Goose's Story (Sunburst Book) [Paperback]

Cari Best (Author), Holly Meade (Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 4 and up | Grade Level: P and up | Series: Sunburst Book

Every spring, the geese touch down on the pond in a honking, flapping celebration. But this year, one of them is different. As it stands on one leg—shunned by the other geese, unable to search for food, to swim, or even to fly away—a young girl wonders: how can a goose with one foot survive?

“A heartwarming story with a tender message about accepting others in spite of their differences and helping those who are less able.” —Starred, School Library Journal

“Best’s simple prose is rhythmic and beautiful . . . Every child who has nursed an injured creature will recognize the bond, the distance, and the hope. ” —Starred, Booklist

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

PreSchool-Grade 3-When a girl and her dog, Henry, greet the Canada geese as they return in the spring, she notices that one has been injured and is missing a foot. The others in the flock shun the goose, but the child worries about it. Her parents warn her not to interfere-the animal must grow strong on its own to survive. Saddened by its plight, the youngster can't help herself; she and her dog observe, talk to, and sometimes feed the bird. Over the summer, the creature begins to hobble on one leg and eventually swim, but the family still wonders how it will get up enough speed to fly. Then one day, all the geese are gone. After worrying all winter, the child and Henry hear honking from above in early spring, and welcome back "their" goose-and her mate. Based on an experience with a real goose that landed in the author's yard, Best's story will appeal to young nature lovers and to anyone with a soft spot for an underdog. Meade's paper-collage illustrations capture the action as well as the glory of the passing seasons. This is a heartwarming story with a tender message about accepting others in spite of their differences and helping those who are less able.
Jeanne Clancy Watkins, Chester County Library, Exton, PA
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Booklist

(*Starred Review*) Ages 4-8. A young girl is thrilled when geese land at the nearby pond in spring. After her dog barks and the birds jump for the sky, the child realizes that one goose has been left behind. This goose has a dangling foot (some kind of accident?), and the next day its foot is gone. Other birds ignore Goose ("I never thought geese could be so mean"), and the child's parents warn her not to help ("A wild goose has to learn to live with her weakness. Or she won't live at all"). Goose does learn to swim, but the child wonders how the bird will push off and fly when it's time to migrate. Best's simple prose is rhythmic and beautiful, more poetic than much of the so-called free verse in many children's books; and Meade's clear, cut-paper collages show the drama through the child's eyes--the clamor of the flock against the New England landscape through the seasons; the honking and jumping for the sky; and one goose left behind, wild and beautiful, hurt, and strong. The story is based on Best's experience with a wounded goose that landed in her backyard, and every child who has nursed an injured creature will recognize the bond, the distance, and the hope. Hazel Rochman
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4 and up
  
• Paperback: 32 pages
• Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR); First Edition edition (October 13, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0374400326
• ISBN-13: 978-0374400323
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 10.4 x 0.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #834,028 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars a GREAT author! a GREAT book!, May 25, 2003

By 

kt94 "kt94" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Goose's Story (Hardcover)

Cari Best is my favorite children's book author. My daughter is two and she loves Best's stories. Goose's story is a wonderful tale about love, friendship, family, animals, and trust. Best writes wonderfully, and the words are beautiful time after time.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Goose's Inspiring Story....., September 30, 2002

By 

Roz Levine - See all my reviews

This review is from: Goose's Story (Hardcover)

"Henry hears the honking first. He circles the pond, around and a half, sending up splashes of warm spring mud all over his winter coat. Henry knows the geese are coming. And then I know it, too..." This is the best time of year for our young narrator, as the Canada geese arrive back at her family's pond, each spring. But this year she notices one of the geese has a badly injured foot, and when she visits the pond the next day, the goose's foot is gone. There she stands all alone, separated from the rest of the flock. The other geese have shunned her. "I never thought geese could be so mean." The little girl wants to take care of the poor footless goose, feed her, pet her, be her friend, but her mother and father warn her not to. "A wild goose has to learn to live with her weakness. Or she won't live at all." As the summer slides towards autumn, the little girl notices that the goose has grown stronger and more capable. It can balance and hobble on its stump, search for food, and swim. But she still worries that the goose won't be strong enough to push off and fly south for the winter, and will be left behind to die. And then one day when she comes home from school, all the geese are gone, and so is her little crippled friend. The winter months pass and the girl thinks often of the goose, and then one spring day, soon after she spots the first robin, she hears the familiar honking. "They land together. A couple of geese. Honking and flapping. Drinking and bathing. Combing each other's feathers. One is larger than the other, his neck as thick as a fire hose when he stretches it out to protect her-the goose with one foot..." Inspired by an actual event, Cari Best's touching and captivating story, as seen through the eyes of a grade school girl, is filled with drama, courage, determination, and triumph. Her engaging and evocative text is complemented by Holly Meade's bold and vibrant paper collage illustrations, that bring the wonders and wildness of nature to life. And together, word and art paint a vivid, empathetic, and uplifting portrait of an unlikely and endearing heroine. Perfect for youngsters 4-8, Goose's Story is a heartwarming tale of nature and survival, and is definitely one of the best new picture books of 2002.

5.0 out of 5 stars An Uplifting True Story, January 15, 2012

By 

Ohioan - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Goose's Story (Hardcover)

This picture book is based on a true story in the author's life. Amidst the geese that land at a pond is one which has only one leg. As the girl narrating the story sees, life is difficult for this goose. But the goose learns to balance and nibble grasses while doing so. Then the goose learns once again how to swim. And then this goose and all the other geese fly away for the winter.

When the flock of geese returns, the goose with one leg is among them. And she has a mate. And her life continues in a normal way, resulting in a flock of ducklings. An inspiring story, very well told and illustrated.