Goodnight Moon

Goodnight Moon is a classic bedtime picture book written by Margaret Wise Brown and illustrated by Clement Hurd. In a cosy “great green room,” a young bunny prepares for sleep by saying goodnight to the moon and to the familiar things around him: the room, chairs, clocks, socks, mittens, kittens, and finally the stars, air, and nighttime sounds. First published on 3 September 1947, the book is celebrated for its soothing repetition, gentle rhythm, and calm progression from a brightly lit room toward darkness. Rather than relying on a dramatic plot, it turns an ordinary bedtime ritual into a reassuring farewell to the child’s everyday world. Its simple language and richly coloured illustrations make it especially well suited to babies, toddlers, preschoolers, and shared read-aloud routines. It has sold more than 40 million copies and remains one of the best-known children’s bedtime books.