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 Cahners Business
Information.
