Review - Goodnight, Anne

Goodnight, Anne
by Kallie George
illustrated by Geneviève Godbout
Date: 2018
Publisher: Tundra Books
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 40
Format: e-book
Source: library

A beautiful bedtime picture book based on the best-selling Anne of Green Gables, introducing the irrepressible and beloved Anne to younger readers. It's time for Anne to go to bed, but not before she wishes goodnight to everyone and everything she loves!

Under the watchful eye of her adoptive mother Marilla, Anne has come to cherish life at Green Gables -- the dearest, loveliest spot in the world, and her true home. Every night before she goes to bed, she thinks of all the people and places she loves: her family, her bosom friend Diana, her splendid teacher Miss Stacy, beloved tree Snow Queen, the Lake of Shining Waters and the brilliant sky above. Anne even wishes goodnight -- or good riddance! -- to pesky classmate Gilbert and nosy neighbor Mrs. Lynde. And through it all, Anne's imagination takes flight on a whimsical journey through Avonlea.

This sweet and heartfelt picture book is a perfect read-aloud introduction to L.M. Montgomery's beloved Anne and will delight her brand-new fans and lifelong readers alike.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

I wasn't sure if I was going to like this one. The cover looked adorable, but I'm a bit wary of books that attempt to retell classic novels (especially when those books aren't that old to begin with). But Goodnight, Anne is less of a retelling and more of an introduction to the character, making her accessible to children who might still be a bit young for Anne of Green Gables.

In this book, Anne says goodnight to all the people, things, and places she loves (including Gilbert, though she says she can never forgive him for calling her Carrots). It's a nice introduction to all of these things that are mentioned in the novel: her bosom friend, Diana; her teacher, Miss Stacy; the Lake of Shining Waters; the tree she's named Snow Queen; and even her potted geranium, Bonny. It's sweet and simple, and a perfect reflection of the character fans of the book have cherished for decades.

The illustrations are quite pretty. They're not exactly realistic, but the clear facial expressions on the characters provide just the right amount of life to the pictures. The gentle colour palette would make it a nice book to look at while winding down before bed.

For those who are old enough to read the novel, I would recommend doing that. But for younger children--or even older readers who simply enjoy beautiful illustrations--I would recommend Goodnight, Anne.

Quotable moment:

Premise: 4/5
Meter: n/a
Writing: 4/5
Illustrations: 4/5
Originality: 4/5

Enjoyment: 4/5

Overall: 4 out of 5