Beyond 'Goodnight Moon': other delightful books by Margaret Wise Brown

Get ready to hit the library--this prolific author is about to become your new old favorite.

Did you know Margaret Wise Brown, the author behind the famed “Goodnight Moon,” wrote more than 100 children’s books?

Until recently, I had no idea. Maybe this is common knowledge, but for me it has been a wonderful discovery!

MWB’s books perfectly capture the whimsy and wonder in everyday childhood moments, which is probably why I love them so much. Children are constantly making discoveries, and MWB’s picture books not only successfully acknowledge this, but somehow add to the whimsy while still providing security and comfort.

Below are three delightful books from our library haul this week:

“The Noon Balloon” by Margaret Wise Brown

Join a little dog as he takes a magical hot air balloon ride over the fields, sea, mountains and city. Imagine what he sees, smells and hears until he arrives “where he wants to be.”

What I love about this book is that it has a slow, peaceful rhythm, yet it is completely captivating. I’ve been reading “The Noon Balloon” with my children at lunchtime, and it has been a wonderful way to calm everyone down to focus on the meal and eventually transition to nap/quite time.

“The Moon Shines Down” by Margaret Wise Brown

Think of “The Moon Shines Down” as the big-kid version of “Goodnight Moon.” :)

Based on the New England sampler prayer “God Bless the Moon and God Bless Me,” this book follows a cute koala around the world as children drift off to sleep. There are two Christmas-themed pages that might feel a bit out of place in warmer months, but my four year old was very excited to see them.

This book has beautiful illustrations and is a great introduction to other countries. Of course, my family is all about the France pages. ;)

If your family enjoys MWB’s bedtime books, also check out “Good Day, Good Night,” which I featured in this list of book recommendations for baby shower gifts.

“Manners” by Margaret Wise Brown

This Little Golden Book is a fun way to introduce/enhance conversations about manners. It explains very succinctly that there are right and wrong ways to do things, like chewing, entering a room and interacting with other people, and it serves as a springboard to meaningful questions and conversations about how to behave.

Do you have a favorite MWB book? Which of these reads would your little ones enjoy? Please share in the comments!

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Mom read:

For a grown-up read on Margaret Wise Brown (and some additional MWB recommendations), check out this great piece: “Margaret Wise Brown and the art of paying attention.” It was my inspiration for this week’s newsletter!

“A book can make a child laugh or feel clear-and-happy-headed as he follows a simple rhythm to its logical end. It can jog him with the unexpected and comfort him with the familiar, lift him for a few minutes from his own problems of shoelaces that won’t tie and busy parents and mysterious clock-time, into the world of a bug or a bear or a bee or a boy living in the timeless world of story. If I’ve been lucky, I hope I have written a book simple enough to come near to that timeless world.” — Margaret Wise Brown 

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