Princess Bun Bun

Patricia Morley is professor emerita of English and Canadian Studies at
Concordia University and an avid outdoor recreationist. She is the
author of several books, including The Mountain Is Moving: Japanese
Women’s Lives, Kurlek and Margaret Laurence: T

This hilarious picture book for small children and the fortunate parents
who read to them will have everyone holding their sides with laughter.

Winifred, along with her younger brother, Eugene, and baby sister, Bun
Bun, whose ability to toddle on her own sets the stage for the wacky
plot, set off with their parents to visit their uncle, who lives on the
top floor of Castle Apartments. The kids imagine that he lives in a real
castle with princesses and knights. When they get there, Bun Bun toddles
into the elevator before anyone but Winifred has time to join her, and
off the two go, up!

There are three unexpected stops on the long way up. The elevator doors
open briefly to reveal a spotted monster on a leash (a dog), a witch
with a cat and a broom (a cleaning lady), and a princess (a beautiful
lady who lives in the building). Eventually, they reach Uncle Dave’s
floor, where the girls are reunited with the family. Uncle Dave insists
that Princess Winifred and Princess Bun Bun are the only princesses he
knows.

This is Richard Scrimger’s second Bun Bun book for young readers; the
first, Bun Bun’s Birthday, was published in 2001. Gillian Johnson’s
comical watercolor illustrations are wonderfully expressive and a
perfect match for Scrimger’s funny story. Highly recommended.