Gossie: A perfect picture book.

July 12, 2012 · Filed under Picture Books · Tagged Children's book reviews, Children's books, Gideon, Gossie, Gossie and Gertie, Olivier Dunrea, Ollie, Ollie the Stomper, Peedie and Boo Boo, red boots

Gossie

 

Picture Book

Ages 2 to 4

By Olivier Dunrea

32 pages

Houghton Mifflin Books for Children

2002

 

“Gossie is a gosling. A small, yellow gosling who likes to wear bright red boots. Every day.” *

Do you love it? You should.

Here’s Gossie riding a pig.

Now you love it, right?

I can’t say I wouldn’t be dismayed if you don’t already love it, but you will. Gossie is a perfect picture book.

A picture book’s strength lies in the marriage of text and illustrations. Often this means that you learn something from the art that isn’t stated in the words. The full story is only appreciated when you view the book as a whole. In Gossie, the bright, uncluttered, utterly pleasing art is a direct interpretation of the brief and straightforward text. But viewing them separately would deprive you of the pure joy that springs from the pages. Simply reading, “She walks backwards,” does not fully convey the amount of happiness in those boots; you’ve got to see the accompanying illustration.

Rounding out this perfect package is its size, about six inches square. Readers of all ages will agree: Gossie is a very cute and endearing book.

In this first book in the Gossie & Friends Series, Gossie adores her red boots and she wears them everywhere. She is heartbroken when she discovers them missing one morning. They are soon spotted on the feet of Gertie, her newfound, boot-loving friend.

Ok, now check out Gossie and Gertie, Ollie, Ollie the Stomper, BooBoo, Peedie, Gideon, and Gideon and Otto. You won’t be disappointed.

* Incidentally, I feel it is near impossible to be in a bad mood if you are wearing red shoes.