5 ms·

For the love of god can anyone explain the "good night nobody" line to me? I read this book to my kids and that part has been eating me.

flother 9y ago
I'm not sure anyone can explain it. Author Aimee Bender: "What a surprise, then, to find that there is a blank page with 'Goodnight nobody' out of nowhere, sharing a spread with 'Goodnight mush.' [...] 'Goodnight nobody' is an author's inspired moment that is inexplicable and moving and creates an unknown that lingers. [...] I feel sure I will never crack open the meaning of 'Goodnight nobody,' and moments like that make rereading a genuine joy." https://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2014/07/19/what-writers-can-learn-from-good-night-moon/ https://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2014/07/19/what-writer... But for what it's worth, I think it's there for a simple reason: to reassure children that there is nobody else in the room, nobody else to fear.
- bunderbunder 9y ago
  She goes on to show that she (in my estimation) definitely gets it, even if is difficult to articulate what it's about: "How wonderful that this oddly compassionate moment, where even nobody gets a good night, shows up in the picture book that is the most popular! There is no template, ever. When writing, how do we allow those moments of impulse, of surprise? How do we not censor that kind of leap?" She won't crack open the meaning, and that's fine. "Goodnight nobody" is a passage that's more koan than clarity, and that's exactly what makes it such a genius little nugget to see in a book written for toddlers.
IntronExon 9y ago
It’s the man who wasn’t there? Yesterday, upon the stair, I met a man who wasn’t there He wasn’t there again today I wish, I wish he’d go away... When I came home last night at three The man was waiting there for me But when I looked around the hall I couldn’t see him there at all! Go away, go away, don’t you come back any more! Go away, go away, and please don’t slam the door... (slam!) Last night I saw upon the stair A little man who wasn’t there He wasn’t there again today Oh, how I wish he’d go away...
- mcphage 9y ago
  That reads like Shel Silverstein mixed with Nightmare Fuel
  - IntronExon 9y ago
    That’s a great way of putting it! Of course old Shel had some creeeepy stuff too, remember the Yipiyuk? In the swamplands long ago, Where the weeds and mudglumps grow, A Yipiyuk bit on my toe… Exactly why I do not know. I kicked and cried And hollered “Oh”— The Yipiyuk would not let go. I whispered to him soft and low— The Yipiyuk would not let go. I shouted “Stop,” “Desist” and “Whoa”— The Yipiyuk would not let go. Yes, it was sixteen years ago, The Yipiyuk still won’t let go. The snow may fall, The winds may blow— The Yipiyuk will not let go. The snow may melt, The grass may grow— The Yipiyuk will not let go. I drag him ‘round each place I go. This Yipiyuk that won’t let go. And now my child at last you know Exactly why I walk so slow. He had a few creepy ones, but they were all memorable and excellent. Thanks for reminding me of Shel Silverstein.
    - mcphage 9y ago
      You're welcome :-) Here's another creepy one of his I like: Joey Joey took a stone And knocked Down The Sun! And whoosh! it swizzled Down so hard, And bloomp! it bounced In his backyard, And glunk! it landed On his toe! And the world was dark, And the corn wouldn't grow, And the wind wouldn't blow, And the cock wouldn't crow, And it always was Night, Night, Night. All because Of a stone And Joe.
earenndil 9y ago
When my parents read it, they read it as "good night <name>"
eli 9y ago
I like that line! It's whimsical. It makes me think of a child listing all the things they can think of and mistakenly including "nothing" in that list. Not everything has to be perfectly logical. The part that confused my kid was that the "little old lady" was clearly a rabbit.
jpfed 9y ago
I interpreted it to refer to the sort of momentary lapse in mental coherence that might occur as you fall asleep. You're listing all this stuff you're saying "goodnight" to and then your mind blanks for a second- no one else is in the room with you in that moment. After a moment you remember the mush and the old lady saying "hush".
sigjuice 9y ago
Lately, my daughter (18 months) has been obsessed with "goodnight nobody". She will skip straight to that page and repeat "nobody" over and over again!

flother 9y ago

I'm not sure anyone can explain it. Author Aimee Bender: "What a surprise, then, to find that there is a blank page with 'Goodnight nobody' out of nowhere, sharing a spread with 'Goodnight mush.' [...] 'Goodnight nobody' is an author's inspired moment that is inexplicable and moving and creates an unknown that lingers. [...] I feel sure I will never crack open the meaning of 'Goodnight nobody,' and moments like that make rereading a genuine joy." https://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2014/07/19/what-writers-can-learn-from-good-night-moon/ https://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2014/07/19/what-writer... But for what it's worth, I think it's there for a simple reason: to reassure children that there is nobody else in the room, nobody else to fear.

bunderbunder 9y ago
She goes on to show that she (in my estimation) definitely gets it, even if is difficult to articulate what it's about: "How wonderful that this oddly compassionate moment, where even nobody gets a good night, shows up in the picture book that is the most popular! There is no template, ever. When writing, how do we allow those moments of impulse, of surprise? How do we not censor that kind of leap?" She won't crack open the meaning, and that's fine. "Goodnight nobody" is a passage that's more koan than clarity, and that's exactly what makes it such a genius little nugget to see in a book written for toddlers.

IntronExon 9y ago

It’s the man who wasn’t there? Yesterday, upon the stair, I met a man who wasn’t there He wasn’t there again today I wish, I wish he’d go away... When I came home last night at three The man was waiting there for me But when I looked around the hall I couldn’t see him there at all! Go away, go away, don’t you come back any more! Go away, go away, and please don’t slam the door... (slam!) Last night I saw upon the stair A little man who wasn’t there He wasn’t there again today Oh, how I wish he’d go away...

mcphage 9y ago
That reads like Shel Silverstein mixed with Nightmare Fuel
- IntronExon 9y ago
  That’s a great way of putting it! Of course old Shel had some creeeepy stuff too, remember the Yipiyuk? In the swamplands long ago, Where the weeds and mudglumps grow, A Yipiyuk bit on my toe… Exactly why I do not know. I kicked and cried And hollered “Oh”— The Yipiyuk would not let go. I whispered to him soft and low— The Yipiyuk would not let go. I shouted “Stop,” “Desist” and “Whoa”— The Yipiyuk would not let go. Yes, it was sixteen years ago, The Yipiyuk still won’t let go. The snow may fall, The winds may blow— The Yipiyuk will not let go. The snow may melt, The grass may grow— The Yipiyuk will not let go. I drag him ‘round each place I go. This Yipiyuk that won’t let go. And now my child at last you know Exactly why I walk so slow. He had a few creepy ones, but they were all memorable and excellent. Thanks for reminding me of Shel Silverstein.
  - mcphage 9y ago
    You're welcome :-) Here's another creepy one of his I like: Joey Joey took a stone And knocked Down The Sun! And whoosh! it swizzled Down so hard, And bloomp! it bounced In his backyard, And glunk! it landed On his toe! And the world was dark, And the corn wouldn't grow, And the wind wouldn't blow, And the cock wouldn't crow, And it always was Night, Night, Night. All because Of a stone And Joe.

earenndil 9y ago

When my parents read it, they read it as "good night <name>"

eli 9y ago

I like that line! It's whimsical. It makes me think of a child listing all the things they can think of and mistakenly including "nothing" in that list. Not everything has to be perfectly logical. The part that confused my kid was that the "little old lady" was clearly a rabbit.

jpfed 9y ago

I interpreted it to refer to the sort of momentary lapse in mental coherence that might occur as you fall asleep. You're listing all this stuff you're saying "goodnight" to and then your mind blanks for a second- no one else is in the room with you in that moment. After a moment you remember the mush and the old lady saying "hush".

sigjuice 9y ago

Lately, my daughter (18 months) has been obsessed with "goodnight nobody". She will skip straight to that page and repeat "nobody" over and over again!