by Danna Smith
Illustrated by Virginia Allyn
Doubleday Books for Young Readers 2015
When my children were infants, I used to strap them in their carrier and go walking up the mountain that I live on, chanting nursery rhymes in rhythm with my steps. Back at home, while nursing, I would read through collections of nursery rhymes to brush up on the ones I learned as a child and discover the ones I missed.
One of the nicest features of Mother Goose's Pajama Party by Danna Smith is that it contains the text of fifteen nursery rhymes as an afterward (including lesser-known ones such as “Handy Spandy Jack-a-Dandy” and “Betty Blue”). These might have made a better prelude to the story, since children who are already familiar with the characters of the various rhymes will better enjoy Smith's own story of Mother Goose inviting her fairy tale friends to a party and story time sleepover of her own.
Virginia Allyn's brightly-colored illustrations of cats and cows and candy will keep even the youngest children engaged - with doll-like depictions of nursery rhyme characters - whether they recognize them or not. And the sleepover theme combined with familiar fairy-tale faces will be a winning combination for preschoolers and younger school-aged children as well.
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Danna Smith is the author of the picture books Two at the Zoo, Pirate Nap, and Balloon Trees. Born in Salt Lake City, Danna is a full-time writer and dreamer living in Northern California with her husband, their two grown children, and their cocker spaniel, Peanut.
Virginia Allynworks above a chocolate shop in New Hampshire. She is the illustrator of The Love of Baby by Marion Dane Bauer and many classic children's tales.
