Goose Girl - Hardcover

Gr. 4^-6. In this picture-book retelling for older readers, a young princess, naive in the ways of the world, is sent to marry the prince of a distant kingdom. After losing the protective charm her mother gave her, she falls prey to the greedy ambition of her serving maid, who steals her clothes, usurps her place, and kills her talking horse, Falada. Through the intercession of a goose boy, Falada (who continues to talk), and a wise king, the ruse is discovered, the princess restored, and the serving maid brutally punished. Kimmel's polished retelling of the tale is given lively support by Sauber's energetic paintings, with picture-frame borders adding a bit of formality to the robust interpretations. Although the faces depicted in the smaller illustrations are not always clear, the large character portraits burst with personality, and the rich textures of the clothing and goods give the whole a sense of earthy immediacy. This is one of those picture books that needs to find its way into the hands of older children and adolescents; they'll be the audience best equipped to appreciate the artwork's romantic appeal and the stark justice of the story. Janice Del Negro

Grade 1-3?Kimmel's retelling sticks closely to the Grimms' tale of a princess whose serving girl forces her to reverse roles during the long journey to meet her betrothed. While the princess is relegated to tending the geese, the evil impostor is welcomed into the castle and has Falada, the enchanted horse, put to death. His magic, however, has not died, and it is the words of her faithful animal and the kindness of the king that eventually restores the princess to her rightful place. Sauber, who collaborated with Kimmel in I-Know-Not-What, I-Know-Not-Where (Holiday, 1994), frames each page in a decorative border. The story is propelled by Kimmel's perfect pacing and phrasing and by the vitality of the oil paintings, achieved through a sense of rapid dashes of color, with some scenes having an almost unfinished quality. The artist also pushes many of the details beyond the borders and makes the most of the princess's flowing, flaming tresses. Most libraries will want to own this title.?Wendy Lukehart, Dauphin County Library, Harrisburg, PA
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