
Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown, pictures by Clement Hurd
Age Range/Grade: 0-4; Infant to PreSchool
Theme: Getting ready for bed
Falling asleep is easier when surrounded by the comfort of familiar things. Start a reading routine with this sweet story of a caregiver helping their little one say goodnight to everything around them.
Introduce the Cover
Question: Your child may not be old enough to make predictions about the story, but you can point to the moon, the fireplace, and the picture of the cow and help your child name these images.
Pause at...
Pages 2-3
Point to...
The telephone, the red balloon
Ponder...
What is this device? (your child may not be familiar with this type of phone)
Talk about...
What are the pictures on the wall? What else in the room is red?
Pause at...
Pages 4-5
Point to...
The cow, the bears
Ponder...
Is the cow really jumping over the moon?
Let's count the bears.
Talk about...
The bears have a picture in their room. What is the picture? Why is that funny?
Pause at...
Pages 6-7
Point to...
mittens, kittens, mouse
clock, house, bookcase, socks
Ponder...
What is a "pair"? How many pairs can you find?
Talk about...
Some things are not pairs. Can you point to and name those things?
Pause at...
Pages 8-9
Point to...
A bowl full of mush; the knitting
Ponder...
What is "mush"?
What is the lady doing?
Talk about...
Who do you think the lady is? Can you whisper "hush"?
Pause at...
Pages 10-11
Point to...
Kittens; Picture above the bookcase
Ponder...
What are the kittens doing? What is the bunny in the picture doing?
Talk about...
Do the kittens see the mouse? Who is in the bed? What time of day is it?
Pause at...
Pages 12-13
Point to...
Both moons
Ponder...
How are these the same? How are they different?
Talk about...
Will the moon and the cow say "goodnight" back? What would it sound like if they did?
Pause at...
Pages 14-15
Point to...
The bunny in the bed
Ponder...
What is he doing?
Talk about...
Who will he say goodnight to next?
Pause at...
Pages 16-17
Point to...
Mittens
Ponder...
Are the mittens a pair? Are the kittens a pair?
Talk about...
Listen to the sounds that are the same in "kittens" and "mittens."
Pause at...
Pages 18-19
Point to...
Clocks, socks; the bunny in the bed
Ponder...
Count the number of clocks; count the number of socks.
Talk about...
What has happened to the mouse?
Pause at...
Pages 20-21
Point to...
The windows
Ponder...
Count the number of windows.
Talk about...
Tell a story about this mouse. Listen to the sounds that are same in "house" and "mouse."
Pause at...
Pages 22-23
Point to...
The table
Ponder...
What else is on the table with the comb and the brush?
Talk about...
Did you see where the mouse went? Now where are the kittens?
Pause at...
Pages 24-25
Point to...
The blank page
Ponder...
What does "nobody" mean?
Talk about...
What word does "mush" sound like?
Pause at...
Pages 26-27
Point to...
The bunny in the chair and the kittens; the table
Ponder...
Do you think the bunny has finished her knitting? Why do you think so?
Talk about...
Can you find the mouse now? What is he about to do?
Pause at...
Pages 28-29
Point to...
Stars
Ponder...
Count the number of stars together.
Talk about...
Are the stars
inside or outside
the room?
Pause at...
Pages 30-31
Point to...
The windows in the toy house; the bunny in the bed; the windows in the room; the chair
Ponder...
What has happened? What is the bunny doing? Who else is doing the same thing?
Talk about...
Can you find the mouse? What is he doing? Where did the bigger bunny go?
Furthering the Conversation
Each time you read this story, ask your child to anticipate what will happen next. After a few readings, change the words and see if your child notices. Substitute words that rhyme with the words in the text, and encourage your child to make up new words, too. The sillier the better! Playing with sounds is an important part of word recognition and reading skills.