10 Facts About "Goodnight Moon" That Will Make You Love The Classic Even More

by N/A, 10 years ago | 1 min read

There's much more you need to know about about this childhood classic that you won't learn by re-reading the book.Â

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1. Goodnight Moon was based on the author's, Margaret Wise Brown, education.

Her parents were wealthy, but often distant. She went off to college but returned in 1932 after graduation. She later attended Bank Streetâ€™s Cooperative School for Student Teachers and learned about children's speech patterns which helped her right the book.

2. Goodnight Moon was the first of its kind.

Most children's literature in the '30s was rooted in fantasy and fairytales. Goodnight Moon fits into the category of "here and now" literature which focuses on modern urban settings that children are actually family with.

3. Goodnight Moon was not Brown's first attempt at writing.

She helped write The Here and Now Story Book and wrote dozens of books using a pen name.

4. The book was written quickly but edited slowly.

Brown finished the rough draft in 20 minutes but spent 2 years editing because she was editing 23 other books.

5. The illustrations were edited last minute.

Clement Hurd, a friend of Brown's illustrated Goodnight Moon. Last minute changes were made to small details in the room like the paintings on the wall.

6. The book was rejected by the New York Public Library.

It was described in an internal review as "an unbearably sentimental piece of work." It was first seen on shelves 26 years later.

7. Other reviews were more positive.

Many reviewers felt that the book read like a comforting lullaby.Â

8. It sold more than 6,000 copies in its first year.

As the years passed, it saw more and more success. By 2000, more than 11 million books were sold.

9. Brown never had kids.

She also never married. She was once quoted as saying â€œWell, I donâ€™t especially like children, either. At least not as a group. I wonâ€™t let anybody get away with anything just because he is little.â€

10. The royalties from the book were received by Brown's neighbor.

She died suddenly at the age of 42 from an embolism and left the royalties from the books sales to a young boy named Albert Clarke whose mother she knew from Bank Street.Â