Paisley [Hardcover]

Maggie Smith (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 10, 2004 | Age Level: 5 and up | Grade Level: K and up

Paisley has been sitting on the shelf at Big & Little Toys too long. He’s seen other animals come and go, but somehow he’s never found his perfect match. And so, taking matters into his own hands, Paisley sets off on a quest to find the special someone he knows is out there for him. He braves many perils in his search, but his intrepid determination is rewarded when he finds the girl of his dreams at last.

Well, that’s the way Paisley tells the story. Maggie Smith’s wonderfully warm and touchable pictures tell a different tale. In truth, Paisley is mistakenly thrown away, tossed about, and then left in the lost and found at Lolly’s Laundry, where a curious little girl happily discovers him.

But when Pearl and Paisley get together, it doesn’t matter who found who—they are a perfect match.
Children will laugh at Paisley’s almost-true telling of his tale and will readily understand his need to feel like he’s in control. Sure to melt your heart, this is a love story that celebrates the power of a positive outlook.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

PreSchool-Grade 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 © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From the Inside Flap

Paisley has been sitting on the shelf at Big & Little Toys too long. He?s seen other animals come and go, but somehow he?s never found his perfect match. And so, taking matters into his own hands, Paisley sets off on a quest to find the special someone he knows is out there for him. He braves many perils in his search, but his intrepid determination is rewarded when he finds the girl of his dreams at last.

Well, that?s the way Paisley tells the story. Maggie Smith?s wonderfully warm and touchable pictures tell a different tale. In truth, Paisley is mistakenly thrown away, tossed about, and then left in the lost and found at Lolly?s Laundry, where a curious little girl happily discovers him.

But when Pearl and Paisley get together, it doesn?t matter who found who?they are a perfect match.
Children will laugh at Paisley?s almost-true telling of his tale and will readily understand his need to feel like he?s in control. Sure to melt your heart, this is a love story that celebrates the power of a positive outlook.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 5 and up
  
• Hardcover: 40 pages
• Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers; First Edition edition (August 10, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0375821643
• ISBN-13: 978-0375821646
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 0.3 x 10.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #965,005 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars So lovely., June 20, 2006

By 

Karen K. Hart (Austin, MN United States) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Paisley (Hardcover)

I find Paisley to be unusual for a children's book--most authors would put the book in third person, I think, but Maggie Smith chose first person. So Paisley tells us the tale. I love all the details--every animal at the shop where Paisley's story begins has personality. A green whale with white polka dots, a snail with a colorful shell, some gingham/seersucker cats, a dinosaur with a pattern of flowers or cogs, a swirly octopus, a plaid giraffe, and flowered farm animals are just some of the many characters in the store. Each animal is meant for a particular child, but Paisley's destiny involves an exciting journey through streets and a laundromat. We see the swing tag go flying from the plastic hanger on the elephant's ear, and we can witness the dizzying/sickening effects washers and dryers can have on a stuffed animal. Paisley despairs of ever finding the right child, but the end of the book represents a new beginning for our charming protagonist.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Paisley, November 7, 2007

By 

Marylou Weisenburger (Salt Lake City, UT) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Paisley (Hardcover)

I ordered this book for my granddaughter after checking it out from the library several times. She loves it. It is a very cute story about finding a little stuffed elephant's special someone. Both she and her brother ages 5 and 3 have really enjoyed this book.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Oh an elephant needs to be loved!, April 2, 2006

By 

Timothy Lang (Oak Park, IL) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Paisley (Hardcover)

This is such a cute book! I love the contrast between what Paisley is describing and what the pictures are showing. Paisley puts a positive spin on situations which are actually out of his control. There's a lot of colorful patterns in the illustrations, and repeated readings reveal some humorous details. Our 2 year old is a big fan!