Goodnight, Good Dog

by Mary Lyn Ray, Rebecca Malone (Illustrator)

Overview

It’s time to say goodnight. But what if a dog isn’t sleepy? Intimate and accessible, this young dog story captures how a reluctant pup warms to bedtime in a way that children will recognize immediately—and find as reassuring as their own beds.
  

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780544286122
Publisher:	HarperCollins
Publication date:	11/10/2015
Pages:	32
Sales rank:	703,046
Product dimensions:	8.30(w) x 10.00(h) x 0.60(d)
Age Range:	4 - 7 Years

About the Author

Mary Lyn Ray has written many acclaimed books for children, including Go to Sleep, Little Farm, illustrated by Christopher Silas Neal; New York Times bestseller Stars, illustrated by Marla Frazee, and The Thank You Book, illustrated by Stephanie Graegin. She lives in South Danbury, New Hampshire.

Rebecca Malone's art is created with acrylic paint on watercolor paper, though she occasionally illustrates with pen and ink or a computer. She lives in Brimfield, MA. Visit www.rebeccamaloneillustration.com.

Editorial Reviews

★ 08/31/2015
There’s a famous Onion headline, “Dog Experiences Best Day of His Life for 400th Consecutive Day,” that essentially describes where Ray and Malone’s small yellow dog is coming from. His owner, a girl with braids, has bid him goodnight; the house has become “moon quiet”; and his “moon-round bed” beckons. But how can he settle down after a wonderful day of running in the grass, chasing the “yellow ball of sun bouncing across the sky,” and eating a bowlful of food? Ray, who prose was so captivating in Stars, again proves herself a gifted writer, capable of highly distilled poetic prose that’s beautifully accessible and allusive. Malone’s (Hug Hug!) bright acrylics, simple shapes, and minimalist detailing (two highly expressive dots stand in for the dog’s eyes) are a terrific match; her canine hero is endearingly eager and trying to behave, yet certain that the world revolves around him. When he does finally fall asleep, lulled by the same memories that were keeping him awake, he becomes an excellent role model for readers, as well. Ages 4–7. Author’s agent: Erin Murphy, Erin Murphy Literary Agency. (Nov.)

Publishers Weekly

"Whether or not audiences catch the kidproxy echoes in the dog’s resistance to bedtime, they’ll be enchanted by the pooch’s dozy meanderings and eventual sleepy example." —Bulletin, starred review "Ray’s pleasing text recreates the dog’s experiences without a wasted word. The illustrations expand the narrative and express its tone visually...A satisfying picture book that’s just right for bedtime reading." —Booklist "This snuggly bedtime story shows the dog’s girl going happily and quickly to sleep while he pads restlessly about the house, creating a potentially empowering contrast for human bedtime resisters." —School Library Journal * "The pace of the page turns gently slows down as this good dog heads to his dreams. Goodnight, Good Dog. Sure to be shelved next to Goodnight, Moon. It deserves that rarefied spot." —Kirkus, starred review * "Ray...again proves herself a gifted writer, capable of highly distilled poetic prose that's beautifully accessible and allusive. Malone's bright acrylics, simple shapes, and minimalist detailing...are a terriffic match; her canine hero is endearingly eager." —Publishers Weekly, starred review "This effective bedtime story reminds kids that fun will be had again when they wake—but first comes sleep." —Horn Book   —

From the Publisher

11/01/2015
PreS-Gr 1—Rich acrylics with thick black outlines create a fuzzy, sleepy atmosphere, but the young dog is not ready for bed yet. He knows the sounds and visual cues that portend bedtime, from the click of the lamp to the shadows in the corners, but he still longs for all the bouncing and chasing of the day. As he catalogs the day's memories ("He remembers words he knows—like come and good dog and goodnight"), readers and listeners will notice him slowing down even as he denies tiredness. The succinct text has a moving, lullaby quality and works beautifully with the expressive illustrations. The soft, opaque colors and rounded shapes darken with bedtime, making the house feel quiet and the beds (as well as the sweet yellow dog) look cuddly. Finally, the pup curls up in his own "moon-round" bed even though he is not sleepy ("Or, only a little. Just a little."), and a sequence of spot art depicts him getting comfortable. He decides to try to dream back the sun…and finally he does. This snuggly bedtime story shows the dog's girl going happily and quickly to sleep while he pads restlessly about the house, creating a potentially empowering contrast for human bedtime resisters. VERDICT A dog lover's delight and a sweet bedtime read.—Julie Roach, Cambridge Public Library, MA

School Library Journal

★ 2015-07-15
It's bedtime for a puppy who is not sleepy at all. Though the biscuit-brown puppy knows that it's dark and that his moon-round bed is ready for him, he is not sleepy. He knows he's had a busy day and understands the words, "Goodnight, good dog," but it does not matter. The house is asleep, and the children are too, but this little canine is still moving. Like many of the little ones who will read this perfectly paced goodnight book, this good dog doesn't think he is ready for bed, but just getting comfy in the bed allows him to feel snug enough to drift off to dreamland. The muted acrylic drawings, outlined in heavy black lines, show the darkening house quieting down for the evening. This keeps the focus on the dog, allowing young readers to observe the puppy and predict just when he will drift off, never realizing that the puppy is the perfect stand-in for the human child, who is also beginning to settle in for the night. Rich language ("Maybe he can dream back the sun?"), so rare in a book that new readers might tackle on their own, adds to the appeal. The pace of the page turns gently slows down as this good dog heads to his dreams. Goodnight, Good Dog. Sure to be shelved next to Goodnight, Moon. It deserves that rarefied spot. (Picture book. 3-7)

Kirkus Reviews