‘Goodnight Moon’ Is Captivating for Youngsters

Fads come and go, but Margaret Wise Brown’s 1947 sleepy-time book “Goodnight Moon,” about a little rabbit child’s cozy, slowly darkening room at night, is an enduring staple of early childhood. It has lulled countless children to sleep with Brown’s gentle and mesmerizing text, the simplicity of Clement Hurd’s illustrations, and with the sound of every parent’s voice slowing and hushing as it comes to the book’s whispered end: “Goodnight stars, Goodnight air, Goodnight noises everywhere.”

In HBO’s captivating family special today, “Goodnight Moon and Other Sleepytime Tales,” Wise’s book couldn’t be in better hands.

The centerpiece of several animated stories and songs, “Goodnight Moon” is narrated by Susan Sarandon, and Hurd’s illustrations are perfectly reproduced with quiet movement and a flicker of firelight.

Other animated segments include “Hit the Road to Dreamland,” sung by Tony Bennett; “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star” sung by Patti LaBelle; Brahms’ Lullaby, sung by Aaron Neville; “Hush Little Baby” sung by Lauryn Hill; and Mercer Mayer’s story “There’s a Nightmare in My Closet,” narrated by Billy Crystal.

Natalie Cole’s voice is warm honey telling Faith Ringgold’s “Tar Beach,” about a little girl who’s lifted by the stars to fly above the George Washington Bridge.

Segments with real kids weave in and out. One girl sings her own lullaby; children make Native American dream-catchers to trap nightmares; one girl tells her Beatles dream (Paul looked like her grandfather); and a raft of other hilarious, poignant and remarkably articulate tykes offer their own dreamland experiences.

It all ends with a return to Wise’s book, and one little boy’s insightful assessment: “It’s kind of a love story.” The exceptional animators include Michael Sporn, Maciek Albrecht, Ed Bell, Santiago Cohen and Jeff Scher. Note: The video comes out in spring 2000.

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“Goodnight Moon and Other Sleepytime Tales” can be seen on HBO today at 3 p.m. and various times throughout the month. The network has rated it TV-G (suitable for all ages).