Good Night, Gorilla
A zookeeper says good night to the animals while a mischievous gorilla quietly unlocks their cages. It is a wordless story where children can spot the joke before the adult character does.
Good Night, Gorilla by Peggy Rathmann is estimated to take about 2 minutes to read aloud (30 words, about 1 sentence a page), and it lands best with children aged 0-4.
Check the book on AmazonAffiliate link
- Estimated read-aloud time
- about 2 minutesEstimated read-aloud time
- Estimated word count
- 30Our estimate
- Sentences per page
- 1Sentence per page
- Re-read tolerance
- 5/5still good at forty
- Vocabulary level
- 1/5plain words
- Best for
- Ages 0-4Our editorial fit
Our review
The reading experience relies heavily on the child's ability to observe the details in the illustrations. While there are a few lines of text, most of the action is visual.
It is perfect for a curious child who enjoys pointing out things happening in the background. The subtle humor makes it a great choice for repeat readings.
Before you buy it
Since it is nearly wordless, you'll be doing most of the heavy lifting with your narration. A child who expects a traditional story might not find this quite satisfying.
Themes
- bedtime
- zoo animals
- mischief
- wordless
Books like Good Night, Gorilla
Matched by refrain, density, length, and listener—not just the subject.
Questions parents ask
How long does it take to read Good Night, Gorilla aloud?
About 2 minutes at an unhurried pace, including a standard allowance for page turns, pictures and participation, from a word count of 30. Stopping for a longer conversation on every page will add more time.
What age is Good Night, Gorilla actually for?
Ages 0-4 in our testing, which is narrower than the publisher's range. With 1 sentence a page and vocabulary at 1 out of 5, it asks for that much attention span and no more.
Does Good Night, Gorilla survive being read on repeat?
Yes - this is one of the few that is still fine on the fortieth reading, which is why it scores 5 out of 5 with us.
Is Good Night, Gorilla a good book for a child who will not sit still?
It helps that it has a refrain a child can join in with, and it asks the child questions to answer out loud. Those three features are what keep a wriggling toddler listening, far more than the subject matter does.
Will my child memorise Good Night, Gorilla?
Probably, and fast. The book leans on a repeated refrain, and at 5 out of 5 for re-read tolerance it survives the nightly repeats that get a book memorised. Expect your child to chant the pattern back before they can actually read.
Can a beginning reader read Good Night, Gorilla on their own?
It is closer than most picture books. With 1 sentence a page and plain vocabulary (1 out of 5), a confident early reader can attempt it, though it is written to be read aloud first.
What themes does Good Night, Gorilla cover?
We tag it with bedtime, zoo animals, mischief and wordless. Those are the threads that actually run through the book, not just the ones on the cover, which is how it earns its place on our themed lists rather than a keyword match.
Lists Good Night, Gorilla is on
48 reviewed booksBooks for 1 Year OldsFind board books, touch-and-feel books, and flaps for 1 year olds. Includes realistic read-aloud times and age-appropriate selections.
59 reviewed booksBoard BooksA curated list of 60 board books for ages 0-3, including read-aloud times and durability ratings for books that survive chewing and rereading.- 30 reviewed booksBoard Books for BabiesHandpicked board books for babies (birth to age two) with read-aloud times and word counts to help you find books they'll actually love.
13 reviewed booksBoard Books for NewbornsThe best high-contrast and wordless board books for newborns, focusing on visual edges and rhythm. Includes read-aloud times.- 30 reviewed booksBoard Books for ToddlersFind board books built for toddler repetition. Includes read-aloud times and scores for handling constant repeats.
- 45 reviewed booksBest Books to Read to ToddlersA curated list of books for ages one to three. Sorted by interaction, speed, and bedtime utility, with estimated read-aloud times for every book.
- 28 reviewed booksBooks for an 18 Month OldFind 28 books for eighteen-month-olds. We look for titles with simple naming, fun refrains, and short read-aloud times.