HOW DO YOU SAY GOODNIGHT?

“How do you say good night, my pup? / How do you say good night? / With a stretch and a yawn, / close my eyes until dawn. / That’s how I say good night.” The title becomes the query that a bevy of loving animal mothers croon to their cherished offspring. From puppies to piglets, a veritable barnyard of anthropomorphic critters take part in the common evening rituals of their young human counterparts. Moore details activities cozily familiar to young readers such as kittens cuddling in their pajamas and lambs snuggling with their favorite blankets. The gentle, rhythmic repetition of the verses—very reminiscent of Nancy White Carlstrom’s Jesse Bear books—becomes a calming lullaby to read aloud to sleepy youngsters. First-time illustrator Luebs’s artwork features heavily pigmented paintings in a medley of tranquil hues. She indulges in a bit of whimsy, in the form of an inquisitive robin perceptive readers will discover appearing throughout the pictures as a curious observer. This peaceful tale offers a gentle segue to slumber. (Picture book. 3-7)