Good Night, Sleep Tight by Mem Fox

Fox, Mem, and Judy Horacek. Good Night, Sleep Tight. New York: Orchard Books, 2013. ISBN: 978-0-545-53370-6.

Brief plot summary: 

Good Night, Sleep Tight is a story about two young children, Bonnie and Ben, and their favorite babysitter, "Skinny Doug." It is their bedtime, so Doug says a little rhyme to say goodnight. The children love it so Doug tells them different rhymes until they eventually go to sleep.

Critical analyses:

Overall impression: Great for reading aloud, especially right before bed.

Fox and Horacek worked together to create a wonderful story full of rhymes that every child should know. Fox’s repetitiveness and rhythm allow for easy reading and flow. Horacek matched her style by using watercolors outlined in bold, black ink. She used a variety of colors on each page, each scheme matching the tone of the scene. Also, the text was done using a handwriting-style font which added to the playfulness of the story.

A cool element of the story is that the scenes alternate. One page will show the kids and Doug in the bedroom and the next they will be in the imagined version of the nursery rhyme. For example, when Doug recites “pat-a-cake,” readers will find Doug, Bonnie, and Ben in a bakery ordering a cake marked with a ‘B’ with appropriate attire and all. Also, in about the middle of the story, Horacek creates a scene of the three characters sitting on the bedroom floor with toys all around them, some of which were a part of the previous rhymes and some that will be used to imagine the next rhymes Doug shares. It was a nice touch of foreshadowing (I wonder how many kids notice. I almost didn't.) Horacek manages to include details that kids will enjoy observing as they read or are read aloud to.

This particular Mem Fox picture book does not heavily emphasize cultural markers. However, the illustrator uses various skin tones when representing the different characters for each rhyme and Fox (seemingly ahead of the times-- it was originally published in 1988) breaks the gender stereotype by having a male babysitter. Although the main characters are white (part of the majority culture), there are many other cultures represented within the other characters. It is important to know that this book is considered international literature, not multicultural literature.  

Review excerpts:

"Sure to be requested and welcome for lapsits and reciting together any time of day.”

--Kirkus starred review, August 2013

“A fun book that will remind parents to pass along the golden oldies”

--Booklist, August 2013

“This could be a bedtime favorite, with kids chanting right along”

--Horn Book, July 2013

Connections (related books, activities, children’s responses, etc.):

Children could discuss other rhymes that they know. They could discuss gender roles (do you have babysitters? Are they always girls? Why do you think that is and should it be this way?) This book could introduce rhymes (what makes something rhyme? etc.) They could illustrate a rhyme of their choice, putting themselves in the story.