Three Good Deeds!
by Vivian Vande Velde
Howard wasn't a bad kid, at least he wasn't any worse than any of the other kids in Dumphrey's
Mill. They all taunted the old woman who lived at the edge of Goose Pond. Who was to know
that the old witch really was an old witch? But when Howard is caught stealing
goose eggs, he soon finds out the old woman can do a great deal more than smack you with
her cane. Howard ends up turned into a goose. And he'll stay a goose until he does three
selfless good deeds. Through his new goose eyes, Howard learns a great deal about himself,
his neighbors, and even one very cranky old woman.
Three Good Deeds is filled with Vande Velde's signature humor - Howard's awkward
adjustment to goose life and his attempts to do good deeds are filled with laugh-out-loud
moments. And Vande Velde's characterization of how geese feel about one another rings
true and funny. Howard's time as a goose doesn't exactly turn him into a philanthropist,
but it does let him begin to see the world through the eyes of others. Warning: as a read-aloud
for younger children, the ending, while certainly satisfying and ultimately hopeful, can
be a bit sad (it made my 6-year-old cry) so you may want to take that into account. |
The Book |
Harcourt, Inc |
October 2005 |
Hardcover |
0152053824 |
Children's Fiction [Age Level: 8 - 12] |
More
at Amazon.com |
Excerpt |
NOTE: |
The Reviewer |
Jan Fields |
Reviewed 2006 |
NOTE: Reviewer Jan
Fields is the editor of Kid Magazine Writers emagazine and has written dozens of
stories and articles for the children's magazine market. |
|