In this unsentimental portrayal of wildlife, two Canadian geese return to a pond to nest. At first, the story centers on their preparation and division of duties. But when five goslings arrive, the narrative divides, almost imperceptibly, into two separate stories: the text continues to cast a cozy spell of homespun bliss, while the illustrations cleverly spin their own tale, that of one gosling's often dangerous attempts at independence. For example, one illustration depicts the curious gosling swimming away from the flock to chase a moth, unaware of the menacing snapper looming beneath the pond's surface. The accompanying text tells a different tale: "Like one bird they swim together, eating all they can." Schoenherr's (Owl Moon; Bear) powerful, understated watercolors disarm whatever tensions may arise from the downy rebel's adventures by balancing them with elegant, fluid lines. Still, the particularly foreboding ending remains haunting. Although the text seems to indicate the parents' intention to wait for their little maverick before flying south, the open-ended illustrations hint at an unsettling conclusion. Ages 3-7.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From School Library Journal
PreSchool-Grade 2?Schoenherr tells a story within a story in this exquisitely rendered picture book. His simple straightforward narrative describes the cycle of nature as a pair of wild geese return to a small pond and the female prepares a nest under the vigilant protection of her mate. The brooding, hatching, and nurturing of their five goslings on a small island is duly recorded. The family operates as a unit ("as close as peas they stay together, never going far"). However, as the artwork reveals, there is an exception to this picture of familial unity. One gosling, it seems, is less concerned with safety than he is with exploring his world. The marvelously detailed watercolor spreads, each of which is filled with motion and softly filtered light, make clear the various pitfalls and predators that await the naive but intrepid adventurer. Schoenherr provides above-and below-water views that incorporate both woodland and aquatic plants and wildlife. The naturalistic integrity and bright-eyed curiosity of this dutiful, but easily distracted, youngster come through loud and clear in this subtle, understated treatment. An appealing celebration of nature's free spirits.?Luann Toth, School Library Journal
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.
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