Hannah’s Pajamas

The spring of 2012 was the first year of my life since the age of 9 that I was not either dancing in, and/or directing, a spring performance. For the 15 years prior to 2012, I had selected music, choreographed, designed costumes, arranged the show order, and directed recitals for no less than 160 children a year. That is a lot of creative output! And, I thoroughly enjoyed it all.

That first spring, with no recital to prepare for (I had closed my studio in 2011), I had a lot of creative energy surging through me waiting to be released. Since I had a toddler at home, and my husband was writing his dissertation, I was not left with a lot of time to write anything of great length.

One night, while putting my daughter to bed, a spark was ignited. She had on a very cute pair of pajamas covered in purple and pink castles. As I put her in her crib I said, “Wouldn’t it be fun if your pajamas could determine your dreams.” I paused, watching her contemplate this idea, and then…”Hannah’s Pajamas!” I exclaimed. It was the perfect idea, and I wrote the rough of the story the next day.

I began with 12 dream ideas, and, together with Hannah, we selected 7. I thought it would be a good idea to tie the days of the week into the story.

Writing the story used up about half of my surging creative energy. What to do next? I can’t draw, but I am slightly adept at cutting felt. So, I decided to create a felt storyboard of Hannah’s Pajamas. The story, along with pictures of the storyboard follow. I hope on this Mother’s Day, you will find some fun sharing it with your children.

     Sunday evening at bedtime, Hannah's father asked, "Where will your dreams take you tonight?"
     Hannah thought and thought.
     "To the ocean, where I can swim with the dolphins."
     Hannah's father opened the magic pajama box. He pulled out a white pajama top and blue pajama bottoms. A dolphin jumped from the watery pajama bottoms into the sunny-skied top.
     Delighted, Hannah put on her pajamas.
     Her father tucked her in.
     "Happy dolphin dreams," he said, and kissed her goodnight.
     Hannah closed her eyes as gentle ocean waves rocked her to sleep.

     Monday evening at bedtime, Hannah's mother asked, "Where will your dreams take you tonight?"
     Hannah pondered.
     "To the stage, where I'm a ballerina, turning and spinning."
     Hannah's mother reached into the magic pajama box and discovered a pink chiffon nightgown with matching ballet slippers.
     Enchanted, Hannah stepped into her slippers and her nightgown.
     Her mother tucked her in.
     "Happy dancing dreams," she said, and kissed her goodnight.
     Turning and turning, Hannah spun gracefully off to sleep.

     Tuesday evening at bedtime, Hannah's father asked, "Where will your dreams take you tonight?"
     Hannah, wondering, scratched her head.
     "To a forest, where I'm a dinosaur hunter!"
     Hannah's father peeked into the magic pajama box. Smiling, he pulled out a pair of yellow and green striped bottoms, and a yellow top. On the top was a brown and green Giganotosaurus.
     Thrilled, Hannah jumped into her pajamas.
     Her father tucked her in.
     Happy dino dreams," he whispered in her ear before kissing her goodnight.
     Hannah closed her eyes, and the hunt began.
     

     Wednesday evening at bedtime, Hannah's mother asked, "Where will your dreams take you tonight?"
     Hannah's imagination came to life.
     "To a garden full of flowers and butterflies. There's a huge fountain, and a table with pretty chairs. I'm having a tea party with Big Ducks, Jubile Bear, and Old Turtle."
     Hannah's mother lifted the top of the magic pajama box and found a purple satin nightgown trimmed in white lace, dotted with flowers of yellow, pink, and white.
     Charmed, Hannah slipped into her nightgown.
     Her mother tucked her in.
     "Happy daffodil dreams," her mother sang, and kissed her goodnight.
     Hannah succumbed to sleep as the sweet scent of ginger tea filled her room.

     Thursday evening at bedtime, Hannah's father asked, "Where will your dreams take you tonight?"
     Hannah deliberated.
     "Through the mountains and over high bridges. I'm a train engineer. I'm driving an enormous red engine that has a gold dome and a loud whistle."
     "Hannah's father opened the magic pajama box where he found red pajamas patterned with little blue cabooses.
     Pleased, Hannah quickly put on her pajamas.
     Her father tucked her in.
     "Happy choo-choo dreams," he said as he turned out the lights.
     Hannah fell asleep to the rhythmic click-clacking of the train.

     Friday evening at bedtime, Hannah's mother asked, "Where will your dreams take you tonight?"
     Hannah marveled.
     "To the fair where there is a gigantic merry-go-round. I'm riding an elephant named Effie, and I'm on a safari."
     Hannah's mother peered into the magic pajama box. Surprised, she found a tiger-striped top and matching bottoms.
     Elated, Hannah put on her pajamas.
     Hannah's mother tucked her in.
     "Happy safari dreams," her mother said, and kissed her goodnight.
     Going up, down, and around, Hannah drifted off to sleep.

     Saturday evening at bedtime, Hannah's parents asked, "Where will your dreams take you tonight?"
     Hannah gazed out her window.
     "In a rocket ship, with all three of us zooming through outer space."
     Hannah's father reached into the magic pajama box and handed her mother a pair of the darkest blue pajamas Hannah had ever seen. A planet and stars speckled the top.
     Over-the-moon, Hannah leaped into her pajamas.
     Her parents tucked her in.
     "May your dreams take you to the stars," they said, and kissed her goodnight.
     "Blast off," Hannah whispered as she rocketed off to sleep.

The End.

Hannah's Pajamas is 
Written and created by
Constance Malloy 2019