Goose [Hardcover]

Molly Bang (Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 4 and up

A lonely little gosling leaves her loving adoptive woodchuck family, stumbles off of a cliff and learns that she can fly, and then flies home to be reunited with her family.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

The importance of accepting oneself and of appreciating differences in others is among the affirming messages in Bang's (The Paper Crane) deceptively simple tale, a kinder, gentler cousin of "The Ugly Duckling." Through spare but dynamic illustrations and minimal text, this small-format volume introduces a gosling raised by a family of woodchucks who teach her "all they thought a youngster should know," including how to dig, swim and avoid hunters. Much loved by her adoptive family members, the goose is nevertheless sad because she knows she is "different." No one can make her feel better, so she sets off "into the world to see what she could figure out by herself." Tumbling off a high cliff, the desolate creature discovers a hidden talent: she can fly. And she does-straight back to her woodchuck home. Like other passages here, the concluding sentence ("You know, that goose surprised everyone, especially herself") seems intentionally open-ended, leaving room for interpretation and inviting discussion on any number of issues, including adoption. A useful read-aloud, sized just right for a laptime one-on-one. All ages.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

Kindergarten-Grade 3-On a dark, stormy night, an egg blows out of a goose's nest and rolls into a woodchuck's den. The woodchuck family happily accepts the baby goose that hatches, but no matter how they try, the little goose feels sad and different. It is only after she goes off into the world and accidentally falls off a cliff that she discovers that she can fly. So, she flies back to her adopted family secure in her uniqueness. Through its quiet, understated text and warm, rich illustrations, this reverse ugly-duckling story celebrates being different, but still being accepted. The book's layout and small format are particularly effective. Some of the paintings are done on double-page spreads, some consist of two or three panels to a page, and others are details of the larger picture that really zero in on the action, drawing readers' eyes and attention to a focal point. This is especially true when the egg rolls out of the nest during the storm and when the goose goes over the cliff. The text is spare, but through it and the vibrant artwork, a profound message is presented. Goose is well suited as a read-aloud for groups or a cozy one-on-one situation. The story is universal enough for preschoolers, but will be appreciated as well by older children. Pair it with Andersen's classic The Ugly Duckling.
Jane Claes, T. J. Lee Elementary School, Irving, TX
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4 and up
  
• Hardcover: 40 pages
• Publisher: Blue Sky Press (September 1, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0590890050
• ISBN-13: 978-0590890052
• Product Dimensions: 7.3 x 5.6 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #111,524 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A well illustrated and told story about acceptance and adoption, November 6, 2005

By 

T. Olson "Casual Reader" (Grand Forks, ND USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Goose (Hardcover)

This is a wonderful story about a goose how is taken in (adopted) by a family of woodchucks who treat her as one of their own. They teach her all they know and love and adore her. The fact is though, Goose is different and has to go off to find that missing part.

This story was written for Molly Bangs daughter (who was adopted from Bangladesh) when she was having a "terrible time getting used to her first year in college." It was not originally intended to be a book, but with her daughter's encouragement, Bang published it.

I thank her for doing so, because this is a wonderful book.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Goose Angst - We All Have It - a review of "Goose", May 14, 2007

By 

Pam Tee "Busy Mom" - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Goose (Hardcover)

Molly Bang has awesome talent, and she has used it to produce this wonderful little book. It's the story of a goose egg that is blown out of it's nest into the den of a family woodchucks. The woodchucks, of course, could care less where the goose came from. She is in their lives and they love her. Problem is that as Goose approaches maturity she feels that something is missing. So eventually she goes in search of herself.

While this story pertains to adoption, in a sense it could easily apply to anyone (any teenager or child or adult) who feels they have not found their niche or place in the world. Goose eventually returns, by the way, to the bosom of her family after she has found her own wings.

Four Stars. [B+] Good Read-aloud. Nice artwork. This book would be good for Toddlers on up, though it might take years before they truly understand the theme. "Goose" managed to remind me (an adult-like mom) that we don't all come out in one mold. That we each have our struggles to overcome.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars the story and art had a huge impact., May 30, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Goose (Hardcover)

While the age range indicated on the entry here indicates 4-7 years, the story and art had a huge impact on my two year old. On a more adult level it reminded us that no matter how much we teach them, children may have to leave home to learn the most important things about themselves.