EPISODE · Jul 28, 2026 · 13 MIN
Margaret Wise Brown's Goodnight Moon | Children’s Literature Criticism: Freud’s Uncanny and Liminality
from Toddling the Stacks · host Sean Gill
Clearly no one needs to be told to read Margaret Wise Brown's seminal text Goodnight Moon, which is going stronger than ever as it approaches its 80th birthday. But what this episode presupposes is that maybe we all need to talk about how creepy the book can be, no matter how much our kids might love it. To do this, I dive into Freud's understanding of the uncanny, modulating it a bit to help understand why this cozy and sentimental book might rub us the wrong way as adults. I also make an admission perhaps even more embarrassing than that one episode with the macho man impersonation at the end of it! Give it a listen, and if you like what you hear, give us a follow and review! ---Visit us at http://www.toddlingthestacks.com for previous episodes, info on the show, and what Adalyn is reading now! If you like the episode, please subscribe and share with friends!YT: https://www.youtube.com/@ToddlingTheStacksInsta: https://www.instagram.com/toddlingthestacks/BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/toddlingthestacks.comFB: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61588725012180Show graphics by Emily Tetrault. Theme and interstitials excerpted from Erik Satie's Gnossienne #1. All book images used under the Fair Use exceptions to exclusive copyright as defined under Title 17, subsection 107, of US Code.
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Clearly no one needs to be told to read Margaret Wise Brown's seminal text Goodnight Moon, which is going stronger than ever as it approaches its 80th birthday. But what this episode presupposes is that maybe we all need to talk about how creepy the book can be, no matter how much our kids might love it. To do this, I dive into Freud's understanding of the uncanny, modulating it a bit to help understand why this cozy and sentimental book might rub us the wrong way as adults. I also make an ad...
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Margaret Wise Brown's Goodnight Moon | Children’s Literature Criticism: Freud’s Uncanny and Liminality
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