MOONLIGHT, GOODNIGHT

An owl visits various animals as they each in turn bid readers good night.

After the sun sets and the moon rises, the owl emerges from its hole in a tree and begins its journey through the night. A toucan settles down after hours of gathering fruit, a cheetah beds down under a tree following a day spent hunting antelope, a bear reclines on a mountaintop after digging for food, and so it goes until dawn, when it’s the owl’s turn to rest. The bird also watches as sea creatures such as a whale and an octopus prepare to slumber. This is an ideal story to help little ones wind down. A palette of blues, greens, and browns sets a calming tone; as the sun rises in the last pages, bright pinks and oranges are introduced. The intricate patterns on the creatures’ feathers, skin, and fur—red stripes along the elephant’s body, jewel-like details on the owl, diamond-esque pinpoints along the whale’s body matching the stars above—will hold readers’ attention as the simple yet eloquent rhymes and gentle endearments lull little ones to sleep. Readers will encounter both familiar and potentially new animals while learning some general facts about each one.

A soothing, visually striking sleepy-time sendoff.