The Golden Goose

by Uri Shulevitz, Jacob Grimm, Wilhelm Grimm

Because of a kind deed, a simpleton receives a goose with feathers of pure gold. But when anyone comes too close to the goose, they get Hokety, pokety, stickety, stuck and have to follow the simpleton wherever he goes. The more people who get stuck, the funnier the procession becomes, until the simpleton inadvertently wins over a princess.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Fairy Tales, Nonfiction

32 pages, Library Binding

Published March 19, 1998

About the author

Uri Shulevitz was an American writer and illustrator of children's books. He won the 1969 Caldecott Medal for U.S. picture book illustration, recognizing The Fool of the World and the Flying Ship, an Eastern European fairy tale retold by Arthur Ransome in 1916.

Reviews

[Dolly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Humorous, but fairly forgettable edition of a classic children's fairy tale. Reminds me of The Fool and the Flying Ship, but as I was able to listen to Robin Williams narrate that story on audiobook and I believe I saw an animated edition of the book online, I prefer it over this one.

And, now that I mention it, I realize of course that Mr. Shulevitz himself illustrated (and won a Caldecott Medal for) his own illustrations for that story in The Fool of the World and the Flying Ship.

In any case, the story is entertaining, the narrative has lot of alliteration and lyrical repetition, and the illustrations are cartoonish and silly. Overall, I'm sure it's a book that will appeal to young children.

[Emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think that people who love fairy tales read this because it is very mythical.
A boy with many brothers gets a golden goose from an old man and the boy decided to stay in the inn not far away. While he was sleeping, many people tried to steal it. When they touched it, they got stuck to it, and when someone touched the person they stuck to the person. It goes on and on.Then the boy goes to town and while he passes he runs into a king and he told him that his daughter has never laughed in her life and the next person to make her laugh would be able to marry her. The boy made her laugh with the chain of people connected to his golden goose.
I liked this story. I like a lot of myths and books like that. This one was funny, fun and enjoyable.

[Hannah Grosse · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was really fun to read aloud, especially the repeating portions. Also, the fact that they get stuck, and all have to follow the simpleton wherever he goes, and the fact that he gets a wife because of it, its all pretty humorous. And half that humor is the face of that simpleton as he carries a glowing goose across the page. The old man gave him that goose for good luck, and up until the end, all it brings him is a long line of tag-a-longs. The colors are vivid and the style of drawing is unique and classic-looking.

[Kati Zuber · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Golden Goose is another book written and illustrated recently, but about an older fable. This old story is one of those progression stories that children find really funny, and the paintings are gorgeous.

[Jacob · Rating 4 out of 5]

aà we

[Madison Carter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Genre: Traditional Literature
Grade Level: K-3

I really liked this book! I found the story to be really funny and entertaining. I also loved the illustrations! I think that this book is really a good use of comedy and slapstick.

[Christina Leone · Rating 2 out of 5]

Shulevitz, Uri (1995). This Brothers Grimm classic fairytale is retold and illustrated by Shulevitz in a 28-page picture book boasting bright, bold and colorful illustrations. Although it is 28 pages, some pages only have one sentence on them. This book would be good for 8-9 year olds who are becoming independent readers. The theme is appropriate for these ages as well with the protagonist, a “simpleton,” being rewarded by “an old man” he meets in the woods who is hungry and the Simpleton shares his sweet cake with. “Since you have a kind heart, I’ll give you good luck. Cut down the tree and you will find it.” The luck turns out to be a goods with feathers made of pure gold while out in the woods. However, whenever anyone touches the goose, (or the person already touching the goose) a magical spell takes over; “Hokety, pokety, stickety, stuck poor Anabell was down on her luck. Wiggle and pull, she couldn’t shake loose, and she had to stay with the simpleton’s goose.” A train of people are lined up, stuck to one another in a line. As a nearby king has promised anyone who can make his daughter laugh will have her hand in marriage. Upon seeing this crazy-train of characters approaching her kingdom, the princess breaks out into a fit of laughter. With a few hiccups in the king keeping his promise, he ultimately allows the simpleton to marry his princess.
*MYTH*

[Brianna Mathes · Rating 2 out of 5]

For sharing his food with the old man(unlike his brothers), he his given a golden goose. One day he decides to stay at an inn not too far away from home. While he's sleeping siters try to steal the goose, but end up getting stuck to it. When one of the sisters would try to help they would just get stuck to the person. Because of all the greed, this continued on and on and on untill there was a long line of people stuck together.

I liked this book and thought it had a good moral to it.

I would reccomend it's entertaining and enjoyable.

[Jude Gravois]

Cool art, nice character design

[Linh]

Good book.
Did it for storytime and it was a hit.

[Bree · Rating 3 out of 5]

Notes:
shulevitz's amazing illustrations suit the story so well