At the Stroke of Goodnight

by Clay Rice

Reminiscent of Susan Marie Swanson's The House in the Night, world-renowned paper-cut artist Clay Rice weaves a poetic scene of what happens around a small farmhouse as night falls.

A dreaming dog. A purring cat. A bird on a limb. A mouse on a mat. The evening glows in the twilight. And all falls quiet at the stroke of goodnight.

A baby coos; a mommy sighs. Little ones tucked in, with dreams in their eyes. A gentle hand turns out the light. And all is quiet at the stroke of goodnight.

A perfect bedtime story that gently and beautifully depicts a busy world settling in for a warm night's sleep.

Genres: Picture Books, Animals, Childrens, Fiction, Storytime

32 pages, Hardcover

Published August 1, 2019

Reviews

[Miranda Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

"The evening glows in the twilight.
And all is quiet at the stroke of goodnight."

The sun is down and the moon is up.

All throughout the farm, the wild animals and the barn animals are settling down.

"The faint rustle of leaves
from the doe and her fawn."

But what about inside the house?

"A baby coos.
A mommy sighs.
Little one tucked in with dreams in her eyes."

All in all, this was a very sweet bedtime book.

Now as a twenty-six year old lady, I am a bit removed from the target audience...so I did my best to prepare and put myself into the mindset of a younger-Miranda before reading this book.

I wore my pajamas, made a cup of cocoa and waited until nightfall. I cuddled with my dog, tucked myself in and slowly read the book - and can say (quite honestly), I felt far sleepier after reading it than before.

Though...if I was being completely honest, whenever I get under the covers nowadays it's like BAM-sleep. Can't even read a chapter nowadays.

That being said, the pacing of the book and the soothing pictures and colors really helped set the sleepy mood.

I liked how the book was organized. First the creatures said goodnight - wild ones, then tame ones, and then we go inside the farm house to find where the baby was and say goodnight.

It felt a little like a lullaby with the way the words were spaced and the rhyming was done.

And the images! Clay Rice used cutouts for the animals and various aspects. It worked really well. The simple outlines and minimalist details really did a great job of creating a calm mood.

All in all - I adored this sleepy little book!

A huge thank you to the author and Familius for sending this book my way!

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[Michael Fitzgerald · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm not sure the world needs to have another book that is promoted (right on the jacket flap) as "reminiscent of Susan Marie Swanson's The House in the Night." I realize that Swanson's book was published all the way back in 2008 and since it only received the most important picture book honor in the world (2009 Caldecott Medal) that it hasn't been out of print since, and therefore it's likely held by every library in the country - but still, we need a knock-off and we're going to be up-front about it.

The illustrations are OK, but seem a little cheap and hasty. The text has a few flaws, like the added syllable or two ("But where is baby? With the colt or the cow? With the fawn or the sow? On the tractor with a plow?") and the gimmicky "stroke of goodnight" instead of the perfectly sensible "stroke of midnight."

[I also note that the Goodreads book cover shows "On the Stroke of Goodnight," while my copy in hand has the correct "At the Stroke of Goodnight." If there are actually printed copies with the wrong title on the cover, that just supports my opinion that things were done hastily without taking time for quality control.]

[Franci · Rating 4 out of 5]

#50 of 2022

Nice little bedtime book for young ones.

[Sharon · Rating 5 out of 5]

"And all is quite at the stroke of goodnight..."

I loved (I will only use a single loved, when I wanted to write a triple) this gentle, uniquely illustrated picture book. I know my children would have requested this book read to them each and every night.

The illustrations incorporating unique silhouette art are brilliant. Truly, At the Stroke of Goodnight is a treasure!

[Meredith · Rating 2 out of 5]

Animals outside prepare to go to sleep as a baby inside falls asleep.

Personally, as a parent, I didn’t care for the where-is-the-baby transition from animals outside to people inside. Responsible caregivers don’t suddenly wonder if the child for whom they are caring is outside with the livestock or otherwise missing from the house.

The illustrations are cut-paper silhouettes.

[Mary · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed the story and the illustrations, for the most part. I did feel like some of the proportions were a bit off. Also, I was not into the flying dog, especially as a silhouette against the moon.

[Patrycja · Rating 4 out of 5]

This a goodnight story time. It is mostly focused on animals in Forest and barnyard. And then on a baby. The illustrations aren't too colorful and are mostly silhouettes. But it makes this book kind of unique this way.

I think kids will like to listed to it at bedtime.

[Dianne · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a lovely and peaceful book about what might happen at Goodnight time! I am planning a firefly backyard adventure with my grands this weekend… it will end with this book being read to them at bedtime!

[Jen Robertson · Rating 5 out of 5]

We’ve absolutely loved all of Clay Rice’s books, but this might be our favorite yet! Clay is such a rare talent!

[Mamon Raber · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the book! My eight and 10-year-old enjoyed it as well. The silhouettes were gorgeous. I will definitely be buying more of his books.

[Muhammad Koroma · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very beneficial

[Melissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

The illustrations are kind of cool.

[Margaux · Rating 5 out of 5]

Simplistic language reminds me of Goodnight Moon. Sweet story of a homestead going to bed.

[Miss Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

A toddler and up book about animals at dusk and their activities. Easy to follow.

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really liked the look of this book, although some of the animal selections were a bit off. I guess I should seek out The House in the Night.

[Gin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Unique illustrations, nice cadence and rhyme - Colorations scratch art would pair nicely as an extension activity

[Mary · Rating 3 out of 5]

The silhouettes in the book are gorgeous, and with the color scheme, really evoke the sense of nighttime. Some of the text doesn't quite work - I think the syllables are off on a few of the lines.

[Megan Wagner · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very calming book! And I really like the illustration style.

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lovely wood cut illustrations make a good bedtime story

[Tracy Gold · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is gorgeous and soothing! Perfect for the bedtime routine.

[Kate Compton · Rating 3 out of 5]

Repeated phrase lends well for print motivation and great rhymes for phonological awareness. Love the pictures!

[Emma · Rating 5 out of 5]

So pretty!

[A. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Striking cut-paper illustrations on dark pages and very simple sentence structure with rhymes make this a reliable pick for a bedtime read.

[Kt Roth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful book! Lovely rhythm-sweet story.

[Jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was okay. I liked how the settings on every page were done in solid colors, but the animals and subjects were done in a black and white style with complicated lines. The story was all right.

[The Library Lady · Rating 2 out of 5]

"Reminiscent of Susan Marie Swanson's The House in the Night"
Should you really be emphasizing that this is practically the same book?

Yes, the art is gorgeous. And it has a good shot at the Caldecott next year. Because for some reason, the committee (which to quote Heinlein is "a life form with at least 6 or more legs, and no brain"), seems to go for cut paper/wood block prints and other incredibly beautiful, incredibly un-child friendly art forms.

Beautiful? Yes.
Child appeal? Not much.