Good Night, Gorilla
By Peggy Rathmann
The Story
A zookeeper says goodnight to each animal, never noticing that a small gorilla with a stolen set of keys is quietly letting everyone out of their cages to follow him home.
Why It's Special
For the toddler who wants one more lap around the room before lights-out, this is the goodnight book that lets them sneak along instead of settling down.
- Big idea: Bedtime can hold a little mischief and still end somewhere safe and warm.
- Vibes: Quiet, playful, and full of visual jokes hiding in plain sight.
Perfect For Kids Who
- love spotting the sneaky gorilla on every page
- respond well to a calm, repeating goodnight structure
- enjoy looking closely at pictures for small details
- like to point and name animals out loud
Ask Your Little Reader
- Story & noticing: What did you see Gorilla take from the zookeeper?
- Imagination: If you had the keys like Gorilla, whose cage would you open first?
- Real-life connection: What do you like to do right before it's time for bed?
- Feelings & empathy: How do you think the zookeeper felt when he finally noticed the animals following him?
