Goodnight, Me by Andrew Daddo, illustrated by Emma Quay Baby-preschool 32 pages Bloomsbury USA October 2007 Hardcover     For a fun and relaxing bedtime read for the very young or young at heart, you can’t beat Goodnight, Me. As any parent knows, bedtime can be tricky. Although we try to make it a quick, painless end to the day, most children are experts at stretching bedtime rituals. In this cute yet simple book, our main character, an anthropomorphized primate, makes the most of those few extra moments before sleep takes hold. As in the classic favorite Goodnight, Moon, our little friend delays bedtime. But instead of saying goodnight to the things in the room, he/she takes it up a notch by wishing goodnight to him/herself. Starting with the feet (that run around all day) and moving to other regions of the body, relaxation is taken to a whole new level. Parents will appreciate the short, simple text, while children will delight in the soothing yet amusing illustrations. This precocious orangutan is depicted in typical childlike poses. From thumb-sucking to hiding under the covers, even the youngest child can relate. Done in soothing shades of purples and blues, the fantastic imagery reflects a calming bedroom scene. When all is said and done and the kids are tucked in tight, don’t be surprised if you find yourself echoing the book’s sentiment just before your own head hits the pillow: “Goodnight, Me.”     web reviews   Niki Schoenfeldt/2008 for curled up with a good kid's book   For grown-up fiction, nonfiction and speculative fiction book reviews, visit our sister site Curled Up With a Good Book (www.curledup.com)