Citation:
Wise, Margaret, and Clement Hurd. Goodnight moon. Lap Edition. New York, NY: Harperfestival, 2001. Print.
Summary:
A child sized rabbit is going to bed while an old woman rocks and knits in the room with him/her. The story describes the room and the baby bunny says goonight to everything in the room and outside before lights go out and the child settles down to sleep.
Personal Impression:
I like the way this book helps children deal with their fear of the dark and how it changes the look of familiar things. My three year old likes naming all the items in the room and while the book doesn't magically settle her down for the night, it does capture her attention. The only issue I have with it is that at times it seems to have a rhythm and then it doesn't. This interrupts the flow of the language when reading aloud.
Reviews:
"... the book sounds like going to sleep. I’m not sure how else to say it. By the time I read it, my voice gets quieter and quieter, without me realizing it. I have no idea if Brown had this intention, but my belief is that GoodNight Moon was written as much for wiggly toddlers as for adults who are winding down for the night."
"And you go through and say goodnight to all of them. The pacing, the ordering of the words, and the tenderness of the artwork really have to be experienced to be appreciated. It captivates Max and it calms me down.
There are a lot of books out there that set out to create a mood and fail miserably, laughably, or both. I didn’t need to have a son to have an excuse for revisiting children’s favorites, but it does make sure that I do it.
Goodnight Moon does mood better than any book I can think of. And if you get the board book, you can chew on it and it will last a long time anyways."
by on July 13, 2010http://worldsstrongestlibrarian.com/6494/book-review-goodnight-moon/
© 2010
"Goodnight Moon is the perfect bedtime story with vibrant illustrations. The illustrations are very detailed and jump off the page.
Goodnight Moon calms the busy toddler at nap time, bed time, or any time. Goodnight Moon is the perfect book to take along everywhere you go to occupy your toddler's mind. Goodnight Moon will diffuse even the most stressful situation even while standing in long lines at the grocery store.
Goodnight Moon lulls a child into a peaceful and less fearful sleep. By saying goodnight to everything in the room (including the air), children's fears are put to rest. The first half of the book describes the bedroom of a young rabbit, and then "goodnight" is said to everything from the room decor to the rabbit's caregiver who is described as the little old lady whispering "hush".
Goodnight Moon is short enough for even the shortest of attention spans. Goodnight Moon is simple enough for toddlers to understand and an excellent choice for a first reader. Goodnight Moon's rhymes flow right off the page and children's tongues. A child of any age will finishing the sentences. Goodnight Moon is an excellent tool to use for teaching lessons in colors, rhymes, reading comprehension, making general observations, and how fear can be caused from our imagination.
Goodnight Moon is one of my son's favorite stories, and I'm sure yours will love it also. "
Review by: Jennifer Shelby
http://www.preschooleducation.com/br138.shtml
© 1997-2011
Suggestions in a Library
Have a "sleepover" in the library. Have the children wear their pajamas and bring pillows, blankets, and/or sleeping bags along with their favorite bedtime critters. Select several bedtime themed books including Goodnight moon to read. You could even pair the event up with a "Build-a-bear" workshop so that the kids could create a sleeping buddy. Turn the lights low with just a lamp and rock and read to the children.
Citation:
Gag, Wanda. Millions of Cats. New York, NY: Coward-McCann, Inc., 1928. Print.
Summary:
An old man and woman are lonely and decide to get a cat to ease that loneliness. The old man sets out on a quest to get that cat. He can't pick just one and brings home "hundreds of cats, thousands of cats, millions and billions and trillions of cats." When he gets home, the old woman tells him that they can only have one. After a giant fight amongst all the cats to prove who is prettiest, the couple end up with a scrawny, scraggly cat who becomes beautiful after some tender loving care.
Personal Impression:
This is a timeless little story with simple illustrations. It's catchy and amusing. Another story that my daughter begs for at night.
Reviews:
School Library Journal names Millions of Cats as one of the Hundred Books that Shaped the Century and it was voted number 9 of the Top 100 Picture Books by SLJ readers in a poll.
"... However, according to 100 Best Books for Children, this title has the distinction of being the American picture book that has continuously been in print the longest."
"Was Millions of Cats the impetus that brought about the Caldecott Medal? Possibly. As Minders of Make-Believe puts it, "when librarians awarded Millions of Cats a Newbery Honor, they chose to recognize the book’s distinction while apparently not feeling quite right about giving the literature prize to a picture book. It may well have been then that the idea for a companion award for illustration was born, although it would be another decade before the Caldecott Medal became a reality. . ." Remember, the first Newbery Award was given out in 1922. It wouldn’t be until 1938 that the Caldecott would come along as well."
"Considered by many to have ushered in the age of the modern picture book, this Newbery Honor winner is characterized by innovative design and a strong storyteller's cadence. "
School Library Journal
Top 100 Picture Books Poll Results (#9) May 5th, 2009
One Hundred Books that Shaped the Century
01/01/2000
© 2010
Suggested for Library Setting
In conjunction with a display or informational presentation about animals from any number of different organizations, this book could be set up as a companion piece with its valuable lesson about not judging a cat by its current appearance.
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