Why Do We Say Good Night?
by Champ Thornton
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Pub Date Oct 21 2019 | Archive Date Dec 20 2019
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Description
Going to bed and turning out the light can be a hard time for many children. Award-winning author Champ Thornton wrote this beautifully designed and illustrated book to help parents comfort their children with three truths about God. As a mother and her little daughter talk, they remember together that God made the night, he sees in the dark, and he watches over them just like a shepherd protects his sheep. Children and parents will want to start a new nighttime tradition of reading together about why we can say that the night is good.
In this important, engaging children's book, parents can bring comfort and encouragement to their children, reminding them Jesus is near.
AUTHOR
Champ Thornton is an the associate pastor at Ogletown Baptist Church in Newark, Delaware. He has pastored in South Carolina and served as director of SOMA, a ministry training school in Columbus, Ohio. He is host of "In the Word, On the Go," a ten-minute podcast for families and is the author of several books, including Why Do We Say Goodnight?, Radically Different, The Radical Book for Kids and Pass It On: A Proverbs Journal for the Next Generation. Champ and his wife, Robben, have been married since 1996 and have three children.
ILLUSTRATOR
Rommel Ruiz was born and raised in the Dominican Republic and moved to sunny Southern California to pursue his passion for creative expression and storytelling. An accomplished designer and illustrator, he incorporates influences from theater, film, animation, and mid-century design. His work includes animated visuals for Cartoon Network and the award-winning Luther documentary, as well as illustrations for books including Golly’s Folly, The Gospel in Color, and more. He is also the cofounder and art director of Patrol. He and his wife, Anny, live with their two joyful girls in Los Angeles.
Advance Praise
“All my grandchildren, ages three to eleven, were unanimous. Why Do We Say Good Night? is a five-star good read."
- Ed Welch, Author; faculty member at CCEF
“Children look to their parents for protection from the things that are hiding in the dark. Champ Thornton’s beautiful book is a reminder that we don’t have to fear the dark because there is a Good Shepherd who promises to be with us, watching over us, through every moment of listening for what goes bump in the night.”
- Russell Moore, President, The Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention
“As a grandmother of six, it has been one of the dearest blessings I’ve known to read to my darlings at night, when we’re all comfy and cozy and snuggled up. And Why Do We Say Good Night? is just the sort of wonderful resource we would love to share. Full of beautiful pictures and an even better message of light in the dark, it is a book I wish I would have had when my own kids were young. Buy a copy for Grandma and one for yourself. You’ll love it.”
- Elyse M. Fitzpatrick, Author of Give them Grace: Dazzling Your Kids with the Love of Jesus
“With its comforting message and stunning illustrations, Why Do We Say Good Night? is a beautiful book you will want to read to your children again and again—and to yourself, too.”
- Karen Swallow Prior, Author of On Reading Well: Finding the Good Life through Great Books
“We love this book! The illustrations are beautiful and capture the feel of a child’s imagination, both fearful and wonderful, as darkness and dreamtime near. The rhyming text is easy to read and even easier to listen to and remember. We can’t wait to sit down with our grandchild and read it to her before bedtime, hoping that the truths about God can settle in her heart and accompany her through the night.”
- Mark and Constance Dever, (Mark is Senior Pastor, Capitol Hill Baptist Church; Constance is creator of The Praise Factory Curriculum, biblical truths for ages 2–11)
“I like this little book, and I think it may be of considerable help to parents whose children need some reassurance about the beauty of night—and also to dispel the night terrors some children suffer from.”
- Douglas Gresham, Coproducer of The Chronicles of Narnia movies; son of Joy Davidman and stepson of C. S. Lewis
Available Editions
EDITION | Hardcover |
ISBN | 9781645070306 |
PRICE | $15.99 (USD) |
Featured Reviews
Beautiful Christian based bed time story. The illustrations and stunning and bright and completely intriguing to little eyes. My 7 year old could read the majority of this book with help on less known vocabulary. The rhyming helps kids with unknown words. It is the perfect book for kids that ask all the questions before bed and it has a beautiful reminder that God is always there. God created light and dark, so no need to be afraid.
This is a beautiful and inviting book. Children will likely enjoy the colorful and imaginative illustrations in this story about a little girl who's afraid of the dark. She doesn't understand why we say good night, as she doesn't find anything good about the night. The rhyming story line will likely pull in and engage young children. And the overall reminder that God is always with us, even in the dark, should be a comfort for kids who are scared of the dark.
I received this ARC from the publisher through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
This book does a wonderful job talking about the dark and helping to assuage big fears in little people. The illustrations are vibrant, and the rhyme is sweet. I think this will become a nightly favorite in many houses.
I was completely blown away by this book. It tells a simple story of fear at bedtime, which many of our children feel throughout their lives.
It is illustrated in evocative, bright and bold colours, and this brings the night out of the dark and scares away the shadows in the room.
A little girl is worried about going to sleep and asks "Why do we say good night?" Her Mother explains it in a simple, Christian way. God made the night and the day, the light and the dark so he is there all the time.
Told in rhyme, and with the incredible illustrations, this is a book to cherish. Children will love the details on each page, parents will love the empowering message of the love of God for their children.
I will definately be buying this book in print as I know the illustrations will be even better in print.
Beauty in a book.
I absolutely loved it!
In Why Do We Say Good Night, Champ Thornton gives us a story of a young child scared of the dark. Using a wonderful rhythm, Thornton takes us to that night when a mom guides her child to seeing Jesus as the reason we say good night and that he can squash our fears.
I feel as if this book does not go overboard with scariness, but is a good reminder and a neat way to help our children learn to conquer the fears of the dark.
This book has absolutely beautiful illustrations. It’s a sweet story about why you shouldn’t be afraid of the dark. I was drawn to this one because of the cover and didn’t realize it was religious which isn’t typically something we would read in our home. Otherwise a nice story.
Love this book! I loved the biblical aspect of it and I think it's the perfect bedtime story to read to kids who are scared of the dark. It can give them peace of mind and its a magical story. I really enjoyed the illustrations.
A mother tries to ease her daughter's fears about the night time. This book is an inspirational children's book. Colorful illustrations throughout the book.
Cute read for parent and child
If your littles don’t care for the dark, Why Do We Say Good Night? is an excellent reminder that, even when we cannot see Him, God is with us.
Whimsical and colorful illustrations and short, rhyming phrases are sure to capture children’s attention and imagination as the promise of God’s presence is reaffirmed throughout this endearing little storybook.
Disclosure statement:
I receive complimentary books from publishers, publicists, and/or authors, including NetGalley. I am not required to write positive reviews. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
Why Do We Say Good Night? is a wonderful Children's book. The vibrant pictures are great to capture any little ones attention. It is just a delightful little story.
Five Stars
I love this book! The illustrations, the rhythm and rhyme, the message—perfection! A great read aloud bedtime book for all ages.
This book is so sweet! The artwork is lovely and the message is clear, even for little ones: God made the night (dark) and He watches over us as we sleep; therefore there is nothing to fear. My kids love this book and all the colorful imagery. I imagine it will become a crucial part of our regular bedtime routine, especially as my two eldest children (4yo and 2yo) are both afraid of the dark. I would love to see more from this author and illustrator!
Some of the best illustrations I've seen in a children's book. A nice story to accompany it, although myself and my family are not religious, it is still a very nice book.
This is a sweet bedtime story for children that are afraid of the dark. It has beautiful illustrations and a great message. It has a religious component and says that the Lord can see throughout the night and he protects us.
If your little one is struggling at night when going to bed and is afraid of the dark then this book is a perfect one to share. The rhyming text is wonderful and easy to read and remember.
A little girl feels frightened when her mom says good night to her and turns out the light. She asks her mother why she says goodnight and then leaves her alone in the dark. The mother lovingly explains to her sweet daughter that she is never alone. She shares with her that God made both the day and the night so he is always present in both the light and the dark. The mother goes on to say that God can see in the dark and he is akin to a kind shepherd who watches over and protects his sheep. Those comforting words enter into the little girl's heart and she is able to banish her fears and settle in for a "good" night's sleep knowing that God is with her.
The illustrations are vibrant, colourful and mesmerizing having a magical flair. They are full of detail and expression which capture the mind and hearts of little ones who are afraid to close their eyes to go to sleep. They are both empowering and engaging. Together with the inspiring message of the text they give reassurance that our omnipotent, Heavenly Father is as near as your next breath. I highly recommend this book.
This is a lovely little story and I loved the images.
It gives children the strength and belief needed to get through a night in their own bedrooms if they are scared on the dark. I liked how the book was written with the rhyming nature and it gets the point over very well - 5 stars from me for this one!!
The little girl in this story questions her mother about why she always says "good night" since she views night as bad and scary. The mother then explains why night is actually good because God knows everything that is in the night and is always watching over you.
I absolutely loved this book. It is so perfect to read with your child at nighttime to help them not be afraid of the dark or what may be in the dark. Not only that, but also encouraging them to trust and rely on Jesus with their fears. I could see reading this book so many times with a young one and constantly referring back to it.
The illustrations are amazing! I am so impressed by how colorful the pictures of darker and scarier things were while still maintaining more of a dark atmosphere. (Not dark and creepy in a bad, too much for kids way. Just enough to represent the child's imagination about what may be lurking in the nighttime darkness.)
Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to review this book with my daughters. They both gave the book 4 stars, independently and I have to agree with them. This is a sweet book about not needing to fear the dark because God is watching over us and can see in the dark as though it is bright as day. The illustrations are vivid and appealing. The words are easy to understand and my 4 year old understands and can apply it. This book has a fairly broad appeal as both 7 and 4 year olds enjoyed the book.
Good Night Dear One, you need not fear
Good Night, Sleep well, the Lord is near.
It can be difficult to put a little one to bed and difficult for a parent to see their little one struggle with fear. This delightful book is colorful as mother and daughter go thru the steps of turning off the lights and saying Good night. What is there to be afraid of? And why we can sleep knowing all is well.
A book to read together and face those fears! Highly Recommend.
A Special Thank You to New Growth Press and Netgalley for the ARC and the opportunity to post an honest review.
Delightful and practical bedtime story with amazing illustrations.
Why Do We Say Good Night? is a short, adorable story with simple, perfect rhyme and brilliant, creative, colorful illustrations. Nighttime is scary for many children. This book tackles the issue by assuring children that God made night, so the night is good. God is always there and protecting us through the night.
The story flows easily and quickly. The illustrations show (masterfully) how common objects and shadows can transform into scary things in the dark. For parents who might be concerned the illustrations could scare children more, the cover illustration can be used as an example of what to expect.
I loved 'Why Do We Say Good Night?' on every level. Great job by author, illustrator, and publisher.
Our Christian Book Reviews:
The book reviews at Finding God Among Us focus on Christian books - adult and children, fiction and nonfiction. We're proud to be included in the Top 50 Christian Book Review Bloggers. I chose to read an ARC from New Growth Press. This review is my honest opinion.
Beautiful book to help little ones who are afraid of the dark. Incredible illustrations! The colors are beautiful in the book.
This book is so great for addressing night time fears. The Lord made night and even if we cannot see well, he is there!
The illustrations are beautiful and colorful. It’s a very engaging and helpful book for those with little ones who are afraid of the dark.
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