From Powells.com
Staff Pick
Trolls who take bubble baths, big bad wolves who curl up with dragons — even fairy tale baddies need a good night’s sleep. With Deborah Underwood’s gentle verse and Juli Kangas’s rich, whimsical illustrations, Good Night, Baddies is a sweet tale about some familiar villains — who might be nicer than you expect. Recommended By Gigi L., Powells.com
Synopses & Reviews
Get to know the softer side of your favorite fairy tale baddies as they return home from a full day of scheming to enjoy a yummy dinner together and help one another get ready for bed.
Wolves, today was not so good.
You didn’t catch Red Riding Hood.
You huffed and puffed without success.
But brush your fangs, please, nonetheless.
Wicked witches. Evil queens. And big, bad wolves. By day they’re such baddies! But cozy at night at home among friends? Why, they couldn’t be nicer! Inspired by the mischief-makers from classic folk and fairy tales, this picture book shows that even the baddest baddies can have big hearts.
Review
Fairy tales andfractured fairy tales always focus on the good guys (or reform the bad guys).Finally, here's a sweet bedtime story featuring the baddies. There is not ahint of menace in either Underwood's gently rhyming verse or Kangas' beautifullydetailed watercolor-and-oil wash illustrations. "Sun dips down; the dayhas gone. / Witches, wolves, and giants yawn. / Queen and dragon, troll andgnome: / tired baddies head for home." Home is a stone castle, where theycatch up on news, share a meal together (using good manners—even baddies need abreak from being bad), undress and unwind from the day, and tuck one anotherin. It is both refreshing and comforting to know that baddies, no matter howvile they may be during the day, are human (-ish) at heart and have the sameneeds, wants, and fears as readers (sometimes literally—Giant is afraid aprincess might lurk under his bed). (All the humanoid characters are white.)From striped and flowered pajamas to troll's bubble bath and the books so manyof the baddies are clearly enjoying, this is familiar and sweet, unlikebaddies' usual reputations, and children will delight in picking out familiarprops and characters from beloved tales. Great for sharing with parents' ownbaddies and fairy-tale lovers alike. (Picture book. 4-7) Kirkus Reviews, 3/15/16
About the Author
Deborah Underwood is the author of numerous books for kids, including Interstellar Cinderella and the New York Times bestsellers The Quiet Book, The Loud Book, and Here Comes the Easter Cat. She lives in Northern California with her feline muse, Bella. Please visit her online at DeborahUnderwoodBooks.com.