Why Goodnight School Is the Perfect Back-to-School Read

Goodnight School, written by Catherine Bailey and illustrated by Cori Doerrfeld, is a new 2024 picture book that is perfect for Back-to-School season. ⁣

Goodnight School is a cute, "quieter" rhyming picture book that turns the end of the school day- for the school-into a whimsical adventure. As the school winds down it's day, the Night Guard does her rounds to make sure everything is okay. But of course, she hears noises, see crumbs, and a recently used computer. Who could it be?

From the moment you open the cover, the end papers (I love me some great end pages!) show a class pet Turtle escaping its home. Doerfeld's illustrations are brimming with cozy, inviting details that make every page a visual treat and turn this book into a must-purchase for me. What do you notice in each picture?

If you said that there is a FACE in each picture, Winner, Winner Chicken Dinner!  They are on every single page!  This playful, CLEVER artwork makes me laugh so can you imagine what my First Graders will do when they notice all the faces? Giggles galore! Being able to spot the turtle on every page just adds an extra layer of engagement and fun to the reading experience.

 My Quick Initial Thoughts On First Read

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📚Reminded me of Goodnight Gorilla by Peggy Rathmann⁣
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📚While a sweet, rhyming story, the illustrations make this a must-share book. ⁣
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📚 Every student is going to beg to cozy up to the book to get a closer look at all those “faces” during Stamina and free reading times.⁣
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📚 Will be fun to have kids make their own classroom faces to share. ⁣

📚 I want to look up the illustrator and check out more of her books. Are all of her books this witty?

My Final Verdict

I think my kids will like it a lot and it will be reread over and over again. Kids always wonder what happens when they leave and this gives them a glimpse into the mystery. Again, illustrations are PERFECT. I think this will be a must purchase for school libraries and I'd add it to my list but probably wait until it comes out in paperback from Scholastic. I really limit my hardcover purchases these days. Looking forward to sharing with my class next week.