Stephen, who has trouble sitting still and paying attention, surprises himself when he summons up the patience to catch and help an injured goose. Includes a note to adults about children who have difficulty staying focused, including those with ADHD.
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Editorial Reviews
From School Library Journal
Kindergarten-Grade 3-Stephen has a hard time keeping still, and he feels as if he can't do anything right. Still, when he spies a goose in trouble, he's able to muster the right amount of patience and know-how to help free it from the chain around its leg. An introductory note about children with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder sets the stage. Unfortunately, the author's singular focus on the boy's problem and how he overcomes it renders the story one-dimensional. The watercolor illustrations are serviceable; the child's oversized varsity jacket and round spectacles lend a rumpled warmth to his character. The text and illustrations go hand in hand, both decent and yet marginal in impact.
Martha Topol, Traverse Area District Library, Traverse City, MI
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Martha Topol, Traverse Area District Library, Traverse City, MI
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From Kirkus Reviews
A sweet story about a trapped goose cloaks this piece of bibliotherapy, as a boy with AD/HD learns to sit still for a very good cause. Lear's book addresses the struggles children have paying attention in school and holding still; for her protagonist, Stephen, the admonishments of adults accompany most of his school day. After school, on a nature walk, Stephen is relieved to be away from all restrictions, where he can run and play freely. When he encounters a goose with its leg in part of a trap, with the chain dragging heavily on its foot, Stephen brings in his parents and authorities to help ``Mr. Goose,'' but the goose is too frightened. Next, Stephen attempts to trick the goose, but soon figures out that sitting still and feeding the gaggle of geese is the only way to gain their trust. When Mr. Goose comes close enough, Stephen wraps him in his own jacket, growing cold as he waits for help to come. The rescue is a success, the bird flies off, and Stephen gains confidence in his own abilities. Along with Ritz's realistic pictures, the text is prettified and teacherly; absent is the heartbreaking frustration of AD/HD students and the adults around them, and Lears implies that if children just try harder, they can sit still, which isn't always true. Real emotions comes through in the scenes of Stephen and his mother, and for some readers, that will be enough. (Picture book. 5-8) -- Copyright ©1999, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Waiting for Mr. Goose,
This review is from: Waiting for Mr. Goose: A Concept Book (Concept Books (Albert Whitman)) (Hardcover)
Realistic pictures reveal the frustration at sitting still and the joy of movement for the the AD/HD child. Stephen energetically swaggers and expessively twists when he walks. He even swings from the irresistible trees. He revels in the freedom of movement in the outdoors and withdraws from the restrictions on movement necessitated by school. Then he discovers a limping goose. It has its foot caught in a trap. The game warden can't catch Mr. Goose to free its foot. Stephen devises a plan to save the goose, but it involves him keeping still for long periods of time. That is torture for Stephen, whose body feels wiggly. But out of love for the goose, he perseveres and is finally able to catch it.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Everyday hero book,
By A Customer
This review is from: Waiting for Mr. Goose: A Concept Book (Concept Books (Albert Whitman)) (Hardcover)
Waiting for Mr. Goose is about a young boy who has realproblems to take things easy/ slowly. He has a hard time sitting stillpaying attention at school. One day at the pond he finds an injured goose. When he tries to catch him the goose just flies away. Over and over again he tries to catch the goose and over and over again the goose just flies away, till the boy finds out the way he have to do it. He makes the goose feel secure with him and that way he manages to catch the goose and help him. This is a book that shows that sometimes you can do things you didn't think you could, if you just want to bad enough. The book is written in a way that makes the boy a bit of an everyday hero just because he did something that was almost impossible to him- to wait. I liked this book because it was interesting to read, because the book's main character has Adhd, and makes something positive out of it.
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