YUM, YUM, I smell a wolf " Wolf bolts, and Goose is relieved to see his friends--true heroes--emerging from the trees. Children will relish the scene of the happy reunion with a grateful Goose, who begins a new story about his best friends. (Picture book. 3-6)]] Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

As she did in Ready for Anything! (2009), Kasza uses spirited animal characters to address a familiar childhood conundrum. Hogging center stage is Goose, an excellent storyteller who makes up entertaining stories that he and his friends act out. But Goose always snags the leading role, from the fiercest pirate captain to the scariest T. Rex. After Goose tells the tale of a "mighty king" ("And who got to play the king, the mightiest of all? Why, Goose, of course"), Beaver, Porcupine, and Squirrel finally pipe up, asking why they can't take turns being the star. "They are my stories, so I'm the hero," Goose replies bossily. Enter an uninvited player: ravenous Wolf, who grabs Goose, shouting, "Hello, lunch!" While Goose attempts to use his skill as raconteur to scare off Wolf, Goose's clever friends get the job done, landing in the spotlight at last. The story's energy originates from both the comedic dialogue and expressive gouache pictures of the personable cast. Goose accepts his comeuppance amiably, declaring his pals the real heroes. Ages 3-5. (Mar.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.

When woodland pals Goose, Beaver, Porcupine, and Squirrel play together, it's Goose who has imaginative ideas for make-believe and Goose who takes the lead in every one. Though the others object that they would like to play the hero sometimes, Goose insists that since the stories are his, he is the hero. Hiding behind a tree, Wolf ends the argument by pouncing on Goose and yelling, Hello, lunch! Goose distracts the villain with a scary tale, while Beaver, Porcupine, and Squirrel go into action, proving that they truly are heroes. With its childlike characters, life-and-death story line, and occasional comical moments, this picture book has plenty of kid appeal. Young children will find that the animals' expressions are as easy to read as their actions in Kasza's simple, ink-and-watercolor illustrations. Quite apart from the lessons implied by the flaws in Goose's character and the power of his storytelling, this colorful picture book is just plain fun for reading aloud.--Phelan, Carolyn Copyright 2010 Booklist

Kasza has a talent for depicting real-world preschool conflict in her amusing animal fantasies. Goose has a rich imagination and comes up with great ideas for imaginary play with his three friends (Porcupine, Beaver, and Squirrel), but he always assigns the hero role to himself. The friends get so busy arguing over the matter that no one sees the wolf sneak up on them. They all run, but Goose is caught when he trips on his royal cape (he was playing the mightiest king of all). Goose's storytelling ability serves him well as he persuades the wolf that there is a wolf-eating monster on the prowl, and his friends, listening from the bushes, provide the necessary sound effects to give Goose's wild story credibility, proving to him that they, too, can be heroes. The patterned narrative has a playful tone and fast pace that will make the book a good choice for reading aloud to young children, many of whom will immediately recognize the bossy Goose as one of their own. Kasza's humorous cartoon-style illustrations show both action and character, and they are always clear enough that even the characters' facial expressions can be easily seen from a distance. That's fortunate because, as with most of Kasza's picture books, there's a great deal of character development and a bit of subtext in the illustrations. kathleen t. horning (c) Copyright 2012. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

PreS-Gr 1-Goose is great at making up adventures but he always casts himself as the star, to the chagrin of his friends, who demand their time in the spotlight. The argument is interrupted when a hungry wolf kidnaps Goose. Using his quick wits and storytelling talent, he stalls for time until his pals come to the rescue. The happy animals are finally heroes, and Goose realizes the value of having great friends. Kasza's bright gouache illustrations are mostly spreads, featuring expressive cartoon animals. Though slightly didactic, this upbeat story can serve as a jumping-off point for discussions about friendship and selflessness, and deserves a spot in most collections.-Yelena Alekseyeva-Popova, formerly at Chappaqua Library, NY (c) Copyright 2012. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.