Westerly Sun Column | Celebrating Margaret Wise Brown in May

Prior to becoming a parent, I was a bit baffled by the children’s book “Goodnight Moon.” It’s a tiny book, with only 130 words (20 of which are “goodnight”). There is no plot to speak of. Half of the pages are black and white, and the other half are jarringly vivid shades of red, yellow, and green. I simply didn’t see the appeal.

As it turns out, Margaret Wise Brown knew exactly what she was doing, and it was I who was out of touch. This shouldn’t have come as a surprise, considering Brown authored over 100 children’s books in her short life, and I have authored exactly zero. “Goodnight Moon” is the literary equivalent of an Ambien for babies. The rhythmic, repetitive prose is like a lullaby, the colors are somehow soothing, and the “plot” – a rabbit saying goodnight to every single item in his room – is relatable. To date, the book has sold nearly 50 million copies, and helped make Margaret Wise Brown a household name. This month, at the library, we are celebrating the author’s 116th birthday.

Margaret Wise Brown is a significant figure to Westerly Library and Wilcox Park, and not just because she is an iconic author. If you’re local, you’ve likely seen (or climbed on) the bunny statue in the park, inspired by her wildly famous book “The Runaway Bunny”… but you may not be aware that the library was dedicated as a Literary Landmark in honor of Brown in 2015. You also may not know that, following Brown’s untimely death in 1952, her friend Jessica Gamble Dunham donated a large collection of Margaret’s published works, unpublished manuscripts, and personal letters to the library. The collection is typically only available for research purposes, but we’re excited to display a few of the more interesting items in the collection this month on the first floor of the library!

We have a few other fun programs related to Margaret Wise Brown this May, which (unlike “Goodnight Moon”) appeal to all ages. Beginning May 1, we’ve added a new item to the library collection, with one caveat: you have to find it. This is a letterbox featuring a hand-carved stamp by local artist Alex Cady, in honor of “The Runaway Bunny.” As is tradition, clues can be found on AtlasQuest.com and Letterboxing.org. On May 23rd, Brown’s actual birthday, everyone is invited to a celebration in our 3rd floor Terrace Room, during which we’ll enjoy a short presentation about the history of our Runaway Bunny statue, a craft activity for kids presented by Mystic Seaport, and – of course – cake! Throughout the month, Margaret Wise Brown and her work will be celebrated in various other kids and teen crafts, story times, and displays.

Margaret Wise Brown was a fascinating, if not a bit eccentric, character. There are two biographies about her life in our library: “Margaret Wise Brown: Awakened by the Moon” (1992) by Leonard S. Marcus, and “In the Great Green Room” (2017) by Amy Gary. Check out these items and more with your library card!

by Cassie Skobrak, Adult Services Librarian