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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, sha

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.