Good Night, Chickie

I take it back. You CAN always have one more bedtime story. It's a genre that is never too full to have one more.

In this story, plump yellow Chickie, or rather his stuffed blue Bunny, is worried that Mother Hen is going out. After all, she has on her pretty necklace! Mother Hen reassures Bunny (and Chickie) and firmly guides them through various bedtime routines, as well as quite a few stalling techniques. Finally, Chickie is satisfied that everything is fine and tells Bunny "Let me sleep now!"

Chickie's incessent worrying about Mother Hen's possible disappearance is a little nerve-wracking. I kept waiting for her to go out after all and Chickie to find a babysitter on one of his little excursions. But I did love the rich swashy colors show more of the painted illustrations.

Verdict: Add this one for parents with a child suffering from separation anxiety. I would read it twice to children - once for them to identify with Chickie's worries and a second time so they can know that everything really is fine in the end. show less

This is a story that uses the preschool model very well. From the repetitive text to the bright illustrations it will make a great bedtime story for many toddlers. Chickie is the protagonist and fears his mother will leave after he goes to bed, and so he tries all the different delay tactics he can think of to check that she's really there still, blaming them all, of course, on his stuffed bunny. Children, especially those suffering a bit from separation anxiety, will be able to identify with Chickie and his bunny, and be reassured in the end that Mother Hen is always there. Very cute and comforting, but I think I would wait to read it to my daughter until she does have that anxiety as to not plant the idea in her head that Mother could show more disappear after she goes to bed.
The illustrations are simple but bright and beautiful, and really enhance the story.
This will be a keeper in our library! show less

This is a good goodnight book for young children with short attention spans, because the story is short and sweet and to the point. I rather liked how the little chick used the stuffed rabbit to express his fears without having to admit that they were his own - at least, not until the end. Children will be able to pick up on what this little chick is doing after the first few pages, and they will be able to relate to the struggles of getting to bed.

I read this book to three of my grandchildren ages 4 and 5. They liked the book and it was quite true to what often happens when a child goes to bed. We did have a conversation about the book after reading it and they seemed to get the jist of the book. However, I wondered if dwelling on being scared in this book would create in some children even more fear than they already experience. In it's favor, my grandchildren did not seem to accept the book the same way. It was still not one of my favorite children's books.

As a mother I have lived this book over and over and over again. A child (or chickie) who finds it hard to go to bed and stay there. The book was cute but I fear if you read this book to your child you might give them ideas as to how to avoid bedtime. I am not a hater of bedtime stories for children but a little advice from a mother who hasn't had much sleep, pick a different one for bedtime

Cute book with a familiar theme - a reluctant child who uses every delay tactic in the book to avoid going to bed. The characters in this book are Chickie, who expresses his needs and fears about going to bed through his stuffed bunny; and Mother Hen who has limitless patience for his antics. The plot is simple and likely to be enjoyed most by the toddler/preschool set. I like the use of repetition, "Mother Hen! Mother Hen! Are you there?" as it allows young "readers" to join in.

The illustrations in this book are adorable. This story is realistic...maybe too realistic. As a parent of three the book reminded me of those nights when my children would use every excuse in the book not to go to bed. The story really didn't go anywhere. It was cute but it will not be one of my favorites.