Written by award-winning performance poet Joseph Coelho, Goodnight, Starry Night is a collection of fourteen poems that takes readers on a gentle journey into dreamland. Each poem is inspired by a calming work of art, reproduced in the book alongside the heartwarming illustrations of Allison Colpoys.
The book takes its title from Van Gogh’s Starry, Starry Night, which inspired Coelho’s evocative poem River Sky:
I gaze upon the starry night
It twists into a river-sky
my every breath, a swirling light
I gaze upon the starry night.
This unique volume also features poems inspired by David Hockney’s Sleeping Dogs, Vivian Maier’s Woman with Baby, and Faith Ringgold’s quilted artwork of Cassie Lightfoot flying against a night sky.
Joseph Coelho’s lyrical poems calm the mind, relax the body and are soothing to the soul, and are guaranteed to inspire the sweetest of dreams.
Reviews
This book beautifully connects poetry with famous works of art to create a landscape that supports positive sleep habits in young children … With each page, children are introduced to global art while being simultaneously lulled to calm by the dulcet tones of their caregivers' voices … Using repetition, rhythm, and select vocabulary, Coelho's poems will spark readers' curiosity and attention as they observe the artwork the poems are describing. Some verses can even be set to familiar lullaby melodies.
— School Library Journal
Art and poetry mix together for the greater (sleepier) good … Coelho's poetry is solid … A title sure to spur sleepiness, with appropriate verse to match.
— Kirkus Reviews
Contributors
Joseph Coelho
Author
Joseph Coelho is an award-winning children's author, performance poet, and playwright based in London. He is the Waterstones Children's Laureate for 2022-2024.
Mary Rose Brady
Contributions By
Mary Rose Brady is an art therapist with over thirty years' experience treating children's and young people's mental health. Her expertise informed Goodnight Starry Night, including her advice for parents on how to facilitate a good night's sleep.
Allison Colpoys
Illustrated By
Allison Colpoys is an award-winning illustrator based in Melbourne.