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Goodnight, Me

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A baby orangutan is sleepy, but before he shuts his eyes he must first say goodnight to each and every part of himself: from the feet that ran him around all day, to the legs that did all that jumping, to the ears that listened so intently to the big world around him. Echoing the loving goodnight rituals that will be familiar to many a parent and child, the gentle text and softly-hued illustrations are just the thing for coaxing an active toddler to sleep.

32 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2005

3 people are currently reading
221 people want to read

About the author

Andrew Daddo

48 books11 followers
Born Andrew Dugald Daddo with twin James Beilby. School included "broken arms and fingers, scrapes and scratches, girlfriends, hot chips and a football team that refused to win a premiership." Careers included radio, TV - DVDs for GlobeTrekker. "He has written books for all ages – picture books, chapter books, short story collections, young adult novels and adult non-fiction." He "lives on Sydney’s Northern Beaches with" .. seven others "if you include our chicken Spite and thirteen if you include those pesky Indian Miner Birds who sneak in the crack in the window to eat what Spud the Dog, Felix, Bibi or Jasper (our kids) or Jacquie (my wife) leave lying around." https://www.facebook.com/andrew.daddo.16

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5 stars
127 (41%)
4 stars
85 (27%)
3 stars
71 (23%)
2 stars
20 (6%)
1 star
3 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews
Profile Image for Aneesa.
1,872 reviews1 follower
July 22, 2020
This orangutan reminds me of another little redhead I know.

This book has an ungendered caregiver in it.
Profile Image for Mallory.
992 reviews
August 4, 2018
What a sweet and powerful little book. Great reminders to be thankful for all the body lets one do throughout a day, and to let it be still and quiet when it needs to be. Soothing mauve and lavender tones get the little reader ready for bed.
Profile Image for Melissa.
Author 37 books36 followers
September 16, 2016
I have read this book many, many times since we bought it, and it was chosen by my nephews as a bedtime story. They said they had never heard this story before!

A sleepy orangutan is relaxing before he goes to sleep. My nephews enjoyed this story and I enjoyed reading it to them.

It's interesting as the way the orangutan says goodnight is one technique that was recommended to my kids as a way to relax and unwind before sleep!
Profile Image for Nicola.
3,640 reviews
September 29, 2018
Lovely pictures and a way of working through a guided meditation at bedtime (slowly naming and relaxing each body part or applying pressure/massage to help provide proprioceptive reassurance).

Miss 4 and I like to explore different books and authors at the library, sometimes around particular topics or themes. We try to get different ones out every week or so; it's fun for both of us to have the variety and to look at a mix of new & favourite authors.
Profile Image for Fatima Seraj Alam.
931 reviews2 followers
October 14, 2023
For little kids who won’t go to sleep, this is an excellent bed time book for them to step by step appreciate each part of their body and slowly put each part to bed before their brain goes to bed. Did not work on my daughter though.
Profile Image for Sue Mosher.
677 reviews15 followers
December 30, 2016
The art is great in this simple picture book of an orangutan saying goodnight to all his body parts.
Profile Image for Jennifer.
4,976 reviews60 followers
February 13, 2019
A sweet little orangutan goes through and tells each part of him to relax and sleep now so they can play tomorrow. Simple text and beautiful pictures, a great toddler read aloud!
Profile Image for Amy Seto.
Author 2 books15 followers
April 1, 2012
It’s bedtime and a baby orangutan is settling into bed. Starting with his feet and working his way to his eyes, he says goodnight to each of his body parts until he finally exhausts himself and says, “Goodnight, Me. See you in the morning.”

The illustrations, done in pastels and watercolors, are gentle and help to create a calming atmosphere. The text is concise as the little orangutan settles each body part in for bed, “Legs, get some rest. We’ve got a lot of jumping to do tomorrow.”

Use this book as the finale to a pajama or body part themed storytime. Have the kids wiggle each body part that the orangutan mentions so that they finally end up laying on the floor with their eyes closed. If you’re reading this during a lapsit storytime, have the parents point to each body part on themselves and their baby.

Full Review at Picture-Book-a-Day: http://picturebookaday.blogspot.com/2...
Profile Image for Lynn  Davidson.
8,204 reviews35 followers
October 21, 2013
This is such a charming story and so beautifully illustrated.

The story is focused around the point-of-view of the main character, a baby orangutan. The little one is convincing his body to calm down for sleep. He names body parts and, mentioning some of what they do in his busy day, he tells them to settle down for the night. Feet, knees, legs, tummy, bottom (“Enough wriggling, bottom. It’s time to be still.”), chest, hands, arms, neck, head, mouth, eyes (“Can you see any dreams yet?”). As his mother tucks him in and kisses him goodnight, he is drifting off to sleep. It is the cutest story.

This first picture book by Andrew Daddo is a wonderful bedtime book to help a child relax and settle down for sleep, and also be fun for a child who is learning to read. The illustrations by Emma Quay are delightful – soft and realistic-looking of the little orangutan. This is a book to treasure.
508 reviews14 followers
April 22, 2009
The celebrity children's book should always be approached with caution...

This book attempts to get that active toddler asleep by sequentially saying good night to body parts. The idea is certainly not new, and I'm almost certain there are other books that use the idea. The text in this book is acceptable - not exceptional, not terrible. The use of an orangutan by Emma Quay provides a point of interest.

The quote from the "grateful parent" on the back about how this book solved all their bedtime battles is a bit over the top!
Profile Image for The Library Lady.
3,877 reviews680 followers
April 2, 2008
Another great idea ruined by pictures. In this case they're a small orangutan clad in nothing but an undershirt and sleeping in a basic bed. It's simultaneously too human to be an orangutan, and too much of an orangutan to be a human--the final effect is of an unkempt cave child.
I love the idea of the child saying goodnight to his/her body parts. So next time, could we have a child in the pictures, and if political correctness is needed, perhaps children of both genders and various races?
Profile Image for Shallowreader VaVeros.
906 reviews23 followers
April 10, 2012
This books is beautiful. A mother putting her baby monkey to bed by saying goodnight to all parts of his body. This is like one of those relaxation tapes where you relax your shoulders, feel you fingers etc but delivered in lovely prose and illustrator Emma Quay captures the expressions of an over-excited child to one falling asleep with sublime humour.
Profile Image for Ariel Cummins.
819 reviews18 followers
March 6, 2013
Baby orangutan says goodnight to each of his parts and thanks them for the work they did that day. Sweet and simple.

The illustrations play up the softness of the pencils and watercolors used to make them to give a soothing but playful feel to the book.

Great for bedtime! Or a bedtime themed baby or toddler time.
Profile Image for Keren.
12 reviews
June 16, 2008
All about a baby orangutan trying to help the different parts of his body to fall asleep, probably the most endearing good night story I've read in a long while. Also, the illustrations are top-notch.
Profile Image for Shanshad Whelan.
649 reviews35 followers
October 25, 2009
I think the illustrations are adorable--but don't particularly sync with the text in a way that makes this sensational. As some have noted, the text almost needs a human child to really work. The illustrations are awfully cute, though.
Profile Image for Heidi-Marie.
3,855 reviews87 followers
March 13, 2013
Would be perfect for a toddler storytime. Too young for the preschool? Then again, I do get young ones at preschool. Cute that the monkey is saying good night to everything about himself, and trying to get himself to be still. The kids might enjoy that. I'll keep it around just in case.
Profile Image for Dolly.
Author 1 book670 followers
May 29, 2009
This is a nice, soothing book; perfect for bedtime. Each part of the body is acknowledged and relaxed (goes to sleep) until finally the little orangutan drifts off to sleep herself.
Profile Image for Jj.
1,277 reviews38 followers
February 3, 2011
By Andrew DADDO? Wait. THAT Andrew Daddo? It can't be! But IT IS!!! He has written a sweet bedtime book that would make a useful addition to a sleepytime storytime.
3,239 reviews
June 21, 2011
the little monkey is saying goodnight to all its body parts and telling them to go to sleep. the kids could say goodnight to their own body.
Profile Image for Brandielle.
910 reviews
November 22, 2011
The art and story were simple and sweet. Definitely a great bedtime read.
Profile Image for Casuarina Pearson.
40 reviews
May 6, 2013
I love this book, it's such a natural piece of text, and the illustrations are too cute!
Profile Image for Lori.
2,539 reviews54 followers
May 30, 2013
A fun book that would be beneficial for any child who needs to learn to settle themselves down and go to sleep.
Profile Image for Peacegal.
11.7k reviews102 followers
September 10, 2016
This a quiet and very simple book. I liked the choice of an orangutan as the star.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews

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