Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of Goodnight Moon
Book Review: An overrated "classic"
Summary: 3 Stars
I first have to say that I am 30 years old at the time of writing and I had never read this story as a child. I bought it recently for my three-year-old nephew because of its reputation as a classic children's story, and I read it for the first time when it was delivered. Before receiving it, I read some of the negative reviews and wrote them off as "just not getting it," despite the fact that I hadn't actually read it yet. I just figured a classic story such as this couldn't possibly be bad.
Unfortunately, I have to agree with some of the negative comments I've read. This book's reputation seems to be based more on good memories of having read it as a child than of it actually being a good read in itself. That's not necessarily a bad thing, but there are certain things I look for in stories that I buy for my nephew, and this book did not have them.
Ironically, what I think is the biggest problem is probably what many people find so appealing about it: the simple phrases of "Goodnight X, goodnight Y" are simplistic to the point of stupidity, and that's the entire book. Each page has one or two of these phrases, which means you will be turning the pages rather quickly. Granted, you can dwell on each page and study the items in the room, and let your child find the mouse hidden on most (but not all) pages (which my nephew enjoys doing), but there are two problems with doing this: 1) I read to my nephew with just a bedside lamp on, so it's difficult to lie there and study the page up close because the room is fairly dark (and don't we want it dark when they're trying to go to sleep?), and 2) this severely breaks up the rhythm of the story -- not that there is much of story anyway, but saying "Goodnight socks" and then spending two minutes looking at items on the page, then turning the page and saying "Goodnight mouse" is not my idea of a compelling story for a child to learn from.
I also don't understand why every other pair of pages is in black and white. If the writing isn't so stellar, then the artwork should be, and it is fine on the colored pages, but the black and white pages are rather boring.
What I'd like from a children's book is a story interesting enough to capture my nephew's imagination and keep him interested in the characters or events. I'd also like more sustained writing so that he can hear the flow of sentences and enhance his vocabulary. "Goodnight Moon" offers neither of these things.
Book Review: And The Moon Whisks Us Off To Slumber
Summary: 5 Stars
Book Review by Michael J. Green "The Word Man"
In browsing the family bookcase today, I came across this jewel that I memorized many years ago as a first time parent. Wow what memories "Goodnight Moon" brought back. To see my precious first daughter and later her younger sister slowly slip into a state of rest while the inventory of items in "The Great Green Room" passed through their imaginations like we have been taught sheep are supposed to do. Well counting sheep has never worked for me. However, I can't begin to total the number of nights that I fell asleep at my daughter's side as the "Great Green Room" danced across our imaginations simultaneously. This is a wonderful bedtime story that brings parents and their young children closer together. Even after so many years have passed, it still brings smiles to our faces as we begin dreaming about reading the same book to our grandchildren.
In spite of being "light reading", the bright illustrations that accompany each pages exciting entrée make this book a must for helping kids to learn to identify everyday items that they see in their bedrooms and around the house. The associations made between the words and the illustrations are exciting, yet comforting as your baby's eyes gently close to enter them into a state of rest and preparation for another successful day ahead. My wife and I started reading this book to our babies as newborns, and they never lost interest until they outgrew bedtime stories completely. This was always the requested "last book of the day" and snoring could always be heard before the book closed (Sometimes it was me!).
Book Review: Awesome Book!
Summary: 5 Stars
We received this book for a gift when my daughter turned 4. She has loved this book so much that even though she is 13, when we go through all our books to donate to others, she always insist that we keep this one. As a writer of children's books, we love to see books like this for children that they can read over and over and never get tired of them.
Darla, Sydney and Jimmy Batchler
Book Review: Best Book for 2 yr Old
Summary: 5 Stars
I bought this book for my 2 yr old son a few months ago. He loves it. We read it almost every night. When I tell him to pick out a book he always requests "The Moon". He has learned the meaning of whisper from the old lady, what rooftop means from the little toy house, what the moon is and when we read goodnight air he blows air out. Great book I can see why it is a classic. We also like The Very Hungry Caterpillar, The Big Red Barn, Llama Llama Red Pajama, The Sandra Brown books and Dr. Seuss ABCs just to name a few.Book Review: Classic
Summary: 5 Stars
This book is a childhood classic. Make sure you have one in your home! I don't go to a Baby Shower without one.