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I’m glad she helped inspire today’s children's authors to be more developmentally appropriate and those authors have gone on to produce better work as a result.

But “Goodnight Moon” is overrated.

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I agree. Specifically, it's nonsensical and not in a good way. Yes, it's silly. But it's also a bit triggering for children with fears of the dark, with the line "goodnight noises everywhere".

> it's also a bit triggering for children with fears of the dark, with the line "goodnight noises everywhere".

Can you say more about why you feel this way? I ask because I feel the opposite. To me, saying "goodnight" to noises everywhere is almost like my three-year-old calling a ceasefire for the night; the noises are also going to sleep, so she need not worry.

Sure. As a child, I was very afraid of the dark. The last thing I want to think about before going to bed are unknown "noises everywhere", that'll make my ears perk up to listen for mysterious noises. Reading this book to my daughter brought back these vivid and mostly unpleasant memories.

I understand it won't be like this for everyone, of course. And at the same time, I don't understand the appeal. So to me, it's not a great book all around.

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