Ella and the Sleepover Safari by Cassy Polimeni and Hykie Breeze

Moving house and starting at a new school hasn't been easy for Ella, but now she has settled in and bonded with Mai over a shared interest in frogs. She hasn't forgotten her best friend Viv who lived next door to her old house, but they haven't seen each other since the move. Now, for a birthday treat, Ella's aunt has gifted her a safari sleepover at the zoo and Ella has invited both Viv and Mai. But will the two get along?

It seems not until a midnight visit to the loo has an unexpected outcome...

Continuing this series for newly independent readers, Cassy Polimeni has continued to combine both a credible story with relatable characters and situations with more information about the natural world as the girls tour the zoo with Frankie the guide, weaving facts about the exhibits together through the underlying tension between the girls. Anyone who has spent time with children of this age will recognise the ebb and flow of friendships that are so common as independence and autonomy mature, while readers themselves will learn that is possible to have more than one close friend.

Already identified in the CBCA Notables for 2025, this is a series that is going to appeal particularly to girls with an interest in the environment and the protection of its creatures, and they will be delighted to know that there are two more coming soon to complete the collection.

Themes: Friendship, Sleepovers.

Barbara Braxton