The Good Night Story

Kelly L. Green is co-author of The Ethical Shopper’s Guide to Canadian
Supermarket Products and associate editor of the Canadian Book Review
Annual.

The title here is a definite misnomer. This book has no story at all.
The back-cover copy quotes the author’s description of the book:
“Oh, I don’t know. It’s essentially a tale about everybody
arriving and then leaving again.”

Ostensibly a book about a grandfather telling a little boy a good night
story, The Good Night Story is a cheat. Grandfather barely begins only
to be immediately and frequently interrupted as animals from the story
knock at the door and ask if they can listen too. Finally, grandfather
falls asleep. The little boy and the animals go to the story forest and
begin to tell a story to a hunter, who falls asleep. The End.

The interruptions make what story there is impossible to follow. The
back cover also informs us that the book was inspired by the author’s
grandfather, who was a “magnificent storyteller.” What a pity Mr.
Greve didn’t choose to tell us one of the magnificent stories.

Kitty Macaulay’s illustrations are pleasant and colorful, but far too
busy and unfocused. Not a first-choice purchase.