Summary:
This 1947 children's book is a simple story that has been loved by many generations of readers. The story begins with an introduction to the room and the things that the reader finds there. Using rhyming words and relying on the reader to catch the details of the wonderful illustrations, we then say goodnight to each of the things first introduced in the story. From the mush to the little old lady whispering hush, everyone is told goodnight as the illustration colors grow darker.
My Thoughts:
While I do read this story to my students each year, I must admit it's not one of my favorites. I read it aloud as a predictable text, one they will enjoy picking up and "reading" themselves. It also serves as a great introduction to rhyming words. However, I feel that the "story" itself is more of a disjointed narrative. At times, it even feels awkward to read. I think the largest benefit lies in the detailed illustrations. I find that while reading this book is a good time to discuss how noticing all that is on a page can help us to understand the story.
Their Thoughts:
(This book as particularly difficult to find reviews for. I suppose, like me, there just wasn't that much that they could say!)
From Booklist's 1987 Review:
"This soothing, classic going-to-bed story has a vocabulary that lends itself to the skills of beginning readers."
My Ideas:
As mentioned previously, I believe this book is a superb example of detailed illustrations. I would use this book as a way to introduce the job of illustrators and what they bring to the story. First, the children could listen to the story without seeing the illustrations, and draw their own image based on the words they heard. Then I would read the story again, allowing them to view the book's pages. This would open the door for a great discussion on vision, detail, and rich pictures.
(An interesting side note about the photo of the illustrator from the book jacket being altered: NY Times Article)
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