goodnight moon

Pen loves books.

That makes my heart happy. At night, before bed, we read Goodnight Moon. It's part of the bedtime routine. Bath, pajamas, Goodnight Moon.

Because I read it every single night, I could recite it to you by memory. And I've started to notice how intentional this book is about being a Bedtime Book.

I love the illustrations, this fully imagined world of a pajama-ed bunny with a fire in the fireplace and silk striped curtains and (what I imagine to be) his grandmother in the rocking chair, knitting quietly.

I also love the ritual of this little story -- the ritual of saying good night to all the things that make up your small world. Goodnight to the mittens. Goodnight to the bears sitting in chairs. Goodnight to the comb and the brush.

But what I really love are the words.

Margaret Wise Brown winds us down into sleepyness with a rhythm that gently slows with every turn of the page. She is purposeful to use words that are naturally soft and hushed. Moon. Kittens. Mittens. Comb. Mush. Brush. Hush.

Until, finally, you arrive at The End.

With every turn of the page, Pen settles in closer to me, her little body sighing into sleepiness and finally giving up the day. With every word, she quiets down. And, me too. My voice gets softer. I am present in the moment. I let go of the day. I say goodnight to my daughter. I say goodnight to the moon.

*****

In the great green room
There was a telephone
And a red balloon
And a picture of -

The cow jumping over the moon

And there were three little bears sitting on chairs

And two little kittens
And a pair of mittens
And a little toyhouse
And a young mouse
And a comb and a brush and bowl full of mush
And a quiet old lady whispering "hush"

Goodnight room
Goodnight moon
Goodnight cow jumping over the moon
Goodnight light
And the red balloon
Goodnight bears
Goodnight chairs

Goodnight kittens
Goodnight mittens
Goodnight clocks
Goodnight socks
Goodnight little house
And goodnight mouse

Goodnight comb
And goodnight brush
Goodnight nobody
Goodnight mush
And goodnight to the old lady whispering "hush"

Goodnight stars
Goodnight air

Goodnight noises everywhere