The Worst Sleepover in the World
Age 4+
Family & Home Stories Picture Storybooks
A playful picture book exploring the hilarious complications of first friendships, from an exciting new voice in children's literature.
Ramona is having her best friend Gracie to stay the night. It’s their first ever sleepover and she wants to make a den, read stories, dance like a wild thing, stay up all night and have a midnight feast. It'll be the BEST SLEEPOVER IN HISTORY. But nothing quite goes to plan. Will Gracie, Ramona and her little sister Ruby be able to solve their problems and still be friends in the morning?
PRAISE FOR THE WORST SLEEPOVER IN THE WORLD
"This funny but tender look at children’s insecurities and why fear can manifest as difficult behaviour will resonate with sleepover-weary parents as much as with children." The Daily Mail
"a wry, relatable look at the dynamics of first friendships" The Bookseller
"A comedy of manners for seven year olds that beautifully navigates the perils of pyjama parties with pitch perfect illustrations." Chris Riddell
"The Worst Sleepover in the World is a charming and gleeful story of the joys and perils of the sleepover, brought beautifully to life by Sophie Dahl's witty words and Luciano Lozano's delightful artwork." Anna James
"Sophie has a wild capacity to think and dream like a child, I love her writing voice... The illustrations are so emotive and funny and how cool is mum? I adored reading this chaotic, funny and heart warming book that is full of warmth, friendship and life." Laura Dockrill
"packed with wit, charm and love. It is bound to be a massive hit with children and their beleaguered parents alike." Lauren O'Hara
"A funny tale of friendship and fall-outs" Yasmeen Ismail
"[Sophie Dahl’s] tale about a first sleepover that doesn’t quite go according to plan should strike a chord with wee ones everywhere." Dundee Courier
PRAISE FOR MADAME BADOBEDAH
"Illustrated with airy, light-hearted charm by Lauren O’Hara [...] This longer-form picture book taps astutely into the imaginative life of an adventurous child, is lovely both the read and listen to." The Guardian
"Swashbuckling and mysterious [...] I can't recommend it enough as a gift [...] it's a beautiful kids' book" Dolly Alderton
"Any imaginative child will warm to this funny, touching story of lonely only child Mabel. Beautifully illustrated, this is a joyous debut." The Daily Mail
"My favourite contemporary kids’ author" Evening Standard Magazine
“a playful and beguiling voice” The Observer
"Dahl’s engaging style – teamed with Lauren O’Hara’s gorgeous illustrations – make it a book to remember." Press Association
"Innocence meets experience in this story that’s as beautifully illustrated as it is told." i newspaper
"plenty of charm" The Daily Telegraph
"one of 2019’s most exciting and imaginative picture books [...] Sophie Dahl’s debut for children is wonderfully eccentric and imaginative, and also tells a powerful tale of friendship [...]The pictures are also a pure delight." The Sun
Creators
Sophie Dahl is the bestselling author of four books for adults, and two for children. The Worst Sleepover In The World follows her children’s debut, the critically acclaimed, Madame Badobedah. Dahl has written non-fiction essays for US Vogue, Vogue, The New York Times, The Guardian and The Sunday Times. She has judged the Women’s prize for fiction and Vogue’s Young Talent Contest. She is also a contributing editor and monthly columnist at House and Garden magazine. Madame Badobedah, was nominated for a Greenaway Medal, selected as one of both The Guardian's and The Sunday Times's Children’s Books of The Year, and in the US it was awarded a Parent’s Choice Gold Award. @mssophiedahl
Luciano Lozano studied an MA in Illustration at EINA, Barcelona and he has lived there ever since. His children’s books include Boys Dance, Diana Dances, Mayhem at the Museum, The Sun Shines Everywhere, Operation Alphabet and I (Don't) Like Snakes by Nicola Davies. His art is also regularly seen in newspapers and magazines worldwide. See more of Luciano’s work at lucianolozano.com and follow him on Instagram at @ilustrista.
Reviews
This funny but tender look at children’s insecurities and why fear can manifest as difficult behaviour will resonate with sleepover-weary parents as much as with children.
The Daily Mail
Sophie has a wild capacity to think and dream like a child, I love her writing voice, her tone is spot on and after reading this I basically just want to go to a sleepover at Sophie’s house! The illustrations are so emotive and funny and how cool is mum? I adored reading this chaotic, funny and heart warming book that is full of warmth, friendship and life.
Laura Dockrill, Author
“The Worst Sleepover in the World is a charming and gleeful story of the joys and perils of the sleepover, brought beautifully to life by Sophie Dahl’s witty words and Luciano Lozano’s delightful artwork.”
Anna James, author
This may be The Worst Sleepover in the World but since reading this story to my children they’ve been begging me to have their own sleepover. With wit and pizzazz Sophie Dahl tells it just like it is- hilarious, exasperating and a tiny bit exhausting (for Mum at least) but hey, let’s do it all again tomorrow!
Polly Dunbar, author-illustrator
This book is fabulous! It should be handed to every parent with a child in primary school as a self help manual. Kids are also going to love it!
Rebecca Patterson, author
