Winner of the Prime Minister’s Literary Award in 2012, this bedtime story that has become a modern classic. Written by Frances Watts, and illustrated by Judy Watson

WINNER, PRIME MINISTER’S LITERARY AWARD (CHILDREN’S LITERATURE) 2012

A NOTABLE BOOK IN THE  CBCA BOOK OF THE YEAR AWARDS, EARLY CHILDHOOD, 2012

Published by ABC Books and written by Frances Watts 
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Kiss Dad once.
Cuddle Mum twice.
′Goodnight, Mum and Dad.′
′Goodnight, mice.′

It′s time to say goodnight — but the four cheeky mice skittering, scampering and scurrying to bed don′t seem very sleepy!

This warm, affectionate story is the perfect bedtime book for the whole family to share.

Reviews

‘The collaboration of writer and illustrator in this case makes for an almost perfect bedtime book. Watts’s words sing with rhyme and repetition, making them excellent linguistic tools for small children, while Watson’s impish, affectionate illustrations speak to families from every type of background.’ JUDGES’ COMMENTS. Prime Minister’s Literary Awards (Children’s Fiction) 2012

′the perfect bedtime book … told at a cleverly thought-out pace that should ensure a yawn before the final page … Illustrator Judy Watson′s detailed expressions on the four mouslings are fun, funny and rewarding upon further visits.′ COURIER-MAIL

′a story filled with warmth and family love … This is sure to become a book young children and parents will be happy to read again and again′ AUSSIEREVIEWS

′Watts knows how to break up a story′s rhythm by using a refrain, making a story which will be read again and again. Watson′s mice are individuals and the many untold stories in the pictures will be pored over by avid three and four-year-old listeners.′ WEST AUSTRALIAN

About illustrating this Book

For Goodnight, Mice! my medium was fairly straightforward. The characters and setting were drawn with a dip pen and ink, then scanned and colourised in PhotoShop. In some instances such as the cover blanket, I used additional textures. But it was early days for using digital colour in this way, and I simply used a basic PhotoShop brush and relied on the energy of the original dip pen linework to carry the illustrations.

Wanting to avoid a traditional looking house, I did investigate organic building styles and bentwood furniture, so the mouse house is a cosy nest of a place with lots of curves. Dip pens are not so great for straight lines where a technical pen is more useful.

The characters took a while to pin down, and I had to borrow our primary school’s classroom rat to practise. But the origins of the mice really came from another illustration project with Frances Watts – the Extraordinary Ernie and Marvellous Maud books. For the second book in the series, The Middle Sheep, we created a hilarious (to us) running gag with middle siblings looking aggrieved between their older (reliable) and younger (adorable) siblings. After looking at these very silly mice, Frances Watts felt that I would be able to bring her family of bedtime mice to life.

Goodnight, Mice! is a picture book suitable for any pre or primary school aged youngster to settle them down for a good night’s sleep.