The Pink Pajamas
A Story About Love and Loss
Published on 14. August 2025
Book
Hardback
40 pages
978-1-6659-4316-1 (ISBN)
Description
From Stonewall Award-winning illustrator Charlene Chua comes a tender, heartfelt story about love, loss, and the innumerable ways to carry someone in your heart, always, as a young girl honors her aunt's memory by wearing the pink pajamas she sewed for her.
There are many ways of saying, "I love you." For Ah Yi, it's with her sewing machine, making extra soft, perfectly tailored pajamas for her niece. The little girl loves each pair, except the latest one which is pink, her least favorite color. She keeps a happy face on, but her aunt can always tell. She reassures the little girl there's no need to worry-she'll just make another pair.
But then Ah Yi gets too sick to use her sewing machine, so sick she has to go away to the hospital...and never comes home. Her niece doesn't know what to make of the funeral customs until she finds her own special remembrance: wearing her pink pajamas, which were perfect all along.
There are many ways of saying, "I love you." For Ah Yi, it's with her sewing machine, making extra soft, perfectly tailored pajamas for her niece. The little girl loves each pair, except the latest one which is pink, her least favorite color. She keeps a happy face on, but her aunt can always tell. She reassures the little girl there's no need to worry-she'll just make another pair.
But then Ah Yi gets too sick to use her sewing machine, so sick she has to go away to the hospital...and never comes home. Her niece doesn't know what to make of the funeral customs until she finds her own special remembrance: wearing her pink pajamas, which were perfect all along.
Reviews / Votes
A JLG Selection "A charming tribute to a lost loved one." -Kirkus Reviews "A great addition for any community. This is a story about love and loss of extended family from a child's perspective where difficult realities are faced, but it still ends on a hopeful note." -School Library Journal "Chua's ink-drawn and digitally colored illustrations make the pink pajamas pop, while straightforward prose pierces in its simple yearning." -Publishers WeeklyMore details
Language
English
Place of publication
United States
Publishing group
Simon & Schuster
Target group
Children/juvenile
US School Grade: From Preschool to Third Grade, Interest Age: From 4 to 8 years
Product notice
Picture book
Illustrations
f-c digital (jkt spfx: spot gloss + deboss on matte film finish); int: uncoated
Dimensions
Height: 259 mm
Width: 259 mm
Thickness: 14 mm
Weight
496 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-6659-4316-1 (9781665943161)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
E-Book
08/2025
Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
€10.87
Available for download
Persons
Charlene Chua (she/they) is the illustrator of multiple picture books, including Colorado Blue Spruce Award nominee Going Up!, the Amy Wu picture book series, and Stonewall Award winner Love, Violet. She is also the author-illustrator of Hug?. When they are not making art, they enjoy cooking, reading, and playing with their cats. Charlene lives with her husband (and cats!) in Hamilton, Ontario.