Book Summary

This book begins at 7 PM and ends at 8:10 PM, according to the clock on the wall in the story. It depicts a bunny saying "goodnight" to various objects around the room, all the while night approaches. 

Content

This book is good for two- to three-year-olds especially, as the concepts might be lost on younger children. It fits well with the idea of object permanence as the objects in the room change appearance or disappear completely from sight as the moon rises. It also deals with the here and now, a concept that younger children can grasp more easily than an imaginary setting or events that occurred in the past or will occur in the future.

Illustrations

The pictures are important. Without them, the book would not make sense. The colors are vibrant and appealing and stick with primary colors. There are a few "Easter eggs" in the illustrations that allude to other books that Brown wrote, notably The Runaway Bunny.

Format

The text is written in a rhyme scheme with a melodic rhythm. The first part of the book tells the reader what objects are in the room; the second part shows the bunny saying goodnight to each object.

Overall Evaluation

This book is a perfect bedtime read because it takes the child's focus from the big picture to the small details. Then as night falls, everything disappears as the child's focus drifts off into sleep. It is very cleverly written.

For Future Professionals to Use With Children

This book is perfect for teaching kids how to establish a bedtime routine, which gives them more peace of mind and less fear of being alone at night. It also teaches the concept of object permanence--even when the bunny can no longer see the object, it knows it's still there.