Gossie (Gossie & Friends)

PreS-K-Two books that are sure to become favorites because they tap into quintessential preschool experiences. In the first book, Gossie's red boots are missing. When they are found on the feet of Gertie, a smaller gosling, Gossie ends up sharing them. In the second story, Gertie is back, this time with blue boots of her own. She follows Gossie and does everything Gossie says, for a while. When she begins to do her own thing, her friend gets upset. By the end, the tables turn and Gertie leads Gossie to the food bowl, which they share, struggles forgotten. Dunrea's texts use easy words and simple, repetitive sentences, with a little bit of rhyming when it fits: "She wears them when she rides. She wears them when she hides" (Gossie). The ink-and-watercolor illustrations add little details that will reward observant children, such as a small insect in the background. Gossie's rural world is reassuringly child-sized, clear, and contained, as indicated by simple lines, primary colors, and focused illustrations on a white background. Because of the books' small size they will be better for one-on-one sharing than for group storytime. Young children will ask to hear these stories again and again, and they're just right for little hands.-Laurie von Mehren, Cuyahoga County Public Library, Parma, OH Copyright 2002 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

This is Gossie. Gossie is a gosling, opens the first of Dunreas hand-size square volumes starring two likable, diminutive characters. From the start, the author strikes an appealing, unorthodox note Gossie is first seen only from the neck up, hanging upside-down from the top of the opening page and this playfulness continues throughout both books. In the first, Gossie, who loves her red boots as much as Lilly loves her purple plastic purse, is distraught when her fancy footwear goes missing. After searching the farm high and low, she spots the boots: They were walking. On someone else s feet! Enter Gertie. Great boots! said Gertie. Gossie smiled. Gossie shares half of her prized possession with her new, slightly smaller pal, and the two walk side-by-side, each wearing one red boot. In the second story, Gertie has her own boots (a bright blue pair) and asserts her independence. In a sequence of perfectly timed illustrations, Dunrea depicts Gossie s mounting frustration until, finally, she follows Gertie to the supper bowl they share. Adding ample wry humor to both his spare ink-and-watercolor pictures and minimalist text, Dunrea imbues both goslings with distinctive, endearing personalities and chronicles experiences every preschooler can recognize. Ages 2-5. (Aug.) Copyright 2002 Publishers Weekly Used with permission.

"Adding ample wry humor to both his spare ink-and-watercolor pictures and minimalist text, Dunrea imbues both goslings with distinctive, endearing personalities and chronicles experiences every preschooler can recognize." Publishers Weekly, Starred

"Two books that are sure to become favorites... Young children will ask to hear these stories again and again, and they're just right for little hands." School Library Journal, Starred

"The potent combination of toddler-appealing story lines and the charismatic charm of the illustrations assure that these smartly clad geese will be marching straight into the hearts of readers." Kirkus Reviews

Gossie and Gertie's boots are made for walking; the books they so delightfully traverse are made for treasuring.
Horn Book, Starred

"Preschoolers are bound to ask for an encore reading, and they'll probably ask for new boots, too." The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books