Review - Good Night, Baddies

Good Night, Baddies
by Deborah Underwood
illustrated by Juli Kangas
Date: 2016
Publisher: Beach Lane Books
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 32
Format: hardcover
Source: library

Get to know the softer side of your favorite fairy tale baddies as they return home from a full day of scheming to enjoy a yummy dinner together and help one another get ready for bed.

Wolves, today was not so good.
You didn’t catch Red Riding Hood.
You huffed and puffed without success.
But brush your fangs, please, nonetheless.

Wicked witches. Evil queens. And big, bad wolves. By day they’re such baddies! But cozy at night at home among friends? Why, they couldn’t be nicer! Inspired by the mischief-makers from classic folk and fairy tales, this picture book shows that even the baddest baddies can have big hearts.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

Here's a cute bedtime book with a fairy tale twist!

This rhyming picture book takes a look at bedtime for a bunch of storybook villains. After they retire to their crumbling castle after a day of evildoing, they go about getting ready for bed, just like everyone else. The evil queen sets aside her poisoned apple and puts on her nightie. The wolves brush their fangs. The witches check under the nervous giant's bed for... princesses!

The whole premise is pretty cute, and the writing and rhythm of the rhyming text is pretty strong. This would be a fun book to read aloud at bedtime.

Fun and colourful illustrations bring all the nighttime rituals to life.

I'm not sure what else to say about this one. I've read a number of bedtime books now... and this is one of the stronger ones.

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

Enjoyment: 4/5

Overall: 4.14 out of 5