Goose on the Loose (Catherine Meatheringham, illus Annabelle Hale, Affirm Kids)

Goose on the Loose by Catherine Meatheringham, illustrated by Annabelle Hale, is a lively picture book that follows one determined goose as she races away from the farm, creating a steadily growing trail of pandemonium behind her. When the farmer accidentally leaves the gate open, the goose bolts, and a series of increasingly bewildered adults join the chase. As the goose runs past a fire station, an airport, a construction site and a school, each new character misidentifies the bird in humorous rhymes before joining the pursuit. The structure is simple but effective, building momentum through repetition and wordplay. The result is a story that feels joyously haywire, with the chase growing increasingly crowded until the goose finally reveals her true goal. The pages are full of action, with characters running and scrambling across workplaces and community spaces. There are plenty of visual jokes and small details for children to spot as the chase unfolds. This is very much a book designed for reading aloud. The repeated phrases and escalating silliness make it an easy choice for storytime, inviting children to join in with the call of “Goose on the loose!” It will particularly appeal to kids aged 2 to 5 who enjoy noisy stories with energetic pacing and plenty of chaos.

Books+Publishing reviewer: Karys McEwen is a librarian, an author and the education advisor for the Melbourne Writers Festival. Books+Publishing is Australia’s number-one source of pre-publication book reviews.

Books+Publishing pre-publication reviews are supported by the Copyright Agency Cultural Fund.

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