Goodnight Moon
More Than Just a Bedtime Story:
Some of my favorite moments with my kids happen at bedtime.
With summer here, we're enjoying those precious evenings when there isn't a strict schedule to follow the next morning. There are only so many summer nights when bedtime can be stretched just a little longer, so I'm soaking in every minute while I can.
This week, we spent an evening exploring one of our favorite classic children's books, Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown.
Before we even opened the book, I gave the kids green paint and asked them to finger paint a sheet of paper. While they painted, we talked about things you might find in a bedroom. We chatted about beds, blankets, toys, books, windows, and all the cozy things that make a room feel special.
Then we sat down to read the story together.
One of my favorite moments was watching their faces light up when they realized the room in the book was green—just like the paper they had painted. Suddenly, they felt connected to the story in a whole new way.
After reading, we moved into dramatic play. The kids gathered their stuffed animals and tucked them into bed, just like the little bunny in the story. Together, we said goodnight to all the things around us, mimicking the gentle rhythm of the book.
We even sang our own "Do You Have a Special Blanket?" song to the tune of Did You Ever See a Lassie? They loved showing off their favorite blankets and talking about what makes them special.
Of course, one reading of Goodnight Moon is never enough.
We read it again, this time searching for the little mouse hidden throughout the pages. Then we read it a third time, listening carefully for rhyming words. It's amazing how much children notice when they revisit a familiar story.
To finish our evening, we used our green-painted paper to draw our own bedrooms. I loved seeing the details they remembered from the book. My daughter made sure to include the famous red balloon, while my son added both the house and the mouse. Seeing the story come alive through their artwork was such a sweet reminder of how children connect with books in their own unique ways.
What I love most about activities like this isn't the craft or even the finished artwork—it's the time together.
Stories create opportunities for conversations, imagination, learning, and connection. They slow us down and remind us to enjoy the little moments.
One day, these bedtime routines will change. The stuffed animals will be put away, the favorite blankets will be forgotten, and the nightly story requests will become less frequent.
But for now, I'm holding onto these moments.
And if that means reading Goodnight Moon three times in one night, I'm happy to do it.
Goodnight room. Goodnight moon. 🌙✨📚💚
Because there are only so many summer nights with little voices asking for "just one more story." 🧸💕
🌙 Goodnight Moon Activities for Moms & Kids
🎈 Red Balloon Hunt
Before reading, hide a red balloon cutout somewhere in the room. After reading, have your child search for it just like they search for the red balloon in the story.
🐭 Find the Mouse Challenge
Read the story multiple times and see who can spot the little mouse on each page first. Kids never seem to get tired of this one!
🛏️ Goodnight Bedroom Walk
Before bed, walk around your child's room and say goodnight to different objects:
Goodnight bed
Goodnight lamp
Goodnight books
Goodnight teddy bear
This creates a calming bedtime routine inspired by the book.
🎨 Design Your Own Green Room
Give children green construction paper and have them draw their own version of the Great Green Room. What special items would they include?
🧸 Tuck-In Time
Gather stuffed animals and let your child become the caretaker. Have them tuck everyone into bed and say goodnight to each one.
🔎 I Spy: Goodnight Moon Edition
After reading, ask:
Can you find something red?
Can you find something fuzzy?
Can you find a clock?
Can you find a book?
This encourages observation skills and attention to detail.
🎵 Create a Goodnight Song
Use the tune of a familiar song and replace the words with things in your child's room:
"Goodnight blanket, goodnight bear,
Goodnight moon up in the air..."
📚 Rhyming Word Detective
Read the story again and pause whenever you hear a rhyme. See if your child can identify the matching words.
💭 If I Lived in the Great Green Room...
Ask questions like:
Where would you sleep?
What toy would you bring?
What color would your room be?
Would you keep the red balloon?
Kids love imagining themselves inside the story.
⭐ Moonlight Flashlight Reading
Turn off the lights, grab a flashlight, and read the story by "moonlight." This instantly makes storytime feel magical.
Click HERE to see us explore our story
Why Moms Love Goodnight Moon
The beauty of Goodnight Moon isn't just the story—it's that it invites children to slow down, observe, imagine, and connect. Whether you're hunting for the mouse, finding rhymes, creating artwork, or simply cuddling up for one more reading, you're building memories they'll carry long after they've outgrown bedtime stories.