Chronicle Books Blog

We’re excited to share an interview we did with Sherri Duskey Rinker, author of Goodnight, Goodnight, Construction Site—a #1 New York Times Bestseller! Keep reading for Sherri’s amazing story of how her manuscript was discovered in the Chronicle Books slush pile and her own tips on how she gets her little ones to sleep. To get a glimpse into the book, watch the animated book trailer at the end of the post.

How did reading Goodnight, Goodnight, Construction Site to your son change your bedtime ritual?
My second son, Zak, is wild about trucks—and I mean that quite literally! So, when we’d read together before bed, and say our thank-you prayers (which always included a million different trucks), the last thing Zak was ready to do was sleep. LONG before Goodnight, Goodnight, Construction Site was an actual book, we would lie together in the dark and imagine all of those big, hard-working trucks slowing down and falling asleep. Usually, it wasn’t long before Zak was yawning himself!

Do you have any tips to help make bedtime more calming?
Ok, admittedly, I’m kind of a disaster in this arena. Partly that’s because, as a working mom, evenings are the only time I really get to spend with the boys, uninterrupted. But here is one tip that I have learned: I find that if I really work at keeping my own stress managed, the family tends to pick up on that vibe. Toward the end of the night, we cuddle, read together, talk about the day and what’s happening tomorrow, and say prayers. We’ve all come to identify those rituals as part of the journey to sleep.

Any other advice for parents?
The one piece of advice I’d like to give moms of small children is this: It DOES get easier. Sometimes, in the midst of the chaos, stress and exhaustion, it’s easy to lose perspective. But the fact is that now my boys are 11 and six, and I can’t believe how quickly the time has flown. When I walk into my living room and, an hour after it was cleaned, it’s covered end-to-end with toy trucks, I try to remember that someday, when Zak’s out driving the car, and I’m sick with worry, I will miss the days of trucks on the floor. Childhood goes so fast.

Tell us about your experience as a first time author.

In most ways, my life is very much the same: my role as a mom (and all of the tasks that accompany that) hasn’t changed. What HAS changed is that I’ve been able to enjoy some amazingly wonderful experiences: I’ve traveled for speaking engagements, done numerous interviews, met authors that I’ve always admired, done school presentations, signed hundreds of books, and have been asked to take pictures with fans. That part of all of this is completely surreal! (But, believe me, my kids are completely unimpressed by it all, so that definitely keeps me grounded.)

Here’s a picture of Tom Lichtenheld (illustrator of Goodnight, Goodnight, Construction Site) and me with a librarian and some fans!

Here I am signing books for one mom as her little one naps in the stroller.

What was the most exciting part of the publishing process?

In an article right after the book came out, I wrote this, and it completely sums up the experience of holding my book for the first time: “I’m reminded of the feelings I have about motherhood: nothing like I imagined, more work than I ever could have foreseen, but even more wonderful than I could have predicted.” The excitement, the overwhelming feeling of seeing my book for the first time—that was huge. I still remember the evening when Chronicle called to tell me, just a couple of weeks after the book was released, that it had debuted on the New York Times. It was an unbelievable moment! And, seeing my name on that list, or any bestseller list, is, well, incredible.

What’s your reaction to seeing people read Goodnight, Goodnight, Construction Site?
I still get so excited when I walk into a store and see my book, or when people send me pictures of their children or grandchildren holding the book, or when they send fan letters—I just feel so grateful and blessed.

A grandparent sharing this story with grandkids!

And, someone recently sent me a link showing a Goodnight, Goodnight, Construction Site Birthday Party! The idea that a book means so much to a child that his parents built a party around the theme is so amazing—and flattering, of course!

The birthday boy and his Goodnight, Goodnight, Construction Site cake.

Photo by Lindsay Garvey of Time and Materials

A close up of the beautiful cake.

Photo by Lindsay Garvey of Time and Materials

And what party would be complete without cookies?

Photo by Lindsay Garvey of Time and Materials

I’m deeply touched that my book is meaningful to so many children and their families. Here are some downloadable activities that can help inspire your own Goodnight, Goodnight, Construction Site Party. I have cherished memories of reading Pat The Bunny or Goodnight Moon to my boys. The idea that another family might be creating good memories with my book—that really touches me.

Do you have a favorite truck from the book?

Wow—that’s the first time anyone has asked me that! It’s almost like choosing between your children, right? I love them all equally, but for different reasons. But, what I really love about all the trucks in the book is that they are truly, to me, the personification of little boys: loud, determined, hard working and dirty. But, ultimately so tender and sweet.

Leave a comment about your favorite bedtime story or ritual to win a copy of Goodnight, Goodnight, Construction Site signed by Sherri Duskey Rinker (author) and Tom Lichtenheld (illustrator). Winner will be chosen on February 10, 2012.

Stephanie Wong
Marketing Manager, Children’s

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