Title refers to the children's book by Margaret Wise Brown

Actually, this new book is somewhat of a parody on the 1947 classic. Sure they share the same cover color scheme, and you may notice that there is similar language. After that though, the books prove to be two different pieces of literature. Clever tactic though to get people interested in this book isn't it? “ I thought it was brilliant,” said Mr. Shandler (Little, Brown editor in chief), whose company also published the parody “Yiddish With Dick and Jane.”

This strategy may not be as smart as one would think. For example, as the article states, the parody, "Yiddish With Dick and Jane," brought about questions and a lawsuit regarding trademark and copyright infringement. This parody-based book became quite popular and has even landed a space on youtube:

The author of this new book, "Goodnight Bush," is hoping that the "fair use"  doctrine, will keep controversy at bay.

The publisher of “Goodnight Bush” is counting on the fair use doctrine, which allows limited amounts of copyrighted material to be used without permission. “Parody as fair use is a developing area of the law,” said Pamela Golinski, an entertainment lawyer in New York, “and as a result, whether a given parody merits the shield of the fair use doctrine is a complex question.”

Does it seem right that to some extent, some material may be reproduced to create a different version- thus creating a new book? It would seem hard to believe that a children's classic bedtime story could be turned into a piece of literature with characters such as Osama bin Laden and George Bush filling the pages. Although such copyright and trademark questions have arisen before, we should be asking ourselves at what point do we use clever marketing strategies to promote books. Does "Goodnight Bush" cross the line? Should clearly adult books be allowed to parody children's books?

Sweet paintings and a story about the sights and sounds of a little bunny's world.

 I am a BIG fan of Good Night Moon but I think the story of the Big Red Barn is almost as good - in fact...I think I preferred it (sacrilege!).  Good Night Moon has the little hunt for the mouse, I know.  But you can look for the little mice in Big Red Barn too.  You get to do some animal sounds if you want and it has the same "good night" ending.  Perfect for babies and toddlers and Dads with short attention spans. 

TRENTON -- The New Jersey needle exchange program is struggling to attract clients statewide, except for one local location.

About 175 people have enrolled in the Atlantic City program at the Oasis Drop Center since November.

My vehement opposition has been voiced both when I guest hosted a local talk show and in my February column in the Casino Connection.  Eliminating the needle exchange program is a top political priority in improving the quality of life in Atlantic City.

   Atlantic City City Council has allowed a needle exchange system within the city limits for less than a year.  Atlantic City has enabled a system using a state grant to give multiple clean needles for every dirty (read - used) needle that a drug user trades-in.  The needle exchange system makes it easier for intravenous drug users to financially support their habits.  It makes sick sense - twisted logic, as it were - for a state that already pays for housing, food, and basic health care to now provide needles for citizens to shoot drugs.

   The needle exchange gives new meaning to President Herbert Hoover's old political promise of a "chicken in every pot and a car in every garage."

   Let us look at the drug needle issue from another angle.  It has been said - whether it is true or not is another story - "it takes a village to raise a child."  I will not want my grown children to shoot intravenous drugs.  As much as I do not want this, it ultimately is my child's personal decision.  Assuming my child develops a desire for intravenous drugs, I will certainly not pay for his drugs or drug paraphernalia.  How is it that state and city governments force me to pay to provide any one showing up to the Oasis Drop Center with free needles for a personal habit that I do not endorse? Second, why should any NJ resident have to pay for anyone who chooses to use drugs?

   This brings us back to "it takes a village to raise a child."  What if the neighbor on the corner were giving my child a needle to shoot drugs?  I would take action to stop him from enabling my child's illegal activity.  The representatives of the Atlantic City community have decided that they will encourage intravenous drug use in the City.  The City has collaborated with the state to force the entire state to pay for drug users' needles.  The City has also decided that they want to market Atlantic City both as an all-purpose destination and a distribution center for drug users from any place to receive multiple unused needles in exchange for used needles.

   The law says it is  illegal to possess a hypodermic needle in NJ.  Atlantic City's free needle distribution in collaboration with state government say it is legal.  These governmental bodies speak out of both sides of their mouths. 

   Parents, whether you like it or not, if your child decides to use intravenous drugs, you will be paying for their drug habit.  So much for parental authority.  So much for community standards.  So much for law. 

   From Atlantic City - alluding to the Margaret Wise Brown classic -  goodnight family structure, goodnight community decency, and goodnight rule of law.   

It took us a few reads before we noticed the red balloon flying high in the Good Night Gorilla book. The balloon is flying towards the sky and is seen in almost all the pages. The mouse trying to drag the banana is a super hit with my daughter. She laughs hard when the Giraffe steps on the thread tied to the banana and the mouse is trying to get him off of the thread and pull the banana. When Mrs.Zookeeper says Good Night, she is expecting only one in return from her husband but she gets quite a few of them. My daughter loves to match the ‘good nights’ to the source. “…..this one is the Elephant because it is big! This is the mouse – see…..it’s small”. She also loves the surprised eyes of the lady in the dark and imitates that expression every time we read it. 

I love the Cat in the Hat book. The words rhyme, repeat…my daughter easily falls asleep reading that one. She has seen the movie too and enjoyed it – but I thought she had a different level of enjoyment than the reading of the book. She is not happy with everything the books offer her though – I started getting insights into her mind when one day she asked me – what is the name of the boy in the Cat in the Hat book – I said “He is Sally’s brother.” – That was not acceptable to her. Sally and her brother were sitting there when they heard a thump and they saw the Cat stepping on the mat – “Mommy………..Why do they say that? – Are we not allowed to step on the mat? “ I did not understand why she was confused about that – I thought maybe it is my tone while reading – I changed my tones when we get there, but the question did not go away. Why we are not allowed to step on the mat?? I am yet to figure out what she is thinking on this one. What would she tell her Mommy – she would tell that she made a mess and cleaned it up – very truthful! 

One day we reading Clifford’s Christmas right after Cat in the Hat. She found something very strange – in Cat in the Hat, the Cat pats Thing one and Thing two and it is illustrated in the picture. Santa came to Clifford’s house and fell down from the roof. Clifford helped Santa out and before leaving Santa pats Clifford. The patting of Clifford is in the text and not illustrated. So, my daughter swears that Santa did not pat Clifford – “Mommy, he doesn’t. See….He doesn’t.” That is when I realized how difficult it is to write for children, because their imagination and their world is many a time incomprehensible.  

Eric Carle is a great “Picture Writer” and we own most of his books. “The Very Hungry Caterpillar” is my favorite. I believe it is a multi dimensional book through which kids experience the life of a caterpillar, turning into a beautiful butterfly. The way the seven days of the caterpillar’s hungry life is illustrated is awesome. I was thrilled to see the ending to this story. The firefly book is another great one. Then there are the Polar Bear, Brown Bear books…..The one common thing about all his books that we own is that they are board books. They last forever. I read the Polar bear and brown bear books to her casually for a long time. Then one day as I was exploring the books I realized that all the animals pictured were endangered animals. What a neat way to get a message across!

1984 by George Orwell

A Lesson Before Dying by Romulus Linney

Almost, Maine by John Cariani

Bare by Jon Hartmere and Damon Intrabartolo

Crimes of the Heart by Beth Henley

Daisy In the Dreamtime by Lynne Kaufman

Driving Miss Daisy by Alfred Uhry

'Five Course Love by Gregg Coffin

Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown and Clement Hurd

I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change by Joe Di Pietro & Jimmy Roberts

Junie B. Jones

Love, Janis

Mufaro's Beautiful Daughters by John Steptoe

Nipples To the Wind by Paula Coco

Rocket Man by Steven Dietz

Slaughterhouse 5 by Kurt Vonnegut

TECO’s New Play Competition

The Clean House by Sarah Ruhl

They’re Playing Our Song by Neil Simon, Carole Bayer Sager, and Marvin Hamlisch

Tony n’ Tina’s Wedding

Trestle At Pope Lick Creek by Naomi Wallace

I fondly remember the Top 5 from my childhood.    What books would you add or remove from this list?

1. Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White
2. Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak
3. The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein
4. Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. Seuss
5. Good Night Moon by Margaret Wise Brown

Full List