SUZY GOOSE AND THE CHRISTMAS STAR

Silly Suzy Goose. When she realizes the animals’ Christmas tree is missing a star on top, she decides to get “that bright one in the sky.” First she zooms down a steep hill, ski-jump style, to get aloft, then she jumps off a fence, then off a woodpile, all with the same predictable result: “Splat!” When she tries to walk to it, she just gets lost. Following the sounds of her friends (“Ding! Honk!”) she makes her way home through the snow—to find a pleasant astronomical surprise. The slight story is enlivened by Suzy’s customary silliness—children will enjoy knowing better than she does and voicing the sound effects—but her third outing shows signs of staleness, and the Christmas connection feels forced at best. (Picture book. 2-5)