Good Night Thoughts

3.8

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Author(s)

Max Greenfield

Co-Authors / Illustrators

James Serafino

Publisher

G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers

Genre(s)

Age Range

Release Date

September 03, 2024

ISBN

978-0593697894

Buy This Book

From actor Max Greenfield, the author of I Don't Want to Read This Book and its two companion titles, comes a sweetly funny bedtime book about anxiety and being present.

What do we do when we can't fall asleep? The child in this story has racing thoughts--funny, silly, and scary--that are running on a cycle they can't stop. It's only when they begin to think to themselves: Do any of these thoughts have merit? Am I in any danger right here and now? that they are finally able to settle down.

This lovely picture book is a simple but complex message about acknowledging anxiety without succumbing to it that will appeal to so many little ones (and adults) out there who find that nighttime is when their thoughts carry the most weight.

Editor review

1 review

A Great Book to Teach About Calming Down Anxious Thoughts

September 06, 2024

Overall rating

3.8

Plot

4.0

Characters

3.0

Writing Style

4.0

Illustrations/Photos (if applicable)

4.0

Good Night Thoughts follows a child struggling to sleep because they can’t get their mind to stop running with funny, silly, and sometimes scary thoughts. The child uses comforting thoughts to assure themselves that they aren’t in danger and soothe themselves to sleep.

What I liked: When I first saw this book it was the cover that drew my attention. I was expecting something a bit spooky but also comforting from the images on the front page. I was quite pleased with what I found when I read this book and it is one that I will keep returning to as needed.

This book is told from the perspective of a child who has racing thoughts and this is something that I enjoyed. I appreciate that we are now in this child’s mind and able to feel this anxiety along with them. I love how realistic the child’s fears are for the age group that this book is intended for but anyone who has felt anxious will be able to relate to the feelings in this book.

The colors throughout this book stood out to me, as the child remains in blue tones while the thoughts are in color. This distinction in colors allows you to differentiate what is actually happening from what are just thoughts racing through this child’s mind.

Final Verdict: Good Night Thoughts is a great book for children ages 3 and up that shows how we can acknowledge our anxieties but don’t have to let them win. You will continue to pick it up to remind yourself and others how to quiet down your mind when the thoughts feel overwhelming.