Review of Goodnight Shadow
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The Children’s Book Review
Goodnight Shadow
Written by Kimberly J. Muller
Illustrated by Mackenzie Bontempo
Ages 4-8 | 32 Pages
Publisher: Archway Publishing | ISBN-13: 978-1480897281
What to Expect: Self-Esteem, Shadows, Rhyming Text
Goodnight Shadow is a poetic picture book that empowers kids to be brave and fearless, because dark and sometimes scary-looking shadows always come from a source of light. “Where there is light, there are shadows everywhere.”
With her shadow in tow, a young girl enjoys eating sorbet, playing at the playground, walking by the seaside, and frolicking in scenic fields of grass and flowers right up until the moment the lights go out at bedtime. Although she can no longer see her shadow, she knows it is part of her and that she can dream of all of the day’s fun—shadow included. Goodnight Shadow! See you in the morning’s light. Written in fluid rhyme, the words in Goodnight Shadow dance right from the reader’s mouth, just as the young girl twirls and plays her way through the day with her glorious shadow in tow.
From the dusky pink cover and silhouette illustration of a young girl looking out a window at a large full moon, the artwork captivates the readers with a dreamy spell. To contrast the scary with the fun, a shadow of a tree that looks like a ferocious bear is followed by a child on a swing wearing a hooded sweatshirt that throws a shadow of a wise wizard and a young girl swinging on a tree branch that throws the shadow of a cute chimpanzee. The most empowering double-page spread shows a chic little girl with her hand on her hip and her shadow appearing fearless with a superhero cape.
The accompanying text perfectly captures the moment: “My shadow is a part of me, showing me how to be the very best I can be.”
Young readers will only come away with the knowledge that shadows are not always as they appear, and they’ll receive a solid boost of self-esteem and the encouragement to use their imaginations. Without a shadow of a doubt, Goodnight Shadow is a delightful picture book that is perfect for dreamers and any young readers that could do with a bravery boost. Just lovely!
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About the Author
Kimberly J. Muller is the author of The Adventures of Fifi and Noni and Last Night I Swam with a Mermaid (Winner of the 2013 Best Children’s Book award at the LA Book Fest). Kimberly is currently developing a live-action TV show based on her middle-grade book manuscript, The Paloma Peach Picture Show. She lives in Los Angeles with her husband, three daughters (her CIO’s Chief Inspiration Officers), two dogs, three cats, and a few chickens.
For more information, visit https://goodnightshadow.com/.
Dedicated Reviews allow authors and illustrators to gain prompt visibility for their work. This is a sponsored*, non-biased review of Goodnight Shadow, by Kimberly J. Muller. Learn more about getting a book review …