GOOSE EGG ISLAND

A bonded pair of Canada geese raise a family.

When Goose and Gander fly back to the island they call home, it’s still wintry. They fend off rival geese and, as the ice thaws, dive for food. Amid frog song and under a full moon, the two come together, and “a miracle begins.” (Mating isn’t depicted on the page.) Next, Goose finds their old nest and lines it with moss and twigs, lays five eggs, and incubates them for a whole month—not feeding herself and not moving, even through a late snowstorm. Meanwhile Gander stands guard, driving off a hungry fox and a curious puppy. Five goslings hatch, looked after by both Goose and Gander and observed by a light-skinned child (referred to as “you”), until autumn arrives and all seven fly away together. The language is well chosen, and repetition gives extra weight to the words’ meaning. A spread of backmatter adds more fascinating facts about Canada geese. Using a restrained palette, Repka’s colorful illustrations are detailed and accurate, though stylized and elegantly composed, right down to the decorative endpapers. While the goslings are undeniably cute, the artwork eschews anthropomorphism. Perspective varies from full views to close-ups, with appropriate, identifiable landscapes and vegetation. The child is the only human and is portrayed less realistically than the animals. The many double-page spreads make for an immersive read-aloud.

A vivid and authentic account of geese living their beautiful, wild lives.