Come Back, Gosling

A little girl and a gosling are dear friends who love one another very much. Going to the library and sharing books is their favourite thing to do, but one week, they start a book which the little girl does not like and will not share. The book goes missing until one night, Gosling finds it and reads it…and leaves. Desperate to make things right, the little girl chases after him to make amends.

‘Come Back, Gosling’ is a lovely story, celebrating friendship, the love of books and the importance of honesty.

Through the power of books, the little girl discovers that Gosling will grow into a goose and learn to fly. Scared about this change, she refuses to share the information with her little friend, first by becoming upset and changing the subject, and then by hiding the book. This refusal to face change means that, not only does she hide something important from her friend, but she also fails to read to the end of the book and so does not fully understand what is going on. Once the truth is out, Gosling is able to follow his own path- but the friendship endures. Friends cannot always be together- the freedom to do your own thing and to thrive on your own is so important- and those friendships which have some space and respect of individual needs are often the strongest!

The illustrations simply glow with David Litchfield’s usual magic and warmth! The opening end papers show the little girl and Gosling making their way to the tree house with their books whilst the end ones show the same scene, but in the autumn, after Gosling’s return. There are so many details to notice and enjoy. Children will enjoy spotting other books by Anne and David amongst those in the library- ‘A Shelter for Sadness’, ‘The Boy, the Troll and the Chalk’- as well as other favourites such as ‘The Wind in the Willows’. Their love of sharing books is beautifully captured- a special time to be enjoyed and valued, something which, sadly, is so often not a part of children’s lives.

Inspired by the story, children may well enjoy learning more about the life cycle and habits of geese, perhaps sharing their information by creating a lift-the-flap book and start creating a little library of their own. Perfect for story times, this is a book to linger over!

Come Back, Gosling

Anne Booth, illustrated by David Litchfield

Templar ISBN: 978-1800783072

You can read my review of ‘A Shelter for Sadness’ here and ‘The Boy, the Troll and the Chalk’ here.

The Boy, the Troll and the Chalk

Everybody is so used to avoiding the bad-tempered troll which lives in the cave that they forget all about it. Everybody except for one boy who is determined to reach out and make friends. The boy collects his chalks and draws a flower, leaving one petal uncoloured. The following day, he returns and finds the petal coloured in- yet still the troll will not leave the cave. Day-by-day he returns, leaving his drawings incomplete for the troll to finish. At last, the troll leaves the cave and is revealed to be a boy who joins in with the other children.

Thoughtful and sensitive, ‘The Boy, the Chalk and the Troll’ is a real celebration of patience, kindness and hope. Isolated and struggling, the ‘troll’ is obviously struggling with difficult emotions, acting in a way which rebuffs friendship. However, the little boy’s persistent, non-threatening approach, using art and creativity to gain trust, gradually builds a relationship which is non-demanding and understanding. The story is perfect for developing empathy and encouraging acceptance, making it excellent for PSHE or an assembly as well as story time.

David Litchfield’s illustrations capture the heart and spirit of the story perfectly. Teachers - and family- may choose to use the book as a starting point for collaborative art work, perhaps developing a mural or a playground chalking project to encourage older and younger children to develop supportive relationships, perhaps encouraging them to explore and discuss their own emotions.

Gentle and reassuring, ‘The Boy, the Troll and the Chalk’ is a poignant, powerful tale.

The Boy, the Troll and the Chalk

Anne Booth and David Litchfield

Templar ISBN: 978-1800783058

You can read my review of ‘A Shelter for Sadness’ here.