Goodnight Moon

by Margaret Wise Brown, illus. by Clement Hurd

You probably already know about Goodnight Moon. But a list of twenty must-haves for the nursery would not be complete without it. A bunny says goodnight to all of the things that surround him, from the great green room, to the red balloon, to the picture of a cow jumping over the moon.  The poetic language and soothing illustrations reassure your child that all of the things that make the world a familiar place will be there waiting when he or she wakes up. If your youngster already has this book, take a look at A Child’s Goodnight Book, also by Brown, illustrated by Jean Charlot (ISBN 9780694008391, Board Book edition), a 1944 Caldecott Honor book.