Goodnight Goon: A Petrifying Parody

Read with Goodnight Moon, and discuss differences/similarities and what a parody is.

Used for Halloween baby storytime October 2008. ( )

Michael Rex was treading on dangerous territory messing with a classic (Goodnight moon); but he has created a spooky, fun parody! Works great around Halloween, or anytime you're in the mood for a little lighthearted scare. Couple it with [book: Bedtime at the Swamp] for a howling good time. ( )

Summary
The classic goodnight moon is taken to new—and devious!—heights (/lows)! The poem we’ve all heard is ground up and filtered through the lense of Vincent Price in Thriller, as mummies dance and werewolves howl, and all the while one particularly titular goon runs around causing trouble!

Personal Opine
I’ve never cared for Goodnight Moon-- I was way beyond the target audience by the time I’d first heard of it—so seeing it turned on its head in a classic “gross out” style made me smile. The colors and illustrations are vibrant, and the rhyming works and is sure to bring a smile.

Classroom Extension Ideas
1. Read both books back to back—talk to the kids about the nature of parody.
2. Have the kids come up with “monster” versions of their favorite stories/poems/movies. ( )

A parody of Margaret Brown's "Goodnight Moon" in which a little werewolf must banish all the frightening things in his bedroom before he can get to sleep.