Picture Book Review: Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown

Picture Book Review: Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown




  1. Bibliography 

Brown, Margaret Wise. 1947. Goodnight Moon.  Ill. by Clement Hurd. New York: HarperTrophy. ISBN 0064430170.


  1. Plot Summary

Goodnight Moon is the simple bedtime story of a young bunny who wants to say “goodnight” to everything he notices in his room before going to sleep. This book has earned its place as a beloved bedtime classic. Goodnight Moon is a story told in just one hundred and twenty-five words, thus the plot of the book is very simplistic. As the story continues, the rabbit gets more and more tired before finally saying "Goodnight noises everywhere," just as he falls asleep. The illustrations lead the reader to find the calm in their bedtime routine and help readers transition from the busyness of the day to the peacefulness of sleep. 


  1. Critical Analysis

Goodnight Moon is told in rhyming verse, similar to a lullaby. The story allows opportunities for readers to develop a series of comfortable routines, similar to the bunny saying goodnight to all the objects before going to bed. The plot, while not particularly striking or memorable, is definitely relatable to young children who often resist going to bed without completing their nightly checklist. This helps children feel like they are not alone in the room and establishes a sense of safety as they fall asleep. The language used in the book is very simple, allowing it easy for young children to read along with a parent. The repetition makes it easy for a child to predict what words might come next in the book. 


The Illustrations by Hurd are calming and coloring on the cover and certain pages. While on each colored page the room darkens, the moon moves across the sky, and living things like the mouse and the kittens move across the floor. The objects are detailed and well-hidden enough that children can read this book several times over before discovering everything each scene has to offer. 


  1. Review Excerpts

- School Library Journal ranked Goodnight Moon as number four on their “Top 100 Picture Books” list in 2012 (Bird)


- National Education Association (NEA) ranked Goodnight Moon as number five on their “Teachers’ Top 100 Books for Children” list (2007).


  1. Connections

Goodnight Moon can be used to read to or with children when going to bed, as it can aid in their nightly bedtime routine by saying goodnight to all of their special belongings and calmly ending their day.

-Some other books written by Margaret Wise Brown are The Runaway Bunny, Big Red Barn, The Little Island, The Important Book, My World, The Colored Kitten, and many more.

-As an activity, children can be asked to try and remember the colors of the object that they saw in the previous scene. For example, "What color is the cow jumping over the moon? Yellow!" This further enhances a child’s observation skills.


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