The Golden Goose (KiteReaders Classics)

Publishers Weekly - Publisher's Weekly

This is the classic and beloved tale in which the youngest son, powerless and underappreciated in his family, gains wealth and love through an act of kindness. Smooth and unabridged, the telling carries the full flavor of the original. And as usual, Duntze's stylish illustrations contribute fascinating details, in the characters' expressive faces, the clothing and furnishings, as well as in the beautifully composed settings. A treat for lap-sharing or reading aloud. this would also be an espe cially fine choice for any child's shelf. Ages 6-8. (October)

Children's Literature - Gretchen Hesbacher

The pictures in this tale by the Brothers Grimm are colorful, angular, and comical, making it entertaining to look at and to read. The story itself is fun, with repetitious silly words like, "Hokety pokety stickety stuck," that kids will enjoy. It is the tale of the youngest, simple son who gives some of his stale bread to a little man in the forest when he goes to chop a tree. Previously, his brothers had denied the man cake on their visits to the forest and almost immediately injured themselves. The little man gives the simple son a golden goose for his kindness (giving a very clear picture of the benefit of sharing versus being selfish). As the boy travels, people try to touch the golden goose and become stuck, causing a trail of people to run behind him during his journey. He unknowingly leads the procession to a kingdom of a serious princess. The sight of the procession makes her laugh, and once again with the help of the little old man in the forest, the simple son wins a bride! Though children may miss the lessons of sharing, not touching something that belongs to someone else, and the importance of laughter in relationships, they will surely enjoy the silliness of this book!

School Library Journal

Gr 1-4-- Duntze's rich, stylized watercolors for this well-known tale are an unusual blend that includes folk art and surrealism. They present the story effectively from varied perspectives, although sometimes with a static quality. The simpleton/protagonist is portrayed as a grown booby who plays with toys, but practically everyone in these illustrations appears to be a dolt. The most appealing pictures are those of the simpleton leading the people stuck to the goose and the Holbein-like portraits of the princess and of her and the simpleton at the conclusion. These distinguished illustrations do not equal Leslie Brooke's inimitable ones in his Golden Goose Book-- still available in a reduced format--but they are preferable to others in print (although they may be admired more by adults than by children). The text, unfortunately, seems shaped by the modern view that children must have simple, graceless language in simplified sentences. It is acceptable, but hardly worth reading aloud to children. At least the adaptor has not tampered with the plot and tells the tale complete. --Ronald A. Van De Voorde, Graduate Library School, University of Arizona, Tucson

Susan Dove Lempke

Unlike his two older brothers, who refuse to share their bread with an old man and meet with accidents, a simpleton offers his food gladly and is rewarded with the gift of a gold-feathered goose. When a girl tries to steal a feather, she becomes ""hokety pokety stickety stuck"" as does everyone who tries to free her. Like the Brothers Grimm, Shulevitz never explains how the people become "unstuck," but the simpleton ends up with a princess and lots of golden baby geese. Shulevitz makes a few thoughtful omissions and keeps his words to a minimum. Despite the disturbing chopped-off people who appear in some of the illustrations, the artwork is striking. The pictures, whether of buildings or people in the kingdom, are intensely colored, full of points and crazy angles, and bursting with a bouncing vitality that fits the amusing story well.