Picture Book: Nighty Night (by Margaret Wild)

Summary of Nighty Night! 

The young barnyard animals are at play.  The sun begins to set, so they are sent to bed.  They do not want to stop playing though.   As the animal parents go to tuck their little ones in, they find the children have done a switch-a-roo!   Once they are finally matched with the correct parent, there are requests for stories, kisses, and final drinks.  The parents eventually send them off with a final, comforting good night: 

No more tricks now.

Settle down.

Snuggle up.

Sleep tight.

Nighty Night!

Evaluation:

Margaret Wild and Kerry Argent have created an enriching and soothing bedtime story.   The author (Margaret Wild) utilizes pre-reading elements, such as repetition, alliteration, animal sounds, and patterning naturally within their narrative.  With much pleasure and entertainment, children are subtly learning even as they are settling down for bed.   The story originates where many parents first begin their challenge at bedtime:  With children wildly energetic and reluctant to settle down.  Even after the ruckus the children initially cause, the parents gently redirect them and meet their bedtime needs.   Young listeners will enjoy the trick the baby animals play and identify with their bedroom routines.  The rich illustrations (by Kerry Argent) begin with much energy and uproar but transition well into placid and tender images.   I recommend Nighty Night for ages infant to 6. 

Teaching Opportunities:

·         Alliteration:  Emphasis the alliterative phases like “precious piglets” and “darling ducklings.”  Guide children into recognizing they are they same initial sound and learning to name the letter that makes it.  Older children may try to create their own alliterative phrases—perhaps with their own names. 

·         Animal Sounds:  Practice saying and matching them to the correct animal.

·         Repetition:  It is an essential pre-reading skill.  Younger children can be invited to expand their speaking opportunities by participating.  Older children can begin to identify the words repeated in the same sequence on each page. 

·         Predicting Skills:  In the first half of the book, a two page spread shows each animal parent looking for his/her children while the next pages reveal the switches.  Children can begin predicting after the first one which animals might be lurking on the next page ready to surprise the adult.  Later readings children can be prompted to remember the pattern.  In the second half of the book, each group of children requests something in a typical bedtime routine.  Children can make predictions and later remember the pattern here as well.

·         Counting:  There are different numbers of animals in each group.  Point at each one and count them. 

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