Goodnight Moon:  Book Review and Extension Activities

Ideal as a read aloud for: Ages 18 months to 5 years

What makes the book memorable to children. . .

Small children will love the repetitive nature of the book.  Simple pictures with lots of details, simple words and repetitive phrases all mean that you can expect to read this one over and over again and have it “read” to you.  As your child learns the order of the book, you can expect that she’ll begin saying “goodnight” to all the things in the room even before you get to the next page.

Extension Activities:

1.  The mouse is in a different spot on each page.  Have your child look for him each time you turn the page.  (For ages 18 months and up.)

2.  Read “Hey Diddle, Diddle. . .” and ask your child if she sees any parts of “Hey Diddle, Diddle” in the story “Good Night Moon.” (For ages 2 years to 5 years.)

3.  Rhyming is a precursor to reading.  If your child can read “cat”, he can probably reading bat, hat, mat and pat as well.  Point out any words in this book that rhyme.  You can also ask your child to think of as many words as possible that rhyme with the word moon.  Make a large paper moon out of construction paper (or draw it on a large piece of poster board) and then write rhyming words on the moon.  (For ages 3 and up.)

4.  Have the child draw the objects that are in his room.  (For ages 4 and up.)

5.  As part of your bedtime ritual find one stuffed animal and put it in a different spot in your child’s room every night.  Then have him find it and read the story, Good Night Moon.

Read other books by Margaret Wise Brown.  She is also well known for Runaway Bunny.