In a great green room, tucked away in bed, is a little bunny. "Goodnight room, goodnight moon." And to all the familiar things in the softly lit room--to the picture of the three little bears sitting in chairs, to the clocks and his socks, to the mittens and the kittens, to everything one by one--he says goodnight.

In this classic of modern children's literature, beloved by generations of readers and listeners, the quiet poetry of the words and the gentle, lulling illustrations combine to make a perfect book for the end of the day.

"Goodnight Moon" is a classic bedtime story your child or grandchild will regularly request. The sentences vary in length and often rhyme. There is a mixture of detailed colored pages and simpler black-and-white drawings. The colored pages mimic bedtime by beginning vibrant and light, then gradually darkening until only the moonlight remains on the final page.

Children will enjoy pointing out items and animals they recognize, such as the red balloon, a jumping cow, kittens and mittens, and more. As your child learns to read, you can encourage them to sound out the smaller words, like 'red', 'cow', and 'moon'. The pictures also encourage children to piece images together, as the black-and-white drawings focus on a single object taken from the colored pictures; a brush on the table, or a dollhouse in the corner. Don't be surprised if your child wants to repeat your words and wish each item in their own room a personalized 'goodnight'.

This was my brother's favorite book when he was three years old. Eric would bring it to bed with him each night and ask my mom to "read about the moon." He and my mom would sometimes change the words to say goodnight to the objects in Eric's room, and he would always end by singing "Mr. Mooooon! Goodnight, Mr. Moon!"

--Audra

Margaret Wise Brown is probably most famous for writing Good Night Moon and The Runaway Bunny, but was also a prolific and bestselling Golden Books author. She has writtne countless popular storybooks for children of the last 60 years.

--Anne, Jasper, IN