Paisley

September 1, 2004
PreS-Gr 2-Paisley is a small stuffed elephant named for the design on his fabric. After he is mistakenly tossed out with the garbage at the toy store, he finds his way to a Laundromat, is put through the wash, and ends up in the lost-property box. Finally, a little girl wearing a paisley-patterned dress discovers him and takes him home. Told from the toy's point of view, this story of accidental abandonment is transformed into a tale about the elephant's heroic search for the "Perfect Match"-the right child to go home with. The exaggerated tone of the text, with its tongue-in-cheek reinvention of what really happens as seen in the illustrations, is very funny. Youngsters will relate to Paisley's powerlessness to control his fate, a problem that they face every day. Smith's illustrations are a sampler of colorful fabric designs and patterns; the characters' clothing features an eye-catching mix of madras, gingham, flower prints, stripes, and checks.-Jane Barrer, Washington Square Village Creative Steps, New York City

Copyright 2004 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

January 1, 2005
A paisley-patterned stuffed elephant describes his "lengthy and perilous quest" for his own special friend. The narrative contrasts humorously with the illustrations, which show events in a somewhat less heroic light. When Paisley meets his "Perfect Match," it's easy to tell they are meant for each other--her clothes and bedroom decor display an attractive assortment of large and small paisley patterns.

(Copyright 2005 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)