At the Stroke of Goodnight

PreS-Gr 1–Darkness is falling around the world as animals and humans alike prepare for sleep. From dogs and cats to birds and mice, many creatures prepare for the stroke of goodnight. Quiet descends in the barn, deer rustle in the leaves, and a human mother and her baby coo to each other as the lights are dimmed. A sense of calm envelopes readers as they turn these pages: the backlit, cut-paper silhouettes coupled with the smoothly flowing lyrical and rhyming text behave like a spoken lullaby. The beginning of the book is a loving homage to Goodnight Moon, with one page in particular standing out in its similarity. The latter part of the book diverts from the initial theme as the story changes focus from animals to humans, circling back to its roots on the final page. Each page is dominated by a striking and memorable image, full of small and delicate details.