Bedtime story musings

Reed's bedtime story is Goodnight Moon. It's a classic (first published in 1947) children's story by Margaret Wise Brown. It is really great for little ones. The bright colored pages alternated with black and white pages keeps visual interest while the story itself rhymes and has the right amount of text on each page. Reed loves turning the pages and looking at the pictures. If you haven't read it, sneak into the kids section at the book store and read it. It'll take you about a minute.

Over the past several weeks of reading the book, I have had some nagging thoughts. While reading it the other night, I had this interesting conversation with my husband.

Me: So, I have a few gripes about this book.
W: Ok?
Me: Well, first of all, what baby needs a phone in their room? "In the great green room there is a telephone and a red balloon..." I mean, if anything, it'll be a nuisance. And this room is huge! It's the size of a small house. What spoiled child has THAT large of a room? (Yes, I know it says 'the GREAT green room' but still, it is abnormally large)
W: THOSE are your concerns with this book? What about the food that's just left out on the table? Or the mouse running around the room? That doesn't seem sanitary. And that lady that keeps shushing everything is creepy.
Me: You're right, those are very valid concerns.

This prompted a tour through the book to find all the other ridiculous elements. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE this book and can quote it verbatim, and yes I am ignoring the fact that the characters are rabbits, but what do you think about these things?

1. Phone in the room: As previously stated, that's just dumb.
2. Ridiculously huge room: Maybe they're really rich and EVERY room is huge. Unlikely, but still.
3. Bowl full of mush just sitting out: Not particularly smart on the parents behalf to leave food out overnight
4. Mouse: gross and unsanitary
5. A toyhouse with electricity: I have not in my life seen a toyhouse with lights on the inside; nor do I see a reason for it. Now, maybe it is some kind of over-sized nightlight. Maybe the little one needed more than the standard night light. Did they even have night lights in 1947?
6. More about the mouse: There are two kittens in the story; how is this mouse still alive? And on one page the mouse is actually posed next to the bowl of mush. It's probably eating the food and contaminating all of it. Maybe the food attracted the mouse? Gross, right?
7. Fire: Okay, so the fire is probably for warmth on a cold night, but it seems like a HUGE safety hazard to leave it burning all night in a CHILD'S ROOM with no protective grate. I hope he's wearing flame resistant jammies.

I'm sure this room is all to nurture his gifted talents. I mean, he's got great artwork on the walls and NOVELS on his bookshelf (seriously, look at how big those books are). I'm sure he has read up on how to train cats and mice (his trusty "lab-rat") to co-habitate peacefully, and learned how to wire a toyhouse with electricity. He probably uses the phone to contact his mentors or college professors. I'll even bet the mush is part of a science experiment he's doing. You can't tell me he's not advanced.


Anyway, it really is a great book. You can buy it here:
http://www.amazon.com/Goodnight-Moon-Margaret-Wise-Brown/dp/0064430170


Enjoy!

 The Turners