inside Jacket: Larry is a polar bear with style. He likes blueberry muffins, enjoys dancing ballet, and takes pride in his job as a lifeguard. He lives with the Frobisher family in the hotel that they named after him. One day, Larry invites his bear friends at the zoo for a sleepover. That's when all the fun begins!
Inside Jacket: Larry is a polar bear with style. He likes blueberry muffins, enjoys dancing ballet, and takes pride in his job as a lifeguard. He lives with the Frobisher family in the hotel that they named after him. One day, Larry invites his bear friends at the zoo for a sleepover. That's when all the fun begins!
October 1, 2011
Still confused how this series started and Larry the Polar Bear came to live with the family. This one is funny, although would be over a younger child's head and over their attention span. My 5 yr old is a Larry fan although I'm not even sure he gets all the humor.
April 5, 2008
Borrowed from the library.
This book was written by Daniel Pinkwater -- he reviews children's books for the magazine Wondertime.
This book was written by Daniel Pinkwater -- he reviews children's books for the magazine Wondertime.
January 2, 2009
I have heard Pinkwater many times on NPR. I got this almost by accident at the library; I pulled almost randomly from the new books. Its charming and I am going to look for more by him.
November 10, 2011
My favorite Larry book so far. I liked seeing how the sleepover went off. And I especially loved the bunny and the ending.
More of a 3.5 rating.
More of a 3.5 rating.
February 19, 2013
Genius! Although I wish he would just call Bear Number One and Bear Number Two...Irving and Muktuk.
April 6, 2016
Love this author! I hope to read all the Larry books.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews