Goodnight Moon (1947)

text by Margaret Wise Brown, 1910-1952; ill. by Clement Hurd, 1908-1988

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• The main point of this story is to help the very young child cope with a daily crisis (bedtime) by discovering an order to his/her surroundings.
• The concept behind the book is to borrow the rhythm of a child's spontaneous night-time ritual, and to build on it to encompass, ultimately, the entire universe
• The child appeal of this story is due to its repetitive, simple language, the clarity of the illustrations, and its familiar setting--a child's bedroom, toys, a reassuring adult presence.
• The parent/teacher appeal of this story is in its read-aloud qualities--concise lines and a pleasant, singing sound. It also helps to establish an early appreciation for a 'literary context', by referring back to other tales or rhymes that the child may be familiar with already.

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My notes while reading the book

• A work with a clearly musical structure, yet quite unlike the expected lullaby. This is cheerful, celebratory music--a glorious day comes to a close.
  • The text on page 2 ends with an ellipsis--a device not repeated elsewhere. The initial note is sustained briefly before plunging into the exposition.
  • Pages 2 through 8 establish a pattern through the repetitive enumeration of items in the room.
    Just as the reader begins to worry that the list will go on endlessly, ever more frantic (and comb and brush and bowl), the sarabande is interrupted by the old lady's "hush" on page 9.
  • In the following 18 pages, another pattern emerges, as the sequence of "goodnights" gradually dismantles the mental image constructed in the first part of the book. In parallel, the details of the illustrations are gradually obscured by darkness.
    There is no build-up this time, the list unfolds evenly to its apparent, symmetrical conclusion on pages 26-27: "goodnight to the old lady".
  • The last four pages form an unexpected coda. When everything in the room has been accounted for, the narrator's voice returns to address the most intangible elements in the scene: the stars, the air, "noises everywhere."
    The offbeat "goodnight nobody" on page 24 may serve as a hint of what's to come in the final section.
• The color spreads focus beautifully on the subtle changes wrought in the room by the dimming light.
  • This is a virtuosistic accomplishment, especially in view of the unpredictable nature of the technique employed. Like most picture books of its time, the images for Goodnight Moon were likely prepared as pre-separated artwork--which means that Mr. Hurd would not see his work in color until it came off the press.
• The moonrise seen through the window marks the passage of time.
• Self-referential details:
  • The authors' previous book, The Runaway Bunny, appears on the bookshelf behind the old lady. The framed picture above the bookshelf is an illustration from the same book.
  • The present book, Goodnight Moon, remains on the little bunny's nightstand throughout the story.

Class discussion

• Repetition amounts to a ritual; children are ritualistic.
• Contains references to other stories children may be familiar with: 3 bears + chairs + mush; cow + moon; kittens + mittens.
• This book is read to children as young as 18 months.
• Animals used as stand-ins for humans because they are not specific to gender, race, etc. Easier for children to identify with them.
• Parents prefer short bedtime books because the child's love of repeating and questioning every aspect will make the book last a long time.
• Rhyme helps to teach words, sounds.
• Parody, Goodnight Opus by Berkeley Breathed. Grandma won't depart from the text, but Opus likes to deconstruct a bit.

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