Good night, laila tov

by Laurel Snyder, Jui Ishida (Illustrator)

A family trip turns into an adventure of discovery for a curious and carefree sister and brother. While the two explore the natural wonders of the seashore, woods, and fields, their parents plant trees as an offering of thanks for all they have received. In Jewish tradition, this is called tikkun olam, or repairing the world. As the children settle down to sleep, they are lulled by the soothing sounds around them that become the "good night, laila tov"—the same comforting words in English and Hebrew that their parents recite to them every night at bedtime.Laurel Snyder's lilting poem is both a song of praise to the beauty of nature and a gentle lullaby. Jui Ishida's rich, jewel-tone illustrations illuminate the text and incorporate details that readers will love to discover.

Genres: Picture Books, Family, Childrens, Jewish, Poetry, Nature, Cultural

32 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 27, 2012

About the author

Laurel Snyder is the author of six children's novels, "Orphan Island," "Seven Stories Up," "Bigger than a Bread Box," "Penny Dreadful," "Up and Down the Scratchy Mountains OR The Search for a Suitable Princess" and "Any Which Wall" (Random House) as well as many picture books, including "Charlie & Mouse," "The Forever Garden," "Swan, the life and dance of Anna Pavlova," and "Baxter, the Pig Who Wanted to Be Kosher."

A graduate of the Iowa Writers' Workshop and a former Michener Fellow, she also writes books for grownups, and is the author of a book of poems, "The Myth of the Simple Machines" (No Tell Books) and a chapbook, "Daphne & Jim: a choose-your-own-adventure biography in verse (Burnside Review Press) and the editor of an anthology, "Half/Life: Jew-ish Tales from Interfaith Homes" (Soft Skull Press).

Though Baltimore will always be her home, she now lives happily in Atlanta.

Reviews

[Laurel]

I wrote it, and am not to be trusted with a review.

But... it's got nature, and rhyming words, and a cat. Who doesn't like a cat?

[Colby Sharp · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm always nervous that when my favorite authors come out with a new book that I won't love it. Then I will have to give it an awkward 3 star rating, or I will not be able to be completly honest with my rankings.

Not sure if this makes sense...Thankfully the lovely Laurel Snyder has written a beautiful picture book.

I LOVE what Laurel has done with the book.

[K · Rating 3 out of 5]

The illustrations in this book are so wonderful. I picked the book up and thumbed through it delighted by the simple rhymes and family setting. ''I wonder what 'laila tov' means,'' I thought, 'it must be Hebrew because it sounds like Mazel Tov.'

There was no explanation in the book of 'Laila Tov' and Google Translate wasn't any help either. Google Translate didn't even translate the phrase when I tried a Hebrew-to-English translation. It was only when I read the fine print of the cataloging-in-publication data summary that I learned 'Laila Tov' is Hebrew for 'Good Night.'

I have never heard of the Jewish custom of 'repairing the world' and think an explanatory note of that idea would be a terrific addition to this book for non-Jewish readers, to accompany an explanatory note of 'Laila Tov.' I understand now from reading the reviews of this book that 'repairing the world' is what this family is doing. Why not make that explicit for non-Jewish readers? 'Repairing the World' is an idea of universal appeal, as is this book.

I see now, in the illustrations, the Jewish imagery, but I completely missed that on first reading. I probably just wasn't looking for it.

[Beverly · Rating 4 out of 5]

lovely illustrations, sweet, simple rhyming story, with the Hebrew phrase for "good night" in English letters.

[Megan Renner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Snyder, L. (2012). Good night, laila tov. New York: Random House, Inc.

The story begins with a bother and a sister that share a room. They were awaken by the bright sun. The two siblings and their parents then go on an adventure. Firs they stopped at the beach and the brother and sister took a nap. Next they went somewhere with lots of grass and they once again fell asleep. Then they woke up and did a few things and then it started to rain. The kids piled into the tent and fell asleep.Then the rain stopped and they packed up all their things and went home. Then finally the parents fell asleep. I thought this story was cute, simple and sweet. I rate it 4/5. The illustrations in the book were neat, somewhat life like. They also look like they were painted.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the family dynamics of this book--and the travel adventures reminded me of my childhood. I thought a few of the transitions were rushed--well just the seaside one that had me thinking there was a timewarp there. But this is a solid picture book that will appeal to a wide audience. Even though I honestly had to google Laila tov to figure out what it meant. For most of the book I thought it was the little girl's name. Still a very cute book about family adventures and might help kids who are concerned with sleeping away from home.

[Maya · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is beautiful. A family goes out and has this natural world adventure, sleeping on the beach and in tents, running in the rain and driving through the forest, and gives a little back to the earth along the way. The children sleep peacefully on this journey, but the parents don't truly rest until they get home. And then the kids take care of them. Got this through the pj library program (Jewish Children's books, kind of like dolly parton's imagination library), but I think the message/story/illustrations are good for kids of any faith.

[Maddypictures · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another Jewish family picture book from Laurel Snyder. This is as sweet and gentle as her other books have been snarky and funny. Parents plant trees everywhere they go and the kids fall asleep - a lot! The tables are turned when the children tuck their parents in when they return home. Could be nice as a bedtime story or for Tu Bishvat.

[Great Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

A family plants trees while camping in a Jewish tradition called tikkun olam (repairing the world). From sea to mountains the children discover nature and she softly lulls them to sleep each night with..."Good night, laila tov..." Rich colors/Rhyming text
Reviewer #7

[Teacher. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just got this from the library. So beautiful! I am going to have to buy a copy for Nana's house for sure. The story is very family oriented and has the perfect touch of Hebrew plus tikkum olam, or repairing the earth. We read it before bedtime and it reads as a natural goodnight story. :)

[Holly Mueller · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this for the SharpSchu book club with Laurel Snyder. A family goes on an adventure, and the parents plant trees in the Jewish traditon of tikkun olam, or repairing the world. It's such a sweet book of nature, family, and the idea that kindness and peace make the world a better place.

[Angela · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favorite read-alouds.

[Alyson (Kid Lit Frenzy) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sweet family story, gentle, lyrical

[Melissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well-written verse, enjoyable illustrations, nice faith-into-action theme.

[Daniel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed the art work and the peaceful feeling of the book.

[Jordanna Fraiberg · Rating 5 out of 5]

My daughter (2) and I love this book! It's beautiful and lyrical and a great read for both of us

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of our PJ Library books. We read this one at least once a week. Illustrations are beautiful, the rhymes are rhythmic, and the story is heartwarming.

[Margaret · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very nice, quiet and sweet book. I'll read it for my Outdoors month--repairing the earth is a great concept to talk about. I really liked it. My only objection to it is the parents plant trees where they go camping. I've worked in National and State Parks, and believe me, they don't want people planting things here and there. Most have native habitat restoration programs and they know exactly what needs to be planted and where, often with seedlings from the same area to keep it truly native to the local area. But other then that, I love it!

[Benjamin Elliott · Rating 4 out of 5]

beautiful illustrations and rhyming prose that bounces along.

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful illustrations that complement beautiful rhyming text.

[Erin Field · Rating 5 out of 5]

Field Guide to Summer Reading 2023

[ReadingWench · Rating 2 out of 5]

AR 1.5

[Pinky · Rating 3 out of 5]

A camping trip ends early due to an unexpected storm.

[Miss Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

A family of four goes camping but has some bad weather and has to come home. Preschool and up. Cute