Let's be clear from the start: 'Selected Lullabies' isn't a novel with a plot. It's a collection of poems, the kind meant to be read in a soft voice as the lights get low. But if there's a story here, it's the story of childhood itself, seen through the soft-focus lens of bedtime.

The Story

Eugene Field, a newspaper columnist from the late 1800s, had a famous soft spot for kids. This book gathers his most beloved nighttime poems. You'll meet Wynken, Blynken, and Nod, who sail off in a wooden shoe across a sea of stars. You'll visit the 'Sugar-Plum Tree' with its magical candy fruit. You'll witness the tender, funny sorrow of 'The Duel' (better known as 'The Gingham Dog and the Calico Cat'). Each poem is a little world, a vignette designed to soothe, wonder, and sometimes, gently prick the heart. The central 'conflict' isn't a villain, but the quiet march of time—the inevitable moment when the nursery light goes out for the last time.

Why You Should Read It

I picked this up thinking it would be a quaint bit of nostalgia. I was wrong. There's a startling emotional depth to Field's work. He doesn't talk down to children; he invites them into a richer, slightly melancholy world. The poem 'Little Boy Blue'—about toys waiting for a child who will never return—wrecked me. It’s that perfect mix of sweet and sad that sticks with you. His language is musical and simple, but the feelings are complex. He captures that specific, cozy safety of being read to, while quietly acknowledging that this safety is temporary. It's this honest blend of magic and memory that makes the book so special.

Final Verdict

This book is perfect for parents or grandparents looking for something more substantial than a standard board book to share at bedtime. It's also a beautiful, bittersweet read for anyone who enjoys classic poetry but finds some of it too dense. If you like the gentle spirit of A.A. Milne or the wistful tone of 'The Velveteen Rabbit,' you'll find a friend in Eugene Field. Just have some tissues handy for 'Little Boy Blue.' You've been warned.