Hush! A Thai Lullaby
By Minfong Ho
The Story
A mother in Thailand moves quietly through the house, hushing a lizard, a monkey, a water buffalo, and other creatures one by one so her sleeping baby won't wake.
Why It's Special
For the family whose whole evening revolves around not waking the baby, this lullaby turns that hushed, tiptoeing energy into the entire story.
- Big idea: Quiet is its own kind of love — the whole world can be gentled down for the sake of one sleeping child.
- Vibes: Soft, slow, and softly funny — a warm hush that settles a room.
Perfect For Kids Who
- respond well to a calm, repetitive bedtime structure
- love spotting animals like the lizard, monkey, and water buffalo
- like to whisper along with a quiet refrain
- enjoy gentle, lulling stories before sleep
Ask Your Little Reader
- Story recall: Which animals did the mother ask to be quiet?
- Imagination: If you had to hush a noisy water buffalo, what would you say to it?
- Real-life connection: Have you ever had to stay quiet so someone could sleep?
- Feelings & empathy: How do you think the mother felt as she moved so carefully around the house?
- Art & illustration: What do you notice about how Holly Meade drew the animals on each page?
