On a lovely fall day, a gosling named Gooseberry is having a great time practicing his nascent flying skills. "Clear the runway!" he shouts at Beaver as he prepares for take-off. "Vrooooom!" He demonstrates his loop-the-loop for Mouse and his soaring technique for Rabbit. But his animal friends can't linger to savor his triumphs because they're preparing for winter, which prompts Gooseberry to wonder if he's missing out on something important. He's not anatomically equipped to collect seeds and berries as Mouse does, and he doesn't have a dam to build like Beaver. With a smile, Gooseberry's parents explain that geese go south for the winter, and that by practicing his flying, "You've been getting ready for winter all day!" The openhearted message that difference can be celebrated comes through lightly but unmistakably in Freedman's (Night-Night, Emily) vivacious and assured storytelling and Cabban's (Little Bear's Grandpa) illustrations, which emphasize the hero's budding talents and the woodland friends' affections. Although the animals have urgent tasks waiting, they find time to note and enjoy Gooseberry's growing acumen (Rabbit slings his arm around the goose with chumlike pride), and the hero's cluelessness about migratory habits is never made the butt of a joke. Cabban's characterizations strike a satisfying balance between anthropomorphism and realism, and her watercolors glow with autumn light. Ages 3-7. (Oct.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved

The clear light of autumn breezes through these pages, as Gooseberry Goose practices landing, taking off, gliding, and doing loop-the-loops. His buddies barely have time to watch his flying practice, however, as Mouse is making his nest warm for the winter, Squirrel is gathering acorns, and Beaver has to finish his dam. Gooseberry is beginning to worry that he should be doing something to prepare for winter, too, when his mama gently reminds him that by practicing his flying, he is getting ready for the long journey south. Cabban's animal folk are neatly portrayed and anthropomorphized, and Gooseberry's joy in flying is nicely done. English author and illustrator capture a certain openhearted Brit approach to animal stories that is very attractive, and the double-spread, full-bleed pictures are full of sky and leaf. (Picture book. 4-7) Copyright ©Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

PreS-Gr 2-On a blustery fall day, a young goose practices flying, sharing his enthusiasm with the other animals as his skills gradually improve. The creatures are supportive, but they can't watch long because they are busy getting ready for winter. Gooseberry would rather remain airborne, but he eventually heads home. While the book's setup will remind readers of "The Ant and the Grasshopper," its ending will cause their hearts to soar, as Gooseberry's parents reassure him that by practicing to fly, he has been preparing for winter all along, as geese fly south to avoid the cold. The text is brought to life through the illustrations, which are loose and lovely. Vibrant red and gold leaves enliven the pages. Gooseberry is a bundle of expression. All of his body parts-his widespread wings, floppy feet, and facial features-work in unison to depict a particular mood, be it excitement, concern, or pure giddiness. Readers will be captivated by this irrepressible gosling's infectious charm.-Martha Topol, Traverse Area District Library, Traverse City, MI (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.