Lulu's Pajamas. Lucie Papineau. Illustrated by Stéphane Jorisch. Toronto, ON: Kid Can Press, 2009. 24 pp., hardcover, $16.95. ISBN 978-1-55453-371-8. Subject Headings: Pajamas-Juvenile fiction. Bedtimes-Juvenile fiction. Mice-Juvenile fiction. Preschool-grade 1 / Ages 3-6. Review by Gregory Bryan. ***½/4

excerpt:

One morning, I make a BIG decision: I will never take off my soft-as-a-butterfly-kiss pajamas. Never ever!

I say “No, no, no!” when Mama brings me my clothes. I say “No, no, no!” when Papa tells me to put them on. I kick my feet and I cry.

Lulu’s Pajamas is a simple, but sweet, story about an endearing mouse named Lulu. Told in the first person from Lulu’s perspective, Lulu’s Pajamas is a story that young people will enjoy hearing repeatedly, and that parents will want to share with their children.


     Lulu lives a contented life with her parents and her ladybug, Lili-poo. Lulu loves her red pajamas. The problem is that Lulu loves her pajamas so much she decides never to take them off. “They smell as good as a pink dream,” Lulu says. “They are as soft as a butterfly kiss.” Lulu’s evocative description of her pajamas is reflective of the author, Lucie Papineau’s, careful, delightful word choices throughout the book.


     Lucie Papineau’s text is complemented by Stéphane Jorisch’s beautiful artwork. Jorisch is the phenomenally talented artist who has won four Governor General’s Literary Awards for Illustration. The soft watercolour illustrations are pleasing to the eye, visually interesting, and add detail to the story. The warm red of the pajamas is accentuated by the cool greens selected for the lounge chair, table cloth, bedspread and car. The softly muted colours add a gentle touch to the story, as do the rounded shapes of such things as the mice heads and ears, the car, the bed frame, and the ladybug, Lili-poo.


     Originally published as Tulipe Mon Pyjama à Moi, the English translation is by the talented writer, Marie-Louise Gay. The partnership between author, illustrator and translator works very well, and what emerges is a charming story that will be read over and over again.

Highly Recommended.

Gregory Bryan teaches children’s literature in the Faculty of Education at the University of Manitoba.

To comment on this title or this review, send mail to cm@umanitoba.ca.

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Published by The Manitoba Library Association ISSN 1201-9364

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