[This is part one in a series on our favorite children’s stories.  Please visit the previous post for instructions!]

One of the favorite early responses to Tuesday’s call for favorite children’s stories was the family favorite Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown.

It has a simple rhyme scheme and repetetive pattern that children enjoy as the reader goes around the bunny’s room, saying goodnight to all of the things (and creatures!) there.  A very sweet book.

I know for sure that it was my older sister’s favorite growing up, which in turn makes it my parents’ favorite.  But it also carries with it a fun story.

My Dad was serving as an associate at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Lansing years ago.  After a couple of years, he was called to a church in the Detroit area.  So he, my Mom, 7 or 8 months pregnant at the time with me, and my big sister moved away.  We eventually moved north to Alpena, where I grew up.  They spoke often about this time and their love for their time in Lansing.

When I went to college, I became good friends with a buddy named Dave.  After a couple of years, we discovered a strange connection: his parents went to St. Paul’s when my Dad was there.

A little while later, something even more “small world” happened.  His Mom had come across a copy of Goodnight Moon that had an inscription in the front cover.  I’m not sure what it said, but it was something like this:

To David,

I hope you enjoy this book as much as our daughter, Gwen does.

Love, The Downs Family

My parents had given this book to Dave’s parents when he was born!  To move away and end up at the same college, only to become good friends is incredible.  This story speaks to me about the power of connections.

Isn’t it amazing how stories mean so much more than what is written?

Keep your favorite stories coming!  There are way too many good choices for us to include!  And please, don’t forget to write down why the story is important to you.  Thanks!