Goodnight Goon, A Petrifying Parody by Michael Rex
Goodnight Goon, A Petrifying Parody by Michael Rex is a parody off of Goodnight Moon which I must admit we don’t have in this household nor is it a book that my kids are familiar with. In fact, I think I’ve looked at Goodnight Moon only once. Really no reason to the indifference just not a book that we’ve gotten into yet.
Anyways, in Goodnight Goon a little werewolf is having a hard time going to sleep. He names the things in his room which includes pictures of martians taking over the moon, three little mummies rubbing their tummies, moans and groans, a skull, and a pot full of goo. After he names them he says goodnight one by one to each of them. He puts the monsters under the bed (so clever) and ends by saying goodnight monsters everywhere.
This has potential to be a really, really cute book but the illustrations were just not doing it for me. My kids weren’t crazy about it either but I only tried it once on them. And well, sometimes, especially my kids, need to be exposed to a book more than once. So, it doesn’t seem fair that I’m sharing their reaction after only one reading but to tell you the truth, they never picked it out of the pile on their own either. It just couldn’t compete with Where’s My Mummy or Leonardo the Terrible Monster this week.
But overall, I think it’s worth taking a look at this Halloween picture book to discover if it will be a new classic in your home. Because your kids just might love it.
Links of interest: Michael Rex website, more book blogger reviews.
Genre: Picture Book, approx ages 4-8.
Publisher: Putnam Juvenile. August 14, 2008.
Hardcover, 32 pages. ISBN 0399245340
Goodnight Goon is available from your favorite independent bookstore, Powell’s, and Amazon.
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Category: Book Reviews, Fiction, Picture & Board Books
Tags: book club, children's literature book club selection, E-H Title, halloween, published 2008, Q-T Author
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Aw, that’s sad that it wasn’t a winner. The concept is adorable, even though I’m such a wimp it might be too scary for me, never mind my son. :O)
on October 29th, 2009 at 4:57 amMy son probably would have loved this because he adored Goodnight Moon.
on October 29th, 2009 at 7:14 amI have used this in my storytime and it’s just not a hit. I don’t know whether it’s the artwork or the lack of a story. I understand why Goodnight Moon is popular and a classic. It makes sense. This story? Not so much. It feels forced and the art is just not great at all. I just read The Runaway Mummy to my kids at Halloween storytime yesterday and I had the same problems with it. It just doesn’t flow right. I like it more than I liked Goodnight Goon, but I don’t think it will be in my Halloween selections next year.
on October 29th, 2009 at 11:59 amSpeaking of Halloween books – Adam Rex has two great books that feature short stories, poems, songs about favorite Halloween characters. They are so much fun! I love them and usually read a few short stories during Halloween. The first is called Frankenstein Makes a Sandwich and the second is Frankenstein Takes the Cake. Fun Fun Fun stories.
on October 29th, 2009 at 12:01 pmI just got this for my five-year-old daughter, and she loves it! Of course, we had Goodnight Moon memorized because we had to read it to her so often. That’s unfortunate that your boys didn’t take to it. But I highly suggest you pick up the original!
on October 29th, 2009 at 5:47 pmOne of my son’s favorite books when he was little was Goodnight Moon. This spoof sounds wonderful!!
on November 1st, 2009 at 8:56 pmSome of the spoofs worked, but other didn’t. It was a good idea anyway.
on November 3rd, 2009 at 12:34 amPam – Ah, it’s not scary at all! No need to worry.
Kathy – It could be that because we don’t have Goodnight Moon that it didn’t resonate with my boys.
Renee – Sounds like my review wasn’t off the mark then if your kids didn’t like it either. I had a review for Frankenstein Takes the Cake that I wanted to post for Halloween but it didn’t happen. Great book!
Michelle – Thrilled that she likes it. You’re right. I need to check out the original.
Kathleen – Try it!
Sharon – Yeah, it was a good idea. Just not right for our family.
on November 4th, 2009 at 11:09 am