GOOSE GOES TO SCHOOL

Sophie and her friend Goose are again parted, this time for Sophie’s first day of school, but just as in their first outing, Goose (2015), they aren’t separated for long.

Although “Mom says geese aren’t allowed in school,” that doesn’t stop Goose from following Sophie, “flappy footsteps” clearly audible. And she even spots the fowl in the schoolyard before her mom leaves. Sophie’s first-day nervousness lessens a great deal when Goose appears in her classroom, though her teacher is not impressed. But when Sophie stows Goose under her desk, her teacher can’t spy the bird anymore, though careful readers will. Recess with Goose is especially good fun, and her old friend helps her make some new ones to ease the school transition. When they troop back inside for art, Goose plays on the swings, patiently waiting for Sophie, and the whole class draws Goose during art. The illustrations, drawn with charcoal and then digitally colored, are filled with brilliant colors that really make the white-and-yellow Goose and yellow-haired, red-frocked Sophie pop off the pages. All the characters are white—literally; they are simply black outlines with different-colored hair, none black—and the delightful Goose is very droll, rarely showing any emotion.

What adventures will Sophie and Goose have next? (Picture book. 3-7)