The Problem with Pajamas

It’s been a “Code Red” day of clothing discomfort for light-skinned, brown-haired Cody, who can’t wait to strip down to an undershirt and underpants and lie on the living room floor. Surrounded by wholly supportive, fully animate plush toys, Cody lets out an “Ahhhh” that extends across almost the entire page. When their father bursts in with a cheery, “It’s PAJAMA TIME,” Cody is having none of it. Even though the plushies argue the virtues of pj’s (“They cuddle me softly and warm up my toesies,” asserts a space alien toy), Cody won’t give in. When it turns out that wearing pajamas is deeply unsettling for the child, Dad wisely doesn’t insist, instead offering the perfect garment for sleeping and saving face. “It feels... like you really get me Dad,” says Cody, as fist bumps are exchanged. Stohler’s (The Best Worst Poet Ever) story of underthings and understanding has all the marks of a well-crafted sitcom: a magnetic star player, an endearing supporting cast, expertly placed comic beats, and lots of jaunty dialogue—including a performed song with the chorus, “My clo-o-othes done me wrong!” Ages 4–8. Agent: Thao Le, Sandra Dijkstra Literary. (Feb.)