Reference News Network reported on October 28 that (text/Elizabeth Egan) I would cry when I read "Good Night, Moon" for the first 25 times. It is not the elegant way to wipe away tears, but the tears burst into pieces.
When we first came across this iconic picture book by Margaret Wise Brown and Clement Hurd, my eldest daughter was just a few days old. As a mother for the first time, I found myself knowing nothing: I have poor skills in bathing and feeding children.
Reading is something I can do calmly, and I think it can comfort everyone, including my husband who is sweating heavily by the instructions for the bottle disinfector. I chose the book Good Night, Moon because I remember the experienced parents applauding when I unpacked this thin hard-cover book at my baby shower. The unanimous vote believed: "This is the best."
illustration ( Visual China )
However, this is not the case. This book is very sad and depressing. The lonely red balloon made me feel like I was staring down at a well, and the font on the book reminded me of standardized testing.
In the eyes of those who are not familiar with it, "Good Night, Moon" tells the story of a rabbit preparing to bed and saying goodbye to a series of items in the bedroom: a small toy house and a little mouse, "a comb, a brush, a bowl of mug and a peaceful old lady who whispers 'shh'".
While the little rabbit was walking around, the old rabbit sat on a yellow rocking chair and weaving things. Is she his mother? grandmother? Or a nanny? How could she just sit there like that? Shouldn’t she hold the little rabbit, comfort him, and promise him that she will accompany him? The little rabbit looked sad, hugged his knees tightly, and was isolated on an oversized bed. The old rabbit then walked out of the room and left him in the dark without looking back. This is unreasonable!
Later, when my daughter started to go to preschool, I gradually felt a reluctant respect for "Good Night, Moon". It only takes two minutes to read, giving a simple and efficient feeling, like a mug with a perfect handle.
Later our son came to this world. His fixed habit at night almost broke me. This will last for hours: having dinner, taking a bath, telling stories, singing, crying, singing, and crying. He hopes someone is lying with him. He wanted someone to hold his hand. He wanted another person to hold his other hand.
One night, while I was still wearing a tight dress I wore to work and ready to face the shock, I pulled out the book with the familiar orange spine from a bunch of books.
That manic drops by 15 degrees when I read "Good night, kitten, good night, gloves, good night, clocks, good night, socks". The room was quiet and I could hear the cats snoring and the neighbors playing the piano. At the end of the reading, my son pulled a finger out of his mouth and said in a low voice, "Do it again."
When we read it for the second time, we were amused by the bowl, after all, it was an interesting word. My daughter also counted the stars in the book.
Suddenly, I began to look at those rabbits from a new perspective. The little guy was not sad at all, he was very calm. The old rabbit is not cold and irresponsible; she is a reassuring existence. They watched the moon and the deepening shadows together in a well-arranged room. Everything is paired: socks, slippers, gloves and even kittens. The curtains are neatly tied, both on real windows and in the dollhouse with warm lighting. This is a fantasy world, and I long to be part of this world, and this desire exceeds my desire to be a child who loves reading.
That night, my son fell asleep peacefully for the first time since he was born.
Maybe that's why we give new parents Good night, the moon - why we write words of encouragement on its brightly colored yellow lining page, why I can still keep 131 words in my heart after not using it as a bedtime reading for ten years.This is a picture of peace gaining in a time of chaos, reminding us that being alone may be another kind of oxygen, an essential oxygen for humans and rabbits of all ages. Comfortable lights, clean pajamas, upcoming rest and dreams, the chance to come again tomorrow? It was always within reach, but it didn't last long. But that's enough. (Translated by Li Sha from the website of " New York Times " on September 20, the original title is "Good night, the lasting wisdom of the moon")
Source: Reference News Network
