Lucy Goosey
PreSchool-Grade 2—It's clear from the beginning that Lucy Goosey, who is "nearly fully grown," doesn't want to fly away with the rest of her family. The gosling already misses the familiar places around the home she must leave. She is so upset, in fact, that she runs off with the words, "Don't care, Don't care, Don't care!" in response to her mother's warning that she'll be left behind. But when night falls and it seems that indeed she is alone, Lucy is bereft. But Mum has stayed behind, of course, and the two reassure one another, in aRunaway Bunnymoment, that they will always come after and care for one another. In a well-structured and disciplined text, Wild uses just the right words to describe not only Lucy's love for her comfortable environment, but also her fear of the unknown. James's paintings are filled with soft blues and greens that make Lucy's home appealing both for her and young listeners. When night comes and she swims in "lonely little circles," the water swirling around her small figure emphasizes both her confusion and the vastness in which she finds herself. Many books take on the theme of separation from a parent, including Wild's ownPiglet and Mama(Abrams, 2005) and Karma Wilson'sWhere Is Home, Little Pip?(S & S, 2008). This is an admirable addition.—Jane Marino, Bronxville Public Library, NYCopyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.