My son is two and he went through a very long phase where he would remove every stitch of clothing and run around the house. He still does it on occasion when he's feeling ignored because he knows we'll pay attention when he does it. The boy in Birthday Suit reminds me a little of my son.

Olive Senior uses beautiful words in Birthday Suit to tell the story of a toddler who really doesn't want to wear clothes. He lives near the sea and prefers to be one with the water sans a swimsuit. His mother tries in vain to contain him and it is finally his father who helps him see the light.

I have to admit I felt a sense of loss when Johnny decided to wear clothes so he can be a big boy. Oh, I know it is necessary, but sometimes I think children know what's best in life and maybe we steal their fun unnecessarily. If I lived on a tropical island and swam in the sea all day the last thing I'd want to wear would be overalls, too.

Birthday Suit handles nudity tastefully and Eugenie Fernandes's illustrations are rich and warm. There are fun words and enchanting pictures that will make this a requested book come bedtime for young children for sure.