Twelve songs from picture book legend Margaret Wise Brown, creator of such childhood classics as Goodnight Moon and The Runaway Bunny, are paired with illustrations from twelve different contemporary illustrators in this posthumous (by many years) collection. Contributing illustrators include luminaries like Caldecott medalist Sophie Blackall and two-time Caldecott Honor winner Melissa Sweet, as well as personal favorites like Carin Berger (who is actually the reason I sought this title out). The book includes a CD by Tom Proutt and Emily Gary, who have put the songs in this collection to music...

Margaret Wise Brown has had quite a posthumous publishing career, with so many of her stories and books seeing print long after her death in 1952, thanks to an extensive cache of papers she left with her sister, which were then subsequently discovered by Amy Gary, author of the biography In the Great Green Room: The Brilliant and Bold Life of Margaret Wise Brown, and the editor of the Margaret Wise Brown Estate. Gary provides the introduction to Goodnight Songs, setting out this history, and describing how Brown had turned to song-writing, in her later years. As mentioned, I sought this one out because I am an admirer of Carin Berger's work, and she was a contributing illustrator, but as it happens I was familiar with all twelve illustrators, and have enjoyed their work elsewhere, just as I enjoyed it here. I appreciated the myriad of illustrative styles on display, and I found the songs engaging. That said, I don't think I would have been as engaged, if I didn't read the songs with the CD, reading first, and then again while listening to the music. I've seen a few unfavorable reviews of this one, and they invariably describe these selections as "poems." While the can certainly be taken that way, it's pretty clear they weren't written simply as poems, but as actual songs, and were meant to be accompanied by music. When experienced this way, they are very taking, and Proutt and Gary are to be commended for their musical arrangements. Recommended to picture book readers looking for a good collection of original lullabies and goodnight songs. ( )

After Margaret Wise Brown's death, Amy Gary- who was already a fan of Margaret's other work, such as Goodnight, Moon and Runaway Bunny- visited Margaret’s sister and convinced her to entrust her with some of Margaret's unpublished work, which included these poems. According to the introduction, Margaret’s sister said that the author felt that children ‘made up songs about whatever it was they were doing at the time. She wanted to capture the spirit of a child’s world in her songs the way she had in stories' and that she hoped that her work would help children ‘retain that ability to express their thoughts in song.’ As someone who makes up songs that narrate what I'm doing so consistently that those around me worry, I love this purpose. Luckily I was in the car on a road trip when I read this book, so I was able to pop in the CD with the lullabies sung by Tom Proutt and Emily Gary. I read each song and then listened to it as I read it a second time. The musical accompaniment enhanced most of them, offering sleepy or bouncy melodies to match the lullabies. Sleep Like a Rabbit, The Mouse’s Prayer, Little Donkey Close Your Eyes, and Song to Estyn were all sweet, fun, enjoyable reads that flowed well, but of which I preferred just the poems, unlike most of the others, which I enjoyed more sung. Each illustrator received a mini intro/biography at the end of the book, and each illustrator in the book is an award-winning picture book artist. Goat on the Mountain and Little Donkey Close Your Eyes are especially beautiful, vibrant colors that will appeal to young readers/listeners. ( )

This collection of children's songs is such a gem. I read the author's note in the beginning of the book, (as well as the book of course,) and it was so cool to learn how this particular collection was discovered in Margaret Wise Brown's home collections that she never published when she was alive. The illustrations of this book, are so dreamy. The songs are whimsical, graceful, and enchanting. I especially liked the one about "The Man in the Moon When He Was a Boy."

This wonderful book by Margaret Wise Brown is a collection of poems that were discovered in Brown's barn over 20 years ago. Except for three of the poems, they were all unpublished and were found with music scores to go along with the words. The poems are lullabies and perfect for younger children. Each poem is accompanied by a picture that was done by an award winning illustrator. The pictures bring Margaret Wise Brown's words to life! The book is also accompanied by a CD that creates a soundscape of serenity and hushed wonder. "Goodnight Songs" follow the theme of goodnight, even though some of the characters aren't sleeping. (Brown is also the loved author of "Goodnight, Moon.") I loved everything about this book -- the lullabies, the illustrations and the folk artsy type of music on the CD. It's great to read by yourself, have it read to you or listen to the CD. ( )

Poetry
This is a post-humus collection of poems from Margaret Wise Brown, illustrated by 12 different artists. It was very well put together and enjoyable to read. I think it would be a great bed-time story book, and the rhymes and repetition were enjoyable.
The theme is sleep and bed time, which as a college student, are two of my favorite things.
The artists used a variety of elements and mediums, which kept each page fresh and interesting.