To celebrate the opening of The ABC of It children's book exhibit at the University of Minnesota, the folks at the U's Kerlan Collection enlisted the help of famous Minnesotans to read Goodnight Moon — with a classical twist.
Hear luminaries such as retired State Supreme Court Justice and NFL star Alan Page, comedy legend Dudley Riggs and the Suburbs frontman Chan Poling share the bedtime classic, while Minnesota Orchestra cellist Anthony Ross plays Schumann's Lullaby.
Other storytellers include civil rights leader Josie Johnson, soprano Maria Jette, actor Bradley Greenwald, former Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak, University of Minnesota First Lady Karen Kaler, and Simran Mishra, president of the Minnesota Student Association. Oh, and Ross reads, too.
Watch below.
The ABC of It: Why Children's Books Matter is a free exhibit at the university's Elmer L. Andersen Library that explores the history and impact of children's literature. Visitors can take their photo in a replica of the iconic room from Goodnight Moon, see Beatrix Potter's sketches of Peter Rabbit, and explore classic children's books. The exhibit runs through May 31 during regular hours at the library.
A companion book — a collaboration between the Kerlan Collection and children's literature historian Leonard Marcus — details the exhibit and expands on its themes.
The Kerlan Collection is one of the world's largest archives of children's literature. Among its vast holdings are the original manuscripts and related materials for Goodnight Moon, by Margaret Wise Brown, and The Poky Little Puppy, by Janette Sebring Lowrey.
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