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Summary: The quintessential bedtime book
Review: Don't listen to the one- and two-star people! "Goodnight Moon" is the quintessential bedtime book. It is worded perfectly for a relaxed pace and soothing tone from the reader, as well as a nice poetic rhythm. The little bunny in the story says goodnight to objects in the room as he goes to bed; you can continue from this book to say goodnight to objects in your child's own room. As you read, watch the moon rise and the time change on the clocks, and remember to look around the room for the mouse! I am perplexed by the reasons given by some reviewers as to why they don't like this book. As for boredom, any adult can become bored with a children's book of this level when it's read over and over and over (and over), as children of this age require of you. "Goodnight Moon" is not aimed at adults. That obvious fact being said, I have *never* been bored with this long-memorized book in four years of reading it (over and over and over), because it is so well written. One current reviewer claims there is no lyricism or poetry to the words, which left me agape -- anyone who can speak English decently well could feel the rhythm and lyricism in the text, and read it accordingly. Was she reading a different book? To the reviewer who noted the "tired catalogue of meaningless objects," remember that small children need repetition to learn -- "Read it, Papa, read it (over and over and over)!" -- and no objects are meaningless to them. They are curious about everything; it is we adults who often narrow our curiosity too much, teaching our children to do likewise. And of course, the worth of artwork is always a matter of opinion -- he is obviously a "modern art" person from his other reviews, so he knows this very well. I too like Jackson Pollock's work, but I also happen to like Clement Hurd's "shrilly colored, crudely drawn, flatly artless illustrations" in this book and would not describe them that way. The colors are bright monochrome (a bit garish) and they contrast starkly; the drawings are simple and basic: it's a valid style, and it draws the child's attention. But anyway, his recommendation of D.B. Johnson's "Henry Builds a Cabin" is great; the book looks and sounds fantastic, so I'll order it. I too look for children's books with an eye to the artistic quality of illustrations. Our older daughter (4.5) loved this book from the age of 6 months or so, and the younger (20 mos.) has too, although she loves the author's "The Runaway Bunny" better. We replaced tattered, well-loved paperbacks of both these books with the big lap edition board books which, though heavy, are great for the size of the illustrations and are virtually indestructible. The baby carries the lighter, tattered copies hither and thither, though she will heft the big ones also. "Goodnight Moon" is a wonderful book. Your child will love it.
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Summary: I'm a believer...
Review: I was skeptical about the merits of this book at first as I read it to my daughter (1 year-old at the time, now 18 months). I was looking for some kind of cute plot and message, which is the format of most kids' books. However, I soon found that this was the book that she wanted out of the dozen or so that we read to her initially. It worked without fail to hold her attention, whereas other books left her looking around the room and squirming. I do believe that the alternating sequences of black and white and vivid colors, along with the very brief wording and soft word selections are masterful. This author somehow tapped into the psyche of infants and toddlers. The result? My daughter calls for "Moon" almost every night. And I'm glad to put her in a peaceful mood as she goes to bed.
Rating: 
Summary: It was okay, I guess.
Review: Can't say that either my 16-month old daughter or I were ever that keen on this book. The pictures never caught my daughter's eye and there are other books with much better rhymes. I got a much better reaction from my daughter with books by Eric Caryle, Dr. Seuss, Sandra Boynton, Richard Scarry, and Karen Katz. She often comes to me carrying a book by one of these other authors so I could read it to her, but she's never voluntarily picked up this one.
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Summary: One of my nephew's favorite books!
Review: As I have read several other's reviews of this children's classic, I see there are some mixed emotions about it. I can only tell you how my 14 month old nephew responds to it, as it was one of the very first books I bought him. My sister-in-law tells me it's one of his most favorite books. They read it almost every night as she's preparing him for bed. It is very simplistic in it's reading, but perhaps has a rhythmic type flow that really captures my nephew. Or it may also be the alteration of colored and B&W pictures. Whatever it is, my nephew loves it! It has a soothing type of effect on him. In fact, I'll somtimes quote parts of the book to him and he always looks at me and baby jabbers, as if to say he recognizes those words. Essentialy, this book is about the goodnight wishes a little one can relate to and in the process of reading it, I believe contributes to the development of his own speech, just as many children's books do. By the way, I also bought my nephew a stuffed version of the "Lil Bunny" in the book. He loved it. I think he doesn't pay as much attention to it now that he's a little older, because he's so busy exploring other things but, it makes for a nice gift to include with this book. Not too expensive. I realize different children like different kinds of books but, Goodnight Moon is pleasurable and I think it would be worth the purchase.
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Summary: Once you have a child to read this to, you will understand!
Review: Until I started reading to my older son, I didn't really understand what was this book's unique hold on people was. However, from my first reading to him, I did! There must be something magical about this book and the way children love it. It's very comforting to them, with the easy to memorize lines and the gentle arrival in the great green room of nighttime. However, it's also full of little details for them to notice and delight in--the hidden mouse, the dollhouse with lights on, the pictures on the wall. It's the perfect book to start kids "reading" themselves---leave out the crucial word in a line and wait for them to say it---"a bowlful of...." "MUSH!", they scream with delight! And they all love the "Goodnight Nobody" page best---I think it really gets kids thinking in a philosophical way---How can you say Goodnight to Nobody? This book is a true, true gem and belongs in every library.
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Summary: Find the mouse!
Review: This is THE bedtime classic. As your child gets older, encourage him or her to find the mouse on every page. It can make the "last book of the night" a bit more engaging!
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Summary: Goodnight my someone, goodnight my love
Review: Somehow "Goodnight Moon" just keeps on trucking along. It is the number one bedtime story parents have sought out for years and years and years. It is colorful and sober. Elegant and peachy keen. The truth of the matter? I was never too attached to "Goodnight Moon" as a child. Raised on a diet of Steven Kellogg and Richard Scary I had a hard time adjusting to the low key murmurs and repetitive phrases of this most ancient of picture books. Looking at it now I am bowled over by its original publication date. 1947. Amazing. Who would or could have thought that this little unprepossessing story would come to win the hearts and minds of as many millions of parents and children as it has? And, more importantly, continues to do so.
You all know the story but I'm going to sum it up for you anyway. There is a bunny. It is attempting to go to sleep as an unnamed old lady says hush. The viewer is given the chance to look and and peruse the various objects around the room. Everything from the two kittens on the rug to a brightly lit little toyhouse. As we watch, the shadows lengthen and the room grows dimmer. Time on the clock passes. Finally, the restless little hare resigns itself to sleep and even the kittens cuddle together in the still quiet night.
Brown has written the book with enough simple but easy-to-understand words for your average preschooler. I have always felt that the point in the book where she cheats a little is when she writes, "Goodnight comb, and goodnight brush, goodnight nobody, goodnight mush". Goodbye nobody? Surely something could have been drawn there instead of a blank page. Nonetheless, it is not a boring book. Sleepifying, yes. Drowsy-making, yes. But not dull. As I've said, it is not my favorite children's picture book, but even I can see that it is well-constructed and well-written too. With the derth of really effective bedtime books out there that have the ability to put you to sleep on purpose, a title like, "Goodnight Moon" stands out with its simple methodical goodnights.
Rating:
Summary: Works like a charm every time!
Review: Having heard lots of parents mention this book as the gold standard in bedtime reading, we purchased it for my 18 month old. She is a tough cookie to get to sleep, but we have now found a way that works every time. She absolutely LOVES this book, she picks it out each night before we get her p.j.'s on and tuck her in, then we read it together (three or four times!) before she gets droopy-eyed and yawns herself to sleep. I even find myself getting mesmerized by the repetition of verse and pictures on the colorful (yet easy on the eye) pages. The story is simple, the characters few, but my daughter delights in picking out the tiny mouse on each page, in finding the red ballon, the clock, the kittens, mittens, and the bowl of mush. I recommend the Lap Edition since it is nice and large; our little one looks as though she can step right into the "big green room" as I read to her on each giant page. A must have for early childhood reading!
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Summary: The Incredible Flight of Icarus P. Anybody
Review: Goodnight room, goodnight moon. Perhaps a cry for help from some tortured soul, or perhaps a yearning for an apocalyptic solution to existence. Maybe it is none of these things, but images of a green room suggest an allegory of the American Democratic System (playing off of the asian themes of Red, Blue, and Green energy) and the eventual transfer of power to the people (or in this case, the rabbits). But all things come from the earth, and to the earth they shall one day return; if anything, Goodnight Moon reminds us of our mortality and search for self. And that is the greatest gift of all.
Rating:
Summary: Classic!
Review: One of my favorite books when I was little, now it's one of my son's favorites! He loves to look at the pictures, and it's stood up to his beatings so far!
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