Despite his initial hesitation to invite the new kid, Sam, to his sleepover birthday party, Max quickly discovers that what makes us different makes us special, and new friends can come in all shapes, sizes, and species . . . Perfect as a birthday gift, and for fans of Vampirina Ballerina _and _Crankenstein. There’s something strange about the new kid, Sam—though Max can’t quite put his finger on it. But EVERYONE else in his class is invited to Max’s birthday sleepover, so his mom invites Sam too. Sam is just as strange at the party as he is at school: he’s wary of the full moon, prefers his hamburgers rare, and can’t help but bite the other kids during an innocent game of Twister. But despite his initial hesitation, Max discovers that what makes us different is actually what makes us special, and that new friends can come in all shapes, sizes, and species . . . This charming and pitch-perfect story will teach young readers all about the excitement of making new friends, and learning from our differences.

What Kind of Book is There's Something About Sam

Topics

friendship Halloween birthdays individuality monsters holidays sleepovers

Genres

fiction

Reviews

Marmee

4.50

Book Lists That Include This Book

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

Books about friendship

The Little Mouse, the Red Ripe Strawberry, and the Big Hungry Bear

Books about fiction

Books about Halloween

The Creatives Behind the Book

Author

Hannah Barnaby

Hannah Barnaby has worked as a children’s book editor, a bookseller, and a teacher of writing for children and young adults. She holds an MA in children’s literature from Simmons College and an MFA in writing for children and young adults from Vermont College. Her first novel, Wonder Show, was a William C. Morris YA Debut Award nominee.

Illustrator

Anne Wilsdorf

Anne Wilsdorf’s illustrations for Sophie’s Squash were described as “bursting with color and energy on every page” in a starred review from Booklist. She has illustrated numerous books for children, including Sophie’s Squash Go to School, the sequel to Pat Zietlow Miller’s Sophie’s Squash, as well as Susan McElroy Montanari’s My Dog’s a Chicken, Elizabeth Bluemle’s Dogs on the Bed, Eileen Spinelli’s The Best Story, Sharon Arms Doucet’s Alligator Sue, and Lenore Look’s Ruby Lu series.