I Am Goose!

October 15, 2019
Duck, duck...who? That's what literal-minded Goose wants to know when, seated among various animal pals playing the familiar circle game, callers keep tagging the "goose"--but the other animals, not the actual goose in their midst. Continually bypassed, Goose becomes incensed and increasingly disruptive. Rabbit, irate after repeated attempts to calm Goose down with assurances that eventually everyone will have a turn, demands order. Goose presents a chart that lists physical characteristics of geese and nongeese! By now civility is in shambles, and furious Rabbit threatens to end the game. Chastened, players reconvene, the game resumes, and lo, Goose is finally tagged! But then...a new group of (hint) waddling players comes along--just when it's Goose's turn to be the caller--throwing an unexpected, hilarious wrench into the proceedings and bringing the story to a riotous conclusion. This honking good tale is told entirely through speech balloons, with dialogue that reveals much about characters' distinctive personalities; additional comic relief is supplied by a trio of red squirrels, wryly commenting on the goings-on from their tree perch. Delicate cartoon illustrations add wit and humorous energy to the frenetic events, including expressive faces and the dapper attire in which the players are dressed: Goose sports a backward blue baseball cap, for instance. Giggling readers won't duck out from playing the game once they've savored this funny tale. (Picture book. 4-7)

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November 25, 2019
When Goose asks to play a game that’s already in progress, other animals make room for the bird in their circle, while a squirrel on a branch above, munching popcorn with two pals, sagely predicts trouble ahead (“Bad idea”). As it turns out, the game, officiated by a bossy rabbit, is “Duck, Duck, Goose,” and the feisty newcomer becomes increasingly agitated as other players are designated as “Goose.” Calling a time-out, the ruffled fowl compiles a list of reasons why only a goose fits the bill: Chicken has “skinny” rather than webbed feet, “F-O-X has F-U-R” rather than feathers, Turtle has a shell, and Dodo is extinct and “SHOULD NOT EVEN BE HERE!” After Rabbit reboots the game and the bird is finally tapped to play the eponymous role, Goose is awash with elation and self-importance (“I am Goose!”) until a brace of ducks joins in, unleashing identity mayhem once again. Fetching mixed media pictures by Nastanlieva (The Bear Who Couldn’t Sleep) augment punchy speech balloons to delineate the animals’ personalities, most dynamically those of clamorous Goose and Rabbit. Rohner’s (Numbers in a Row) sly narrative can be read as commentary on inclusion, patience, and following rules—or as simple, plucky good fun. Ages 4–7. Author’s agent: Laura Biagi, Jean V. Naggar Literary Agency. Illustrator’s agent: Frances McKay, Frances McKay Illustration.

February 1, 2020

K-Gr 2-A simple game of Duck, Duck, Goose quickly gets complicated when Goose joins the game. Goose is incensed every time someone else is tapped as goose. "You can't be serious. That's Turtle. I'm Goose." There is ranting and even a lesson including visual aides ("THIS is a goose. That is NOT a goose."). Rabbit, who is running the game, repeatedly and politely tries to keeps things on track but when this fails, she produces a rule book that allows her to say, "You'd better wait your turn or, or...YOU CAN'T PLAY!" This brings immediate results and the game resumes with Goose finally being tagged goose. In the middle of Goose's celebration, a flock of mallard Ducks asks to play with the expected results ("No, I'm Duck!"). The story employs speech bubbles, giving each of the animals a voice in the proceedings, which they all use to good effect. A trio of squirrels provide ongoing commentary. There are also running jokes regarding the Dodo and the Fox, who is hungrily eyeing the Hen. The illustrations depict fairly realistic, not overly adorable, animals with dynamic facial expressions. Use of double-page spreads and ample white space help keep the various story elements straight. VERDICT A humorous look at what happens when an actual Goose plays the classic nursery game. Purchase for larger collections.-Catherine Callegari, Gay-Kimball Library, Troy, NH

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