LSSL 5360 Book Review #4- Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown

Book Review #4- Module 1- Goodnight Moon

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY

Brown, Margaret Wise, & Hurd, Clement. (1947). Goodnight Moon. New York, NY: Harper & Row, Inc. ISBN: 9780694003617

2.  PLOT SUMMARY

Goodnight Moon is a classic bedtime story of a bunny who says goodnight to everything in the room before drifting off to sleep. From the pictures on the wall, to the comb and the brush, the bunny’s bedtime routine involves every object in the room.

3.CRITICAL ANALYSIS

It is such an interesting thing to look back on some of my favorite books as a child, and now as an adult, I can’t help but laugh at their simplicity. As a child, I remember thinking the illustrations of the room in Goodnight Moon looked so cozy and warm. The primary colors in the book make it simple for young eyes and minds to interpret. We follow the beautiful pictures illustrating everything in the room, and then systematically say goodnight, ending with “goodnight noises everywhere,” alluding to the bunny falling asleep.

I think this book perfectly parallels to a child’s night time routine, lending itself well to parents who want to help their little one’s fall asleep. The rise and fall of this story is simple but comforting for a young child, as often repetition is. The main character, the bunny, also reflects the age of the intended reader.  Goodnight Moon is relatable for young kids; we see human-like qualities in the bunny, an older female bunny watching over him, and everyday items that we all would likely find in our rooms- pictures, combs, brushes, clocks, and socks.

4. REVIEW EXCERPT(S)

-Ranked #48 on 100 bestselling children’s book of all time based on recent statistics from Publishers Weekly (2000)

-Ranked #4 among the "Top 100 Picture Books" in a survey published by School Library Journal in 2012

-Sold over 14 million copies, making it one of the best-selling picture books of all time

- A description of the plot (such as it is) courtesy of The Christian Science Monitor: “A little rabbit bids goodnight to each familiar thing in his moonlit room. Rhythmic, gently lulling words combined with warm and equally lulling pictures make this beloved classic an ideal bedtime book.” (Excerpt from School Library Journal)

5. CONNECTIONS*A hypnotic bedtime story that has also been converted to a board book, perfect for the littlest of readers
*Relatable books also among the 100 bestselling children’s books of all time, among others:
Potter, Beatrix. (1902). The Tale of Peter Rabbit. England. Frederick Warne & Co.Seuss, Dr. (1960). Green Eggs and Ham. Random House. New York, NY : Beginner Books.