Kiss Good Night (Sam Books) [Board book]

Amy Hest (Author), Anita Jeram (Illustrator)

Book Description

Release date: September 9, 2004 | Age Range: 2 - 3 years | Series: Sam Books

"The finale is so satisfying that it calls for an encore. 'Again!' Sam says, as will readers of this cozy story." - CHILD magazine

It was a dark and stormy night on Plum Street. In the little white house, Mrs. Bear was putting Sam to bed.

Outside, the wind blows and the rain comes down. Inside, it is Sam's
bedtime. Mrs. Bear reads him a story, tucks him in, and brings him warm milk. "Are you ready now, Sam?" she asks. "I'm waiting," he says. What else does Sam need before he'll go to sleep? Could Mrs. Bear have forgotten a kiss? Now this NEW YORK TIMES best-selling story by two of the most beloved picture book creators is available in a board book edition suitable for the youngest listeners.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Every child has his or her own personal repertoire of rationalizations for avoiding bed, and every parent has a stockpile of counter offensives. In Kiss Good Night, Mrs. Bear covers all the bases: "Hmmmm...Book, blanket, friends, milk...," but her son, Sam, isn't ready. "I'm waiting," he keeps saying. Could there be anything Mama Bear is forgetting? Amy Hest's sweet story, gorgeously illustrated by Anita Jeram in warm, earthy greens, golds, browns, and reds, provides a rhythm to the bedtime ritual that will soon have sleep-fighting tots relinquishing their day to night. The comforting manner of easygoing Mrs. Bear as she comes up against her son's quiet resistance--even while the wind blows and rain comes down outside--is an antidote to nighttime anxiety. A perfect read-aloud from Hest (In the Rain with Baby Duck) and Jeram (illustrator of Sam McBratney's bestselling Guess How Much I Love You). (Ages 3 to 7) --Emilie Coulter --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Publishers Weekly

Hest (When Jessie Came Across the Sea) pays tribute to reassuring bedtime rituals that assuage a toddler's fears even on a "dark and stormy night." Sam the bear cub will not go to sleep. "I'm waiting," he keeps telling Mrs. Bear, even though she's checked off everything on the bedtime list: book, blanket, friends (his stuffed toys) and milk. Then it dawns on Sam's mom that she's forgotten the kiss good night. Sam manages to coax a total of 10 goodnight kisses from Mom. With understated repetition and lyricism, Hest establishes the coziness of the nighttime interplay as well as the menacing sounds of the storm from inside Sam's bedroom: "Splat! on the roof. Splat! Splat! on the windows. The wind blew. Whoo, whoooo." Jeram moves from the light palette and breezy artwork in Guess How Much I Love You to thickly applied acrylic paintings. Her radiantly rendered ochre and rust shades translate easily from the autumn storm outside to the sturdy furniture and heavy wool blankets inside. While her characters' expressions seldom change, she uses their contrasting physical presence to great effect. The hulking Mrs. Bear is a literal bulwark of maternal devotion, while Sam's roly-poly poses comically communicate his coy devotion. Ages 2-up.

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Age Range: 2 - 3 years
  
• Board book: 30 pages
• Publisher: Candlewick (September 9, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0763620947
• ISBN-13: 978-0763620943
• Product Dimensions: 5.1 x 0.7 x 5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (86 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #17,152 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #85 in Books > Children's Books > Animals > Bears
  • #90 in Books > Children's Books > Social Situations > Sleep

More About the Author

Amy Hest's many acclaimed children's books include the New York Times bestseller Kiss Good Night. A three-time winner of the prestigious Christopher Award, she lives in New York City. She claims to have absolutely no hidden talents, unless you count an uncanny interest in coffee ice cream and certain dogs in the Wheaten Terrier or Airedale family. Amy likes to take long walks (in the city), ride a bike (in the city), and swim (also in the city). She likes movies and reading, of course!

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

21 of 22 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Bedtime Made Special August 14, 2001

By Roz Levine

Format:Hardcover

It was a dark and stormy night. The wind blew, whoo, whooo. The rain hit against the roof and windows, splat, splat. But inside, Mama Bear is putting her cub to bed. "Ready now, Sam?" "Oh no," said Sam "I'm waiting." So mother begins all their nighttime rituals. First, they read a book together. She tucks Sam in, head to toe, with his red blanket and arranges his stuffed animal friends. Then they share a glass of milk. And still Sam tells her, "I'm waiting" What could Mrs Bear have forgotten. She thinks and goes back over her bedtime chores and then remembers. "Kiss goodnight, Sam." And she kisses him once, twice and then twice more..... Amy Hest has written a lovely bedtime story that's cozy and comforting and just perfect for pre-schoolers. Her simple, gentle, quiet text is beautifully illustrated by Anita Jeram's soft expressive earthtoned artwork. Kiss Good Night is a charming bedtime story that's sure to become a new favorite in your house and may help your little ones fall asleep with its easy familiar rituals.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars ADORABLE artwork; somewhat weak storyline... but still cute. Short & sweet. April 18, 2008

By Mama

Format:Paperback

I LOVE the artwork in this book. The storyline is a little weak. I would have liked a little more descriptors about what's happening when Sam says "Again!" because it's awkward reading this part... just one word to the page. And I'm not crazy about the text on page 13. I just can't relate to the Mommy bear walking out and saying "kiss good night" in a mantra. But hey, that's just me. You get to decide for yourself because I've typed all the words out for you. I typed out the text because I'm going to read this to my daughter while I am away on business. (I picked this one because it was relatively short compared to her other books & quick to type!)

Kiss Good Night [text]
1. It was a dark and story night on Plum Street.
2. In the little white house Mrs. Bear was putting Sam to bed. "Ready now, Sam?" "Oh, no," said Sam. "I'm waiting."
3. Mrs. Bear sat on the bed beside Sam and they read his favorite book and they both knew all the words.
4. Afterward, Mrs. Bear pulled one side of the blanket way up high under Sam's chin, and the blanket was red. She pulled the other side, too, tucking it under his toes like a nest. Outside, the wind blew. Whoo, whoooo. "Ready now, Sam?" "Oh, no," said Sam. "I'm waiting."
5. Mrs. Bear arranged Sam's friends in the bed and they all snuggled close in the blanket that was red. Outside, the rain came down. Splat! On the roof. Splat! Splat! On the windows. The wind blew. Whoo, whoooo. "Ready now, Sam?" "Oh, no," said Sam. "I'm waiting."
6. Mrs. Bear poured milk in two glasses and they both drank milk and it was warm sliding down. Afterward, Mrs. Bear yawned. "You must be ready now," she said. But Sam shook his head. "I'm waiting," he said.
7. "Hmmmm," said Mrs. Bear, "let me think.... We've read a book and made a nest, arranged your friends, and had warm milk. Sam," she said, "what did I forget?" "You know," said Sam.
8. "Hmmmm," said Mrs. Bear. "Book, blanket, friends, milk...Book, blanket, friends, milk..." Sam waited. He waited and waited.
9. And then, at last, Mrs. Bear said, "Oh, I know! Kiss good night, Sam!" And she bent way down, kissing Sam once and twice and then twice more.
10. "Again!" cried Sam.
11. And she bent way down kissing Sam once and twice and then twice more.
12. Outside, the wind blew and the rain came down.
13. In the little white house, Mrs. Bear was taking out the light, whispering, "Kiss good night, Sam... kiss good night..."
14. And Sam went to sleep. On a dark and stormy night on Plum Street. Read more ›

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Another great Sam book November 3, 2007

By L. Kenney

Format:Board book

You can almost hear the wind howl outside the little white house but inside it's warm & cozy. Sam can't get to sleep and his mother has to figure out what she's forgotten in the bedtime routine. My toddler loves the kissing part (he gets kisses at the same time) but the story is a bit complicated for him yet (he gets bored with the longer sentences). But he will happily point out Sam and looks forward to the ending (usually flips the pages to the parts he likes). This is a great series for a childs library and I've bought them for my children & nieces as well. Would make a nice baby gift or 1st birthday present. I would recommend anything by this illustrator as well - you really get the feel of the weather, the warmth of the house, the smells of his mother's baking and the taste of the warm milk.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Almost makes you wish for bad weather! November 4, 2007

By Jodi VINE™ VOICE

Format:Board book

The wind is howling and the rain is slamming down, but Mama Bear is getting Sam all cozy and warm and tucked into bed. The story is sweet, but the illustrations, in my opinion, make this book better than your average good-night story. The warmth and coziness jump off the pages, making the reader almost envious of Sam and his comfy, soft bed. My daughter (4 months old) is still too young to understand this book (I'm sure she's too young to even understand what's going on when I read to her!) but she will stare, mesmerized, at every page. This has been a really fun book for us!

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars An essential part of our nightly ritual January 28, 2002

By jjmcgee

Format:Hardcover

This is probably my favorite bedtime book in the world. My daughter got it for her second birthday and it has withstood being read at least twice a day since then. The illustrations are stunning, the simple rythym of the story is appealing to both the reader and the child. When she's ready to settle down in my lap she brings it over and starts reciting the lines, "Book, blanket, friends, milk..." over and over. It's one of the few books we both know by heart that I don't want to throw out the window, and has even surpassed Goodnight Moon on our list of keepers. I gave it to all children we know under the age of four for Christmas, and they (and their parents) all loved it, too.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars An absolutely adorable book October 22, 2001

By Nicole

Format:Hardcover

I ordered this book in the first place based on its description. It was said to be about a bear who had a specific routine for bedtime and it could be no other way. It reminded me so much of my son that I had to have it. Well, I wasn't disappointed. My four year old and I thoroughly enjoy this book. We both laugh through the whole book while we read it. The illistration is beautiful and the story is so sweet. I would highly recommend this book for a carefree, fun story at bedtime.