Yes, Gloria is off to England, clutching her favorite book, Goodnight Moon. Pierre was the one who told her to take her favorite book on the journey, and of course Gloria’s favorite book is Goodnight Moon, because she hears it read aloud at school every day.
We have just started to learn about France, and we have Goodnight Moon – in French!
We will read the book with Pierre. Well, Pierre will be doing most of the reading. He can read the French words and I can read the English words, page by page.
Of course I’ve been reading Goodnight Moon aloud to the children every day before chapter reading since the first day of school. They now know the words by heart, but not so much the pictures. As I got the book ready for Gloria, children delighted in looking through the illustrations, finding all the objects they know so well by hearing the words. Then, we found the mouse on every page, and saw the darkening on each page. It felt like Goodnight Moon had come full circle.
Goodnight Moon book cover
One of the many book pages where children find the objects
they have heard me read about
over and over again.
Interestingly, the pages darken as the book carries on.
This was quite a discovery for the children.
As the year goes on, I change up Goodnight Moon. Sometimes I substitute children’s names into the text; “In the great green room there was Sally’s telephone and a red balloon, and a picture of Sam jumping over the moon.” This is hugely popular, and hearing their name in the text is important.
Sometimes I sing Goodnight Moon. The tune doesn’t matter. Music cements language and literacy.
Sometimes I even do a ‘Jennie Rap’ with the djembe.
Now is the time of year when the Helper of the Day can join me to recite Goodnight Moon. This is a big deal! Knowing the words is one thing, wanting to say those words loud and proud is another thing.
Jennie
A Teacher's Reflections 
Wow Jennie I can’t wait to see Gloria’s favourite book!
This is a lovely little peek into the Aquaroom thank you for sharing 💜💜💜
It’s a classic, Willow. You will enjoy reading it to Gloria. 💕
Thank you Jennie 🙂
You’re welcome!
So cool tone doing the French version, I bet Pierre rocks it.
Thanks, FR. He does!
There are so many discoveries in that little book. Who knew it would build great readers too? You knew!!
There really are! Many thanks, Deborah.
The weather here is improving for Gloria’s trip. 17C/63F and sunny today. She will need a summer dress and sunglasses soon. 😊
Best wishes, Pete.
Wow! Maybe Gloria will be a good luck weather charm. 🙂
Yessss! The darkening pages as the story progresses – a biggie discovery! I’m thrilled with the added French element – so many interconnectednesses, so many parallels to real life, including just plain fun!!!! hugs
I love your comment, Laura! Those darkening pages are a huge discovery. And Goodnight Moon in French is perfect. I would not have sent the book along with Gloria had Pierre not suggested a favorite book. That was a lightbulb moment! Yes, so many things here!!! Many thanks!
This is all wonderful, Jennie. Teaching a child to read is an incredible thing.
Thank you, Robbie. Teaching a child to read is perhaps the best thing I can do.
Yes ⭐️🤩
it’s a wonderful and natural progression and the children learn as they move with you
Well said, Beth. You know this well.
Your laugh at the end of the child reciting Good Night Moon on the video is precious. I could feel the love here.
Aww… thanks so much, John. 🥰
😁
You’re so smart to put the kids’ names into your reading. It gives them ownership and makes the experience more personal. They will never forget that.
Thanks, Anneli. That’s exactly why I added their names into the text. I did it today!
I remember when you shared the Jennie Rap during Covid. You made a crummy time seem a bit more pleasant.
I’m glad you remember, and that was a ‘stretch’ at trying to make such a crummy time better. Thank goodness it worked! Funny thing, when I show this to the children, they ask, “Who is that?” 😅
Haha!
😀
So sweet! Great video!
I’m glad you enjoyed this, Cathy!
I can just imagine children’s faces lighting up when they hear their names in the story. Very cool idea.
Debbie and I flew home from Scottsdale, Arizona, yesterday. It was a very early 40th-anniversary trip (our anniversary isn’t until August, but we thought we’d beat the heat. It was still in the 90s while we were there. We had a great time, though our hot-air balloon ride (something neither of us had done before) was canceled because it was too windy that day. Heading to South Dakota at the end of March to get in a long visit with Ryan, Meighan, and Jack.
Pete, they howl with laughter when they hear their name, and of course everyone is glued, listening. I’m so glad I do this.
Happy 40th! Steve and I had our 50th in January. I think I’d be brave enough to ride in a hot air balloon! I hope you and Debbie get another chance to do this. Thanks for reminding me that Ryan and his family live in South Dakota. I don’t know why I forget that. You must be very excited for a long visit! Is Jack 2?
He’ll be two in May. He’s already learned several of his colors and is beginning to say more two-syllable words.
That’s wonderful!
It’s wonderful to watch the verbal literacy process in action!
It really is!
Goodnight Moon is a wonderful book. We read it to our children many times when they were small. I can add that I am very grateful for what you teachers do for our children. You certainly have a very important profession.
Thanks so much for your kind words! I’m glad you read the book to your children.
❤ ❤ ❤ Jennie, your drum video is the highlight of my week. You're a natural rapper! You've also encouraged me to try harder at getting acquainted with my steel tongue drum. The order of the notes was so vastly different from my piano that I've mostly let it sit. Lately I've been trying again — so this was good encouragement. 😉 Big hugs.
I forgot to mention that I met Paddington Bear while I was in England. Gloria would like him.
Yes, she would!!
I’m so glad you liked this, Teagan! It was really fun to do the rap. I wish you well with your steel drum. Maybe it will be fun to get reacquainted. Big hugs!!
Gloria is in England! How cool that she brought her favourite book too. Such a good one. I was just in England myself. Too bad we didn’t meet up. I visited Shakespeare’s place and loved it. I brought a copy of Amanda in Spain to give to our 9 year-old great niece and she squealed with delight. Kids are the best!
Hi Darlene, Gloria should arrive in England in a few days. She would have loved, loved to meet you! I wonder what places she will visit. Yes, kids are the best. I can picture your great niece squealing at getting an Amanda book. 😀 Sooo… have you thought about writing a similar series with a boy? I’ve been meaning to ask you that. Boys are not the readers girls are at this age, BUT they definitely can be with encouragement. The parents who ask me for book suggestions for their child are parents of boys. Just think of all the great stories you could tell!
A great idea!! That would be fun. I could use Caleb who is featured in the New Mexico and the Malta book. I always make sure there is a boy in every book. Amanda has many boy fans too, which is wonderful!
Yes, you always have a boy featured, but a boy main character could start a whole new series. I need to read the New Mexico book!
😊
Last year, I found out the U.S. Postal System has sheets of GNM first class forever stamps!
Really?? Thanks so much, Annette!
That is delightful.
Thank you, Jacqui!
loved this post! Great job rapping, and what a wonderful job by that young man!
Also, I never noticed that the pages darkened as you read it, and I have read that book many, many times when our children were younger. Now I have to go back and check that out!
Thanks, Jim! The rap was really fun to make, and the boy was so good reciting all the words.
The darkening of each page is slight, page to page, but it becomes obvious when you get to the end of the book.
I haven’t had the chance to check the book for the darkening, but it just adds to how great the book is!
Yes!! On a side note, the snotty children’s librarian Anne Carroll Moore at the New York Library hated Goodnight Moon. She refused to include the book in the library. Finally, it was included in 1972, and is one of the most checked-out library books. Even after 25 years of exclusion, it is top dog.
Hi Jennie, thank you once again for a wonderful post!
Hi Charles, I’m so glad you liked it!
Jennie, I can see why you are such a great pre-school teacher. I love your drum rendition of Goodnight Moon. How creative. Thanks for visiting us on Story Chat Digest. Have a great week. 🙂 Marsha
That’s so nice, Marsha. Thank you, and visiting Story Chat Digest is always a pleasure.
Thank you, Jennie!
You’re welcome!
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Thanks, Marsha!
Jennie there are so many new types of discoveries in the book and your videos are awesome. Good Gloria is going on a trip.
Yes there are so many, Kamal. I’m glad you liked the videos! Gloria has arrived in England.
Oh that’s nice to hear Jennie. You are always welcome 🤗🤗🤗
Thank you, Kamal!
❤️❤️❤️