Product Description

A goose who envies the attributes of other birds learns to appreciate herself.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #2338756 in Books
• Published on: 1997-02-01
• Original language: English
• Binding: Hardcover
• 32 pages

From School Library Journal
Kindergarten-Grade 2. A pleasing tale about identity and acceptance, based on a story by Vladimir Grigorievich Suteev. Goose envies the other birds and bullies them into giving her their best body parts. She takes Swan's neck, Pelican's beak, Peacock's tail, and more until she believes she is the finest bird of all. It doesn't take long, however, for Goose to realize that her new fanciful combination isn't very practical. Pelican's beak is not appropriate for eating grass, and Stork's legs prohibit swimming in shallow water. Worst of all, Peacock's tail prevents her from flying when Fox comes around. Despite her vanity, the other geese save her. She has learned her lesson and returns all of the mismatched parts. The bold acrylic and watercolor illustrations highlight the absurdity of appearance and the excesses of pride. The presentation certainly has nonsensical elements, but the story's message is a worthwhile and important one for youngsters to hear.?Christy Norris, Valley Cottage Library,
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist
Ages 3^-7. In an effort to improve her appearance, Goose negotiates a series of deals with other animals. First, she trades her neck for Swan's, and despite the way Pelican laughs at her new appearance ("What are you? You are not a goose and you are not a swan!"), she swaps beaks with Pelican, feet with Stork, and so on. The vain goose thinks her appearance is greatly improved with the addition of Peacock's tail and Crow's wings, but when danger strikes in the form of Fox, she discovers that the geese who rescue her have a much more practical set of equipment. Arnold uses her characteristic fuchsia and orange, along with other bright colors, together with thick black lines to create pictures buzzing with energy and brimming with comical touches. Susan Dove Lempke

About the Author
Katya Arnold decided to become an artist, inspired by the examples of her grandmother, an artist and costume maker, and her great-uncle, a children's book author. Born is Moscow, she studied art and illustration at Moscow Polygraphic Institute, then taught at Moscow Polygraphic Institute, then taught at Moscow University before moving to the United States. Katya Arnold has created several children's books, including "'Meow!"', "'Duck, Duck, Goose?"', and "'The Adventures of Snowwoman"'. She lives in New York with her family.