Title: Good Night
Author and Illustrator: Natalia Padilla
Publisher: Reader’s Magnet LLC
ISBN: 978-1-951775-98-8
Genre: Illustrated Children’s Book
Pages: 14
Reviewed by: Beth Adams
Pacific Book Review
To be both the author and illustrator is a unique combination of talents, and in Good Night, Natalia Padilla has created a work from her heart; showcasing the love and kindness she has towards children, and how she wishes to comfort their dreams.
The book begins with a little girl falling asleep under the stars shining through her window, and then she’s climbing up on the clouds in the sky, hoping from one to the other, up and up. Next, she is with her family, wearing her favorite shirt and shoes, playing in the sun and feasting on a scrumptious meal. Then we meet Lily from Philly who she finds silly, and with that whimsical rhyme Lily begins to play music. Lily is backed by her fanboys who are jam boys. They connect sentences together by using a comma, just like how music is played. With a few other antics, the moon and stars become so bright the little girl sleeps with their light, “Good Night sleep tight.”
This elementary and basic book is ideal for casting off to dreamland the youngest of single-digit children, as it is short and filled with happiness, music, family and festivities. Natalia Padilla has inserted in a song which can be played, along with lyrics showing her talent and creative nature; resulting in having a multi-media format for Good Night. “Less is more,” and in the short pages of this book are filled with artistic illustrations – much is left off for the imagination of the reader to take with them into their evening’s sleep.
In this competitive genre of illustrated children’s book, Good Night has a place on the bookshelf for those wishing a short bedtime read to children, allowing them to be cuddled by the rhyme, storyline, song and illustrations beautifully presented by Natalia Padilla. She has a remarkable ability to write in a way toddlers can understand, and we certainly hope to see more from this talented author, illustrator and song writer.
