Of all the geese in this gaggle, there is only one smart goose. He also happens to be the goose that doesn’t quite fit in. When all the other geese are sparkling clean, this goose goes to bathe in the muddiest mud puddle he can find. But, when the wolf comes, he’s also the goose least likely to be spotted and chased around the farm. You see, the mud acts as a camouflage. When the other geese finally get the smart goose to spill his secret weapon, they all live in peace…until winter comes. As the first snow begins to fall, the smart goose heads for the nearest clean pond. But the other geese don’t understand why. They may not get it, but the children in storytime usually do!
This is another winner from Caroline Jayne Church. The illustrations are crisp, clear, colorful, and whimsical. It’s a great book for storytime!
Check the WRL catalog for One Smart Goose.
With few words and simple pictures author Jon Klassen is able to build characters with nuance and personality. From the downtrodden turtle, to the oblivious snake, to the earnest main character of the bear, we understand their behavior with very little context. But all of that is rather deep for a book about a bear looking for his hat. Yes, Bear has lost his hat and he wants it back. He goes from woodland creature to woodland creature asking if anyone has seen it. Bear is very sincere, if not too bright. Indeed, sharp-eyed children will see that Bear should have noticed exactly where his hat is – and no, it’s not already on his head. Rather than taking a look around him, Bear simply believes everyone who tells him they haven’t seen his hat.
A storm is raging outside. The wind is howling and the trees are creaking. Inside a cozy cave, Bear and Mrs. Bear fast asleep. But not everyone can sleep. One by one, each of the 3 cubs finds his way to their room. First Baby Bear, then Little Bear, and finally Young Bear, come to their parent’s bedroom, each believing that a monster is outside, trying to get in. Bear calls each little one a scaredy-bear. But the cubs climb into bed with their parents and soon are fast asleep. All except Bear. He is wide awake! Maybe there really is a monster outside. When something knocks at the door, Bear is frightened. Can you guess what it is? 
This is the perfect summer book for little ones. It is filled with many sounds as a variety of animals drive to the beach. Young listeners will enjoy repeating them with you. “Beep, beep. Chugga, chugga. Honk, honk. Moo, moo.” Cars, bikes, scooters, buses, and trucks all line up, like a parade of vehicles heading to the same final destination… the beach! The simple text and amusing illustrations make this perfect for storytime for a group of many or just one. There is much to discover in the illustrations, like the double-decker bus with a pool on the second level! Children will enjoy exploring all the details of the illustrations as they follow the parade to the sandy shore.
Can you imagine what it would be like if all the wild animals came inside your house? Just imagine how much fun you would have! At least that’s what the boy in this story believes. He imagines all the things that he can do with the animals, like go for an elephant ride or play hide-and-seek. Every few pages he describes the many sounds inside the house, like crash…bash…zoom…boom. There is also some repetition that the little ones will enjoy saying with you … 
“Hello, Lulu. What are you doing today?” You’ll find out as you read this sweet tale that takes you on a journey of a young child’s busy day. You’ll follow Lulu as she goes through her daily activities like drawing, playing ball, swinging, eating, taking a bath and reading before bedtime. The familiar routines engage the listener and draw them into the story.
