Overview
An endearing and beautifully rendered tale sure to be a family favorite.
It's Christmas Eve. Gossie and Gertie hang their bright colored boots in the barn. Peedie and BooBoo hang their striped stockings in the barn. Ollie stomps through the snow. It's not easy to wait for Father Christmas Goose!
With ample wry humor, beautiful ink-and-watercolor pictures, and irresistible charm, Olivier Dunrea shares the first holiday story of Gossie and friends.Ollie perfectly encompasses the adorable impatience of young children waiting for Christmas to finally come.
Synopsis
It’s Christmas Eve.
Gossie and Gertie hang their bright-colored boots in the barn.
Peedie and BooBoo hang their striped stockings in the barn.
Ollie stomps through the snow.
It’s not easy to wait for Father Christmas Goose!
With ample wry humor, gorgeous ink-and-watercolor pictures, and irresistible charm, Olivier Dunrea shares the first holiday story of Gossie and friends. Ollie perfectly encompasses the adorable impatience of young children waiting for Christmas to finally come.
Olivier Dunrea is the creator of beautiful and well-loved children’s books. A painter and a sculptor, his work centers around farms, animals, architecture, and folklore. He lives in the tiny village of Narrowsburg, New York, in the Catskill Mountains.
Editorials
From the Publisher
"...the focus on Ollie’s childlike anticipation is right on target. Dunrea’s graceful ink drawings and beautiful washes offer an appealing alternative to more complex, but less satisfying Christmas picture books." October 15, 2008 Booklist, ALA"Remaining true to his uncomplicated watercolor style, Dunrea maintains an element of charm to Ollie’s waiting, depicting his impatience as sweet and subdued, rather than manic and obsessed. Parents and children will immediately relate to this youngster’s excitement." October, 2008 School Library Journal
Children's Literature -
All the goslings—Gossie, Gertie, BooBoo, Peedie, and Ollie—are waiting for Father Christmas Goose, but it is Ollie who is most anxious. While the other four are hanging their boots and stockings, Ollie stands on a mound of snow and shouts, "I want Christmas!" The other goslings reassure Ollie that Father Christmas Goose will be coming soon. Seeing is believing for Ollie who waits and waits. Then, finally, when he has almost given up, Father Christmas Goose appears, flying through the air with his bag of gifts. The clean lines of this book continue the style used in the other titles about "Gossie and Friends." Dunrea manages to capture an extraordinary amount of personality in each of these drawings. Because of its brief text, this is a good title to read to toddlers and young preschoolers as they await Christmas. Dunrea captures a child's sense of anticipation in a simple, yet lively presentation. Reviewer: Sharon SalluzzoSchool Library Journal
PreS
First-time readers and those already familiar with Dunrea's goslings will be delighted by this simple story about anticipating the holiday. Seated in the snow with their beaks leaning forward and dressed in winter wear, Gossie, Gertie, BooBoo, Peedie, and Ollie await the arrival of Father Christmas Goose. While the others interrupt their vigil for holiday preparations, Ollie remains steadfastly in place. His reward is a personal greeting from Father Christmas Goose (who looks majestic wearing an aviator cap and goggles) and the important task of announcing to everyone that Christmas has indeed arrived. Remaining true to his uncomplicated watercolor style, Dunrea maintains an element of charm to Ollie's waiting, depicting his impatience as sweet and subdued, rather than manic and obsessed. Parents and children will immediately relate to this youngster's excitement.-Joanna K. Fabicon, Los Angeles Public Library