Ira Sleeps Over

By Bernard Waber

A charming and relatable picture book about a child's first sleepover experience from the beloved author-illustrator of Lyle, Lyle Crocodile.

Ira is thrilled about his first sleepover at his friend Reggie's house, until his sister makes him question taking his favorite teddy bear!

Will Reggie laugh at his teddy bear? Can Ira sleep without it? A funny back-and-forth ensues in this classic picture book about staying true to yourself.

A perfect read-aloud for every young reader with their own bedtime friends.

• Language: English
• Publisher: HarperCollins
• Release date: Dec 8, 2020
• ISBN: 9780547530178

Bernard Waber

Bernard Waber was the beloved author-illustrator of more than thirty picture books, including Courage, Ira Sleeps Over, and Do You See a Mouse? With the publication of The House on East 88th Street in 1962, his Lyle, Lyle Crocodile series of books became a mainstay of children's literature and was adapted for both stage and screen. A Literary Landmark plaque commemorating the adventures of this endearing New York City reptile can now be found on East 88th Street. bernardwaber.com.

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Reviews for Ira Sleeps Over

[ashewert · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I really enjoyed reading this book! It tells the story of a young boy named Ira who is planning on attending his first sleepover at his friend Reggie's house. Ira is nervous because he usually sleeps with his teddy bear Tah Tah, but he doesn't want to bring the teddy bear to the sleepover because he thinks that Reggie will make fun of him. Even though his parents tell him that Reggie won't make fun of him, his sister insists that he will. It turns out that Reggie has a teddy bear of his own that he sleeps with as well. As a realistic fiction book, children can easily relate to the uneasiness that Ira was feeling about wanting to bring his teddy bear to a sleepover. I think it also demonstrates how we shouldn't always assume how others will react to things that we do! Be your own person and do what makes you happy!

[librarybird08 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Ira cannot decide if he should bring his Teddy Bear over to his friends for a sleepover, will he bring it? Will his best friend make fun of him?

[cheryl_in_cc_nv · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This is on the shelves of many many primary classrooms, and yet I don't remember ever reading it when I was training or teaching. Finally I saw a perfect copy in a thrift store, and decided to pick it up to see whether it deserves to be such a popular classic. Short answer, yes.

[lbradf4 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Ira sleeps over is a story of friendship and how if someone is a good friend he or she will not judge you, for having a teddy bear in this case. Ira is going to his very first sleep over and is unsure if he should bring his teddy bear after his sister tells him how his friend will make fun of him if he brings a teddy bear to sleep with. Ira decides not to bring his bear, at the friend’s house they play many games and when they are going to bed they start to tell ghost stories. In doing so, the friend gets scared, gets up and gets his teddy bear. Ira is shocked and goes and gets his own bear from his house. There was no judgement of his friend or from his friend when they both have teddy bears.

[sberma5 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I liked this book for many reasons. First, I loved the conversations held between the family members regarding the teddy bear. The young boy Ira has a sister. She continues to say his friend would make fun of his bear. his showed the reader the characters are believable being this happens with siblings often. I felt like the illustrations could have shown more detail regarding the sleepover and the activities the boys did. Being Ira's sister always said "he will," meaning Ira's friend would make fun of him, really made the story seem realistic. The big message was to go with your heart, don't allow others to change your mind or make decisions for you. Especially because you should never allow your feelings to change over someone else's opinion.

[lriver5 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I personally enjoyed this book for a variety of reasons! The over all message of this story is to be comfortable with who you are and do not worry about what others may think of you. This is a great message for students of all ages! Especially when it comes to growing up and leaving things behind. The language of this book was simple and easy to understand, making it appropriate for young readers. The illustrations throughout the book were also a great enhancement to the story. The illustrations were simple, not allowing too much action on one page, but were done in great detail expressing even the slightest of facial expressions of the characters. The only critical statement about this book would be the fact that in one parts of the story I felt that the language was redundant. For example, Ira would ask his friend a question and would have to repeat it multiple times due to the friend either ignoring the question or not hearing what he had said. I feel like this was effective the first time in the fact that the friend was trying to avoid the question begin asked, however it became redundant overall. I think this is a great book for young readers to either begin to read on their own, as it has simple language, or to be read to. I would recommend this book to young readers as well as anyone who is doubting who they are!

[mchapp1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I liked the story “Ira Sleeps Over” by Bernard Waber for many reasons including the characters, the plot, and the thought provoking content. In the story the main character Ira is excited about attending a sleepover with his best friend Reggie until his sister asks him “are you taking you teddy bear along”? The characters are very realistic in that they go through the emotions and actions that typical children in that age group experience. Ira represents a self conscious little boy who is worried about how his friend Reggie with view him if he brings his teddy bear to a sleepover. Reggie represents the perceived cool kid that others long to impress. Ira fears that he will be ridiculed and teased by Reggie, which influences him to decide to “not take his teddy bear” even though he had never slept without his teddy bear before. The story also touches on masculinity. Ira’s sister alludes to the fact that if Ira has a teddy bear be will be teased because a little boy bringing a teddy bear is somehow viewed as unacceptable and something to be ashamed of, however Ira uncovers that that having a teddy bear does not affect ones perceived coolness. The overall meaning of this story is to never hide who you are for the approval of someone else. What makes someone cool is their ability to embrace who they are and all the quirks that come with it regardless of the opinions of others.

[ehayne1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I liked this book because the plot was relatable. I think that the situation in this book is one that most children have experienced at one time or another. This engages the reader and helps the child know what to do when they are scared to take their treasured item to a sleepover. This book is also motivating and empowering to children to help them conquer their fear of being humiliated. The struggle that Ira goes through comforts children, reassuring them that it is a hard decision and that they are not alone in how they feel. The relatable nature of the story pulls the reader in, causing them to feel bad for Ira and also possibly disappointed in or angry at his sister. Overall, I think that the book is displaying the message to not be afraid of what others think of you and to do what makes you feel safe.

[thnguyen-1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

"Ira sleeps over" by Bernard Waber is about Ira is having a sleep over at Reggies' he wants to bring his teddy bear but he fears he will get laughed at. Ira realizes that Reggie sleeps with a teddy bear also. Students should not be afraid to have or do something because they are scared they will get make fun of. It is a great book to read with children when are afraid of what others think of them.

[ekrynen-1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

 It would be fun to have a classroom discussion with kindergarteners about the different things we like to keep close to us for sentimental reasons, and that it's okay to share that information with our friends. After all, they probably have their own "teddy bear" too!

[allisonstrait · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

In my opinion this is a great book. The story is about a little boy that is spending the night at his friend’s house, but he doesn’t know if he should take his teddy bear or not. The boy changes his mind about taking his teddy bear multiple times and eventually decides not to take it. However, when he gets to his friend’s house, his friend has a teddy bear too, so he goes back and gets his. I liked this book because the plot was very strong and relatable. Ira dealt with a conflict and did not want to be made fun of, but by the end of the story his problem was solved and he was happy with his teddy bear. A second reason I liked this book was because of the illustrations. The pictures show Ira’s emotions and facial expressions well. For example, when Ira’s sister says that Reggie will make fun of Ira if he brings his teddy bear, he decides not to bring it. The illustration for this shows Ira frowning and upset because he is not taking his bear. Overall, the big idea of the story is to be yourself and do not be ashamed of what you love. Also, the things that you are ashamed of could be cool to someone else as well. It is important to always be true to yourself and do not worry about what other people think as long as you are happy.

[desirichter · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

5 stars because I am in love-with this book. Ira is invited to sleepover at his friend's house, and faces a dilemma. Does he bring his teddy bear or leave it at home and face the unknown alone? Each family member weighs in with opinions, but in the end, Ira's friend solves the problem by producing his own teddy. Kids connect to this book and respond from the heart. A great interactive read aloud with plenty of places to pause and consider Ira's decision.

[stoppe3 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I enjoyed this book for a few reasons. First, I think it is very easy for the audience to relate to. It is very common for children to sleep with a stuffed animal, and maybe be a little bit embarrassed about it. Another reason I enjoyed this story was because of the illustrations. Specifically on the page where Ira and Reggie are playing with stamps... the entire page is covered with stamps. The main idea of this story is to not worry about what others think of you. Ira allowed his sister to convince him that Reggie would judge him for sleeping with a teddy bear, when in fact Reggie slept with a teddy bear as well. Reggie was not worried at all what Ira would think of him sleeping with a teddy bear. I think it's a great book to read with young children that have older siblings that sometimes can give them misleading messages.

[abigailadams26 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

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 pulse here, perfectly capturing the embarrassment a young boy might feel, at his attachment to his teddy bear, as well as the taunting to which siblings often subject one another. The illustrations have a distinctive vintage sensibility, with that "hastily sketched" feeling (I'm sure they were anything but) - all black outlines, filled in with color - that I associate with the 1970s. Ira Sleeps Over is definitely a classic for this age group, and one I'm glad to have read! Now I need to find some of Waber's Lyle books...

[mknest · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This is a charming, quirky book about a boy who is teased by his sister for wanting to bring his stuffed animal to a sleepover. The bulk of the story examines how Ira manages this peer pressure from his sister and has a touch ending where Ira realizes that his friend also has a stuffed animal to sleep with. A book many children will be able to relate with and connect to, discussing the intricate challenges of growing up and assuming an older identity.

[mckennamiller · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I like this book because it doe a really good job of writing from the perspective of a kid and the family dynamics. I also think it follows a good plot and the book is organized in a simple way.

[bnbharper · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Summary: Ira gets invited to go to a sleepover at his friends house, Reggie. This is his first sleepover. Before leaving, his sister reminds him about his Teddy Bear, Tah Tah that he sleeps with. Ira has a tough time deciding if he should take his bear because he does not want to get made fun of by his friend. He decides not to take it. Response: This book seemed quite long but it was still an enjoyable and fairly quick read for the length. Theme/Connection: Sleepovers; Great read aloud before bed or in the classroom; have kids make predictions of what they think Ira is going to decide on doing with his bear and why.

[mcclendon_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

This book is about a little boy who wants to sleep over at a friends house for the night but is unsure as to whether or not he should take his teddy bear. He is afraid that he will get made fun of, so he decides to go over without the teddy bear, only to find that his friend has one too. So, he runs home in the middle of night runs to get it.

[conuly · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

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.

[hebeaton · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This is a very relate-able book for younger children. It is about Ira, a boy who wants to spend the night away from home for the first time, but he is scared. Should he bring his teddy bear?? It has cute pictures and is a good lesson for children.

[jscheper_2 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

This book tells the story about Ira and his first sleepover at his friend Reggie's house. Before going Ira's sister asks Ira if he is going to bring his teddy bear along. Ira quickly reponds "No", but as he thinks about it more he doesn't want to be without his teddy bear. He decides not to take his teddy bear because his sister says Reggie will make fun of him. As it turns out Reggie also sleeps with a teddy bear. This is a very cute story about growing up and being stuck inbetween the role of child and big person. The illustrations are simple, almost child-like. The illustrations are very dated with the use of bland color. The story makes up for the cheesy illustrations. The story is timeless.

[ashley3919 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Ira is going on his first sleep over at his friend Reggie's house. He is so excited, but is faced with the dilemma of whether or not to bring his beloved stuffed animal that he sleeps with every night. He doesn't want Reggie to make fun of him but doesn't know if he can make it through the night without his teddy bear.This book is a great way to show kids that they shouldn't be afraid to be themselves.

[melanieross · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This is a very cute story about a little boy named Ira who is so excited about being invited to sleep over at his friend named Reggie's house. However, his sister brought up something that worried him- would Reggie make fun of him for sleeping with his teddybear named TahTah? The story continues with Ira talking to his parents about it and going back and forth of whether or not he should bring it. Finally, he decides he shouldn't; however, once he gets there, he finds that Reggie sleeps with a teddybear too. Ira goes back home to get his and they both then fall asleep.I think that this is an excellent story for children of all ages; however, it might be geared a little more towards children in grades Kindergarten, first, second, and third. It deals with the struggles that many children can relate to- worrying whether or not someone will make fun of them for something. Therefore, I think this would be a good book to read to children at any time because I think it is important for them to realize that it is okay to show who they truly are, rather than hiding it because they are scared of embarassment.

[wendyfincher · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

This is a great book to help children over come a fear like fitting in on the first day of school. The book is about a little boy named Ira. Ira was very excited to get to spend the night with his friend for the first time. However, Ira was very worried about his friend laughing at him because he like to sleep with his teddy bear at night. Ira soon came to realize that his friend also slept with his teddy bear at night.

[ermilligan · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

All children could relate to this because if they are spending the night at a friends or at their cousins house they could relate to Ira. Ira is excited about going over to his friends house for a sleep over for his first time. Then, he beings to panic because he always sleeps with his teddy bear and didn't know what ti do and he doesn't want his friend to make fun of him. As it ends up, he gets there and his friend pulled out his own teddy bear. Now he realized that it didn't matter and that he shouldn't have been scared.

[enagreen · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This is a great story that young children will be sure to relate to. In Kindergarten and first grade, children are away from their parents for long periods of time and their relationships with their friends begin to become more complex. This story would be a good one to use to address the issue of peer pressure and not being scared of what others will think of us. It can also help children recognize that they are not the only ones that have needs of safety and comfort.

[mdelaney03 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Ira is excited about going over to his friends house for a sleep over, that is until his sister reminds him that he has never slept anywhere without his teddy bear. The rest of the story Ira is panicked about whether or not he should take his bear, and if his friend will laugh at him. However, it is not until he arrives at his friend's house and his friend ends up pulling out his own teddy bear, that Ira realizes it isn't that big of a deal to have a bear.