Through the Looking Glass Children's Book Reviews
Grady the Goose
Illustrator: Michael Glenn Monroe
Picture Book
For ages 4 to 8
Sleeping Bear Press, 2006 ISBN: 978-1585362820
Grady is the last of twelve little goslings to hatch out of their eggs. Indeed she is so late to hatch out that her Momma gets quite worried about her. Poor Momma, this is to be just the first of many times when she will worry about Grady for Grady is a gosling with a mind of her own.
From the very beginning Grady refuses to stay with her brother and sisters. She insists on wandering off to look around, to play by herself, and to have adventures. This situation does not change as Grady grew older. When the time comes to fly south Grady once again wanders off at the crucial moment and this time she really gets left behind. Grady is all alone in the cold and the dark and her family are many miles away.
Grady tries to find her family without success and then she gets caught up in piece of wire fencing. If only she had listened to her parents. If only she had remembered to “stick together.”
This is a wonderful story about a young goose who learns a hard lesson when she refuses to listen to her parents’ words. Thankfully everything works out in the end and Grady is unlikely to forget her parents warnings again. Young children who think they know best will be reminded that parents are there to both help and protect them. Carefully illustrated to capture the beauty of the natural world, this is a simple tale with a meaningful message.
