Gossie

Starred review from July 15, 2002
"This is Gossie. Gossie is a gosling," opens the first of Dunrea's 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.

Starred review from September 1, 2002
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.

August 1, 2002
\deflang1033\pard\plain\f3\fs24 Reviewed with Olivier Dunrea's \plain\f3\fs24" Gossie & Gertie\plain\f3\fs24 .

PreS. These small, square picture books introduce two little goslings in stories as unassuming yet satisfying as the art that illustrates them. \plain\f3\fs24" Gossie\plain\f3\fs24 features a little goose who loves wearing her bright red boots everywhere. One morning, they are missing. Searching everywhere, Gossie becomes increasingly distressed until she finds her boots on the feet of another, slightly smaller gosling. The last page shows the duo walking together, each wearing one red boot. In\plain\f3\fs24" Gossie & Gertie\plain\f3\fs24, Gossie in her red boots and Gertie in blue ones are inseparable companions. Gossie, who expects Gertie to follow her lead, is increasingly annoyed when Gertie follows her own path. These beautifully designed volumes are simple enough for a two-year-old, yet they offer enough of a story to entertain older preschoolers as well. Pleasing in their economy of line, the bright ink-and-watercolor illustrations look clean and sharp against the white backgrounds. (Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2002, American Library Association.)

January 1, 2003
By the fire inside a round hut, "Mama rocks the cradle. / The cradle rocks Baby. / Baby softly sleeps." Then Mama, peeping out into the dark, sees snow falling. Bundling baby and self securely into furs, "Mama scoops up Baby / and trundles out the door" so that he can experience the snow. The gentle, rhythmical rocking of the text conveys a reassuring message that's beautifully supported by Dunrea's spare, snow-dappled gouache illustrations.

(Copyright 2003 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)