Ollie (Reader)

Gossie and Friends

by Olivier Dunrea

Friends Gossie and Gertie are waiting and waiting for Ollie to hatch. They try poking, listening to, even sitting on top of his egg—but Ollie is Ollie and he will decide when it's time to hatch. Any child that has had to wait for a new brother or sister will find Ollie irresistible! Featuring the childlike sensibility and expressive watercolor illustrations Gossie & Friends fans love, this brand-new Level 1 Green Light Reader comes with a bonus audio download. Page-turn signals guide early readers.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Animals, Fiction, Storytime, Kids, Humor

32 pages, Paperback

First published August 15, 2003

About the author

Since his debut in 1983, author and illustrator Olivier Dunrea has created a steady stream of picture books, including concept books, stories of family life—modern and ancient—and stories about artists. Many of Dunrea's picture books testify to his love of animals and his interest in archaeology and folklore of the British Isles, and several—including Ravena, The Trow-Wife's Treasure, and Bear Noel—take place in a similar land of Dunrea's own creation: the mythic island of Moel Eyris. "I don't write books or make pictures for children," Dunrea once told Something About the Author (SATA). "I make them for myself. It just so happens that children like what I do as much as I do!"

Olivier (Jean-Paul Dominique) Dunrea (1953-) Biography - Personal, Career, Member, Writings, Sidelights

Reviews

[Matt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ollie is one stubborn gosling! He will not leave his shell, even as two friends try to coax him out. He’s waiting and wondering, but is not yet prepared to make his way into the world. It is only when HE is ready, that Ollie will emerge and check things out for himself. Neo did not find the story, but, as seems to be the case for all books in this series, the interest lay more in helping him read than the overall story. No worries, as Neo is doing really well with these stories and has impressed me greatly over the past while.

[Erica Nicol · Rating 5 out of 5]

Baby's first book about reverse psychology. But also funny, warm, and one of our favorites. The tension of the story (Ollie won't come out of his egg) is simple but compelling, and the end still brings a smile to my face. Dunrea's illustrations are bright, expressive, and appealing.

[Dani ❤️ Perspective of a Writer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Check out more Picture book reviews @ Perspective of a Writer...

Gossie and Gertie are waiting, waiting, waiting for Ollie to hatch. He doesn't want to! Finally their last attempt does the trick...

I love this gosling series. My nephew does too! He likes drawing so these are perfect for him with their simple lines and clean images! We did Gossie and Gertie sitting on the egg and the hanging over the egg with the kerchief. Yeah, he really loves them... The watercolors are simply beautiful... My nephew isn't a toddler but it still very interested with the illustrations and the words are of a nice complexity for him.

I also liked how this is similar to when a child's mom is pregnant and they have to wait for the baby to be born. Also I loved that there were two goslings! It doesn't mean that Gossie and Gertie were siblings but they could be, either way it made the simple story rather fun!

BOTTOM LINE: Simply enchanting.

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You can find this review and many others on my book blog @ Perspective of a Writer. See my picture book reviews in a special feature called Boo's Picture Gallery...

[Laura (Book Scrounger) · Rating 4 out of 5]

The category of "books my children randomly pick out at the library" can be very hit or miss, but this was a simple, enjoyable book (and also an introduction to using reverse psychology!). Ollie is in his egg and doesn't want to come out, despite many requests. Finally, he is simply told not to come out -- and that seems to do the trick! My two-year-old wanted to read this many times.

[Courtney K · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good book for preschoolers awaiting a new sibling. One of my favorite from the series.

[June · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a small book, but I am an Ollie fan and use them when I have small Story Times, which is more often now that more children are going to day cares and preschools.

Ollie won't come out until Gossie & Gertie finally use reverse psychology. 3/28/12

This was requested by a precocious boy at our Eggstravaganza. He gave away the ending, but he and the story got a lot of laughs. (Usually, I wouldn't use this small book with a larger group, but it was quite well received.) 3/27/13

One girl was a real Dunrea fan, so we did both Gus and Ollie in PJ Story Time.

[Cathy | A Case Full of Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has been a favorite for 3/3 of my toddlers. The #1 reading request from them from about 15 months to at least 2 years old. Quite possibly longer.

All of Dunrea's books are charmingly simple with the most delightful illustrations.

[Dawn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Browsing books to give my friends' children as gifts since I won't gift anything I haven't first read myself.

I did not expect to love this one so much. The illustrations are so comical that I was immediately sucked in. And while I won't say it's the most eloquently presented text, the story really delivers: it's hard to wait! Especially when we're excited. But some things just cannot be rushed, no matter how impatient we feel. Excellent message for children (and adults) in general. Would lend itself particularly well as a gift for a child that is waiting for something big: a new sibling, a visit from someone they love, a promised vacation.

[Cheriee Weichel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I adore Olivier Dunrea. Ollie, a stubborn young gosling refuses to hatch from his egg. His older siblings, Gossie and Gertie have been waiting for ages, but no matter how much encouragement they give him, he just won't come out. You will have to read for yourself to find out what trickery they come up with that makes him change his mind.
I can hardly wait for Ada and her parents to come home from Korea so we can read it together. I am sure her trilingual Mom will appreciate that this version is in both Spanish and English.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this series, one of my favorite read alouds. This particular book makes me giggle inside when I read to my youngest of three kids, whose name is Ollie. When Gossie and Gertie wait impatiently for Ollie to come out of his egg, it reminds me of being pregnant with my Ollie, who, by the way, giggles every time Ollie in the book says, “I won’t come out!”

[Sarah Cho · Rating 4 out of 5]

For very young children. This book introduces the idea of an egg and a duck from an egg. The book is cute and goes through the process of Ollie getting ready to hatch.

The images are simple and have all white backgrounds which makes it easier for younger children to focus on the image itself.

[Maeve · Rating 3 out of 5]

Best friends Gossie and Gertie are anxiously awaiting the arrival of Ollie...but Ollie-who's a little contrary-prefers to wait inside his shell. When Gossie and Gertie tell Ollie "Don't come out"...out pops Ollie!

[Rayn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Grappig verhaaltje over een gansje dat niet uit een ei wilt komen.
"'Ik kom er niet uit,' zegt Ollie. "
Het grappige is, dat je dit op verschillende intonaties kunt lezen en dat het dan net anders is. Dat verwarde me in het begin wel moet ik zeggen. Dat had beter gekund.

[Andrea Renfrow · Rating 5 out of 5]

My daughter LOVED these books, and now my son as well. Someone in a review once referred to Olivier Dunrea as a "toddler whisperer" and I'm inclined to agree. Ollie is my personal favorite of the bunch.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

The character Ollie is introduced to the Gossie and Gertie series. Even inside the egg, he has his Ollie personality! I love how sheep are often incorporated into these books. I also love how Gossie and Gertie use reverse psychology on him.

[Hannah Martin · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is about two goslings trying to get little Ollie to hatch, they try everything, but he refuses to come out of his egg. Finally, when they tell him not to come out, he comes out.
- This book can be used as an example of what not to do when told to follow directions.

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good for very young kids. Simple and sweet

[Danette · Rating 3 out of 5]

5/16/17 Read with Naomi.

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Level F book. Properly leveled and cute book about Ollie who is not coming out of his egg.

[Whole And · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sweet and simple, Gossie and Gertie wait for Ollie to hatch but Ollie doesn't want to come out!
A wonderful reader for a beginner. Gossie and Gertie never disappoint.

[Maggie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this series as a baby. It is so funny!

[Kelly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very cute.

[Megan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it! 🐣

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cute bilingual Spanish/English board book about Olli, who doesn’t want to come out of his shell.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Simple direct text and illustations, fun characters.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

The illustrations were great, the text was simple. Appropriate for toddler or preschool story time.

[Keely DeRiggs · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book was another one I didn't care for. It did show the egg in the book finally hatching, but I probably would never read this to my class.

[Rolf · Rating 3 out of 5]

Perfectly cute, but also doesn't really say/do anything.

[Ashley Brenae · Rating 2 out of 5]

I thought this was cute, good for position words, but it was so anticlimactic that I feel like 2 stars is being generous.

[Nena Heesakkers · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lief boek, geschikt voor jonge kinderen (2 t/m 5 jaar).