A preschooler must overcome a truly embarrassing challenge in the witty picture book, Jayden & The Magic Pants by Ashea Goldson. Jayden has a problem. A big, annoying problem. No matter what he is doing, Jayden can't help losing his pants. Whether he is eating, playing, or even reading, poor Jayden can't seem to keep control of his pants; they just fall down to the floor. It doesn't matter that he is wearing a belt, his stubborn pants appear to have a mind of their own. Jayden's classmates make fun of him and sometimes it hurts his feelings, but his teacher says that Jayden has magic pants. Jayden's classmates may laugh at him and get frustrated with his pants, but what if the teacher is right? What if Jayden's pants do have special powers?

A little boy discovers a secret about an unruly pair of jeans in the colorfully illustrated children's book, Jayden & The Magic Pants by Ashea Goldson. With fun graphics and an engaging storyline, this book is perfect for reading to young children. I appreciated that the illustrations were bright but simple, so as not to overwhelm a younger audience. Reminiscent of Dr. Seuss and Margaret Wise Brown, the story is written in a rhythmic manner, drawing the reader in and charming them to the last page. It is fun and teaches a valuable lesson. I was impressed with the protagonist's uncompromising attitude, despite being bullied. Jayden didn't allow the opinions of his friends and peers to get him down. That is a valuable lesson to teach a child. It is an entertaining story for the diverse reader.

Jayden & the Magic Pants is a children’s picture book written by Ashea Goldson and illustrated by Cameron Wilson. Jayden loved going to preschool and made a real effort to look his best each day, but his pants had decidedly different ideas about dressing than he did. While they went on really smoothly, Jayden’s pants invariably fell down to his knees. It happened everywhere -- even while he was eating. His teacher, Mrs. Barkley, knew the taunts and teasing about Jayden's saggy pants upset him. She would assure him each day that they were actually magic pants. Then, one day, when there was a definite breeze in the air, Jayden realized that she was right. Suddenly he was flying courtesy of those magical pants. All the kids marveled as they watched him soar and swoop and even do a backflip before returning to the ground. No one teased him after that. They all probably wished they had magical flying pants as well.

Ashea Goldson’s Jayden & the Magic Pants addresses the problems kids may face when they are different from their peers in school or in the playground. Jayden’s saggy pants make him feel singled out and the teasing he receives diminishes his joy at being in preschool. The fact that they turn out to be magical pants is a marvelous lesson to help kids consider that the things making them different also make them special -- just like Jayden and his flying pants. Cameron Wilson’s humorous and empathetic illustrations eloquently capture Jayden’s frustrations, while his flying panels make Jayden’s sudden ability to fly feel truly magical. Reading this book during storytime is a great lead-in to a discussion about what special abilities and characteristics each child has. Jayden & the Magic Pants is highly recommended.