Goodnight Moon: questions to ask and activities to try
A great green room, a quiet old lady and a little bunny saying goodnight to everything. Goodnight Moon is a calm, slow book for winding down at the end of the day.
What age is it for? Goodnight Moon is best from birth to age 4. Good for: Winding down at bedtime, and settling to sleep.
Goodnight Moon (Margaret Wise Brown and Clement Hurd)
- Age
- 0-4
- Best for
- Winding down at bedtime, and settling to sleep
Read it slowly, a little more quietly on each page. Let your child find the mouse and point at things before you say goodnight to them. Many families read it every night: the sameness is what makes it calming.
Why I like this one
Goodnight Moon is less a story than a slowing-down routine, and that's why I like it. The words get quieter, the room gets darker, and by the end everyone's voice has dropped without anyone being told to calm down.
I'd read it as the very last book of the night, a little slower each time. You can add your own goodnights at the end, to the toys or the moon outside your window, so it becomes your family's version rather than just the bunny's.
Apoorva, Growing Wise
What it helps with
- A calm, predictable bedtime routine
- Settling a child who finds it hard to switch off
- Saying goodbye to the day before sleep
- Naming everyday things, for babies and toddlers
Comprehension and discussion questions
Pick two or three, not all of them. “I don’t know” is a fine answer, and you can always come back to it another day.
- “Can you find the little mouse on this page?”
- “What did the bunny say goodnight to?”
- “How do you think the bunny felt as the room got darker?”
- “What would you say goodnight to in your room?”
- “What is one nice thing that happened today?”
- “What helps you feel cosy and sleepy?”
5-minute activities to try together
Our goodnight walk
Walk round your child's room together and say goodnight to a few favourite things, then finish in bed. Keep it the same each night, so it becomes part of the routine.
One nice thing
Once you're in bed, take turns saying one nice thing from today, then say goodnight to it, just like the bunny.
Free printables: Goodnight Moon worksheet and activity pack
This book’s one-page worksheet with the questions and activities above, plus our activity pack: printable scenario cards, three 5-minute activities and a “What could I try?” page for practising everyday skills together. Enter your email and download them straight away.
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If your child liked this, try
The Invisible String (Patrice Karst)
- Best for
- Being apart at drop-off, a sleepover or the start of school
- Age
- 4-7
Ruby’s Worry (Tom Percival)
- Best for
- A child whose worry grows while they keep it to themselves
- Age
- 4-7
The Very Hungry Caterpillar (Eric Carle)
- Best for
- Growing and changing, and waiting for something good
- Age
- 2-5
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By the Growing Wise team · Last reviewed: 6 October 2026
Growing Wise offers educational ideas for parents and carers. It is not a substitute for professional medical, developmental or mental-health advice. As an Amazon Associate, Growing Wise earns from qualifying purchases.