Birthday Suit

Naked is best!

Johnny loves nothing better than splashing in the ocean waves-naked. But Mom says now that he's four he's too old to run around without clothes on. She even buys him a pair of overalls with genuine 100 percent child-proof snap fasteners! But they're no match for Johnny as he wriggles out of them.

Johnny's father explains that big boys wear clothes. Doesn't he want to be big like Dad? As Johnny gazes up, he decides that wearing clothes may be a small price to pay to reach such heights.

Everyone is happy as Johnny practices putting on his clothes. And now when he runs into the ocean, he makes sure to take his red swimsuit-but that doesn't necessarily mean he'll always wear it!

Imbued with the lilt of the Caribbean and featuring illustrations that capture the warmth and humor of the text, this charming picture book is sure to amuse young children-naked or not!

Olive Senior, originally from Jamaica, is a poet and author. Her short story collection SUMMER LIGHTNING won the Commonwealth Writers' Prize. She lives in Toronto, Ontario.

Eugenie Fernandes is an award-winning children's book author and illustrator. She lives in southern Ontario.