Ms. Goshsquash

by Lola Coleman, Alexandra Ruso (Illustrator)

What if all it took for a kid to learn to be good was a trip to the farm? Follow three best friends as they learn from their teacher and her odd pet yak why being kind is always the way to go, discover who they are, and turn into the great kids they want to become.

Have you been naughty?
Can’t help being mean?
Perhaps you’d like to know what happens to kids who make a scene.
Well take a look inside this book; I’ll show you what I mean,
for you’ll never meet another other who’s as real as she can be.

Her name was Ms. Goshsquash, and everyone knew
that if a child went bad, she'd know what to do!
At first, the people of Drost thought her to be mean.
Some said she was the meanest old woman they had ever seen.
Yet it was those same people who asked her one day
to come into town to live and to stay.

You see, Ms. Goshsquash had a way with children that nobody else had,
but only those who didn't listen to their parents, misbehaved at school, or were just plain bad.
She spoke in rhyme and song, but if you paid attention you'd soon know
that really all she wanted was for kids to be kind as they grow.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens

28 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 31, 2021

Reviews

[Rosh ~catching up slowly~ · Rating 4 out of 5]

A simple story about an old lady named Ms. Goshsquash who, while looking deceptively sweet, has her own method of punishing children who have been naughty in any way. She finds three children bunking school one day and proceeds to give them a taste of their own medicine, but in magical ways.

While the story might be a little scary for really young children, it can also be seen as adventurous and fun-filled, depending on what kind of child is reading it. A naughty child might be apprehensive and a good-natured child will be glad to see bullies being punished. The message of the book is quite clear: your actions always have consequences so you need to behave better.

The writing is in rhythmic verse, but some of the rhymes were a miss for me. They seem to be there just so that there was something to rhyme. For instance, there is a yak who has absolutely no role to play in the story but exists for the sole purpose of rhyming with “black”. (The irony is that ‘yak’ and ‘black’ don’t rhyme!) The meter of the sentences varies a lot. In some cases, each line is so long that there’s an entire long sentence rhyming with another long sentence. It almost seems like a prose story than a rhyming one in such instances.

The illustrations looked quite unusual with their pastel-like strokes but in watercolour. They add to the appeal of the book by making it seem less portentous.

Overall, a good read but not exceptional. This could be a good addition to libraries.

Thank you to NetGalley and DartFrog Books for the ARC of the book in exchange for an honest review.


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[Melki · Rating 3 out of 5]

I guess I should have read the description of this one a little more closely . . .

The cover led me to expect a sweet tale about a lady and her yak, but the book is really about three misbehaving children, and how Ms. Goshsquash teaches them to be good citizens. The story is told in a sorta-rhyming text that does not trip easily off the tongue. The illustrations are nice watercolors by Alexandra Ruso.

Needed more yak.

Thanks to NetGalley for the sneak peek.

[La Coccinelle · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a strange, preachy little book that made me distinctly uncomfortable.

We're introduced to Ms. Goshsquash, who lives alone with her yak and apparently knows how to deal with naughty children. That sounds like a lot more fun than it is. Basically, Ms. Goshsquash takes it upon herself to be judge and jury, kidnaps a trio of children who are skipping school, and then forces them to see the error of their ways by trapping them in a magic mirror before releasing them so they can go to school and be helpful.

The yak plays no part in any of this.

While I did enjoy the watercolour illustrations, I wasn't a fan of the story. It just tried too hard to send a message. And I'm not sure that threatening children with the prospect of being kidnapped by a witch is the best way to encourage good behaviour.

Thank you to NetGalley and DartFrog Books for providing a digital ARC.

[Jennifer · Rating 2 out of 5]

The illustrations are the best part of this book. The first time I read it, I read it silently. I struggled with the cadence, or honestly, the lack thereof. The second time I read it, I read it aloud to my daughter. The variation in syllables made it difficult to read smoothly. Sometimes the rhyming words are close together, and sometimes there are long sentences separating them. There doesn't appear to be any structure to the rhyming. The book is a little too specific about the bad behaviors the children in the story have. When reading a book to children about behaving, you want to focus on the positive rather than naming several bad things that the characters do, such as cussing and hitting your sibling with a broom. Lastly, the ending is very abrupt.

I received a digital ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to NetGalley and DartFrog Books.

[Novel Obsession · Rating 1 out of 5]

The best part of Ms. Goshsquash is the illustrations, as they are all watercolor style paintings. However, the book itself received a huge thumbs down from my kids. The book attempts a rhyming prose but often awkwardly fits in phrases that just don't flow well. This text still needs some major editing. The story itself....a book which tells kids to be compliant and not to question anything or think for themselves lest they be punished by some strange whose sole joy in life is punishing "naughty" children? Big pass for us. Honestly, my kids didn't even want to finish the book. It was that bad.

Disclaimer: An advance copy was provided by the publisher.

[Theediscerning · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very good watercolours illustrate this full-colour rhymed story, but it features a lot that doesn't really hang together. From the very first line, that tells us the name of the fantasy town – a name of zero consequence to anything – to the fact the title character has a yak – again, useful for putting fun into the artwork but for nothing else – we're deluged with extraneous stuff. The story could just have been allowed to run its natural course without these wacky details, for it's simplicity itself, albeit packed with the unanswered. Ms Goshsquash has a way with magic portals, and a magic mirror, that can show a naughty kid the error of their ways, and so she uses them on three children here, but we don't know if they're deserving of being snatched away to fantasy-land and given such a lesson. Nor why the cow is there.

The rhymes are quite well sustained, but the meter and length of the line does vary a little too much to call this a classic. If I remember this for anything it is for the artwork, however, with watercolour a slightly unusual choice for getting character and faces portrayed as well as they are shown here. There is an outside chance a guardian or parent could use this book multiple times to instil the idea of the kindly-yet-witchy Ms Goshsquash as a potential consequence for our bad behaviour, but making sure this gets re-read might be a struggle too much. I don't wish it ill, but I did wish for it to have had more concision. Three and a half stars.

[Kaitlyn Wells · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ms. Goshquash came totally out of left field for me. I knew nothing about the book when I picked it up, and didn't expect the turn it took in the story. You may just enjoy this refreshing tale of what being a bully will get you, and that it's always better to be kind. The rhyming scheme didn't hit right for me. The watercolor illustrations were lovely.

[Vanessa · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Ms. Goshsquash" by Lola Coleman is a charming rhymed story accompanied by delightful watercolour illustrations that truly bring the tale to life. While the artwork steals the show with its vibrant colours and expressive characters, the story itself left me with mixed feelings.

Coleman introduces us to the whimsical town of Drost and its enigmatic resident, Ms. Goshsquash, who has a unique way of teaching children about kindness. Through the adventures of three best friends, we witness Ms. Goshsquash's magical interventions and her efforts to guide them towards becoming better individuals.

The rhymes are catchy and add a playful rhythm to the narrative, but the story feels cluttered with extraneous details that don't contribute much to the overall plot. While the meter of the rhymes is generally well-sustained, there are moments where it falters, disrupting the flow of the story.

Despite its flaws, "Ms. Goshsquash" has the potential to serve as a valuable lesson for young readers about the importance of kindness and empathy. The whimsical atmosphere and endearing characters make it an enjoyable read, especially for children who appreciate imaginative storytelling and colourful illustrations.

While I appreciate the effort put into this book, I couldn't help but wish for a more concise and focused narrative. However, for those seeking a light-hearted tale with charming artwork, "Ms. Goshsquash" is still worth a read.

[Ashton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall I really enjoyed this book. I think it's very intelligent and you can't help but love Mrs goshsquash. Great name by the way. I liked the moral of essentially putting a mirror up to ourselves to make sure that we are who we really want to be. To make sure that we treat people kindly, that we are creating more joy than we are pain in the world. I think that was a very creative and important lesson, one that often adults don't even know. I loved the simple but beautiful watercolor art. My only complaint is that the timing of each sentence changed making the rhymes feel unnatural and a bit clunky despite the fact that the rhymes themselves were good. But I say that with the recognition that that is one of the hardest things that a children's book writer can have to be faced with, so much so that publishers often look past rhyming books. I think that if the timing of the sentences matched up better, this book would be perfect. As is it's very good.

[Storywraps · Rating 4 out of 5]

This rhyming book includes a wonderful life lesson for not only kids (but also adults) to take to heart. A trip to the farm by a seasoned stern disciplinarian teaches this life lesson. She is accompanied by her pet yak.

Three best friends behave unkindly towards others and it is time to gather them together and correct that behaviour before it gets even more out of hand. The frightened children discover that how they are acting is not right and each repent of their wrong-doings. They realize that there is a better way to conduct themselves and being kind to others is essential to reach that goal.

I love the illustrations but think the font should be bigger to engage kids more in the tale. Also the cadence is troubling and often doesn't flow properly like it should. The moral of the story is wonderful.

[mikayla · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received an ebook copy of Mrs. Goshsquash for review through NetGalley. Mrs. Goshsquash tells the tale of an old woman who knows how to make children behave. She shows three naughty children how their actions have affected others by transporting them into a mirror. Finally, the children change their behavior once they see their nastiness reflected back at them and realize they don’t like how it looks or feels. My favorite thing about this book was the beautiful watercolor illustrations, they were very well done. However, at times I personally thought that the rhyme scheme felt a bit stilted, and the message, while not bad, was conveyed in a very heavy-handed way. I also wished that the yak would have come back around in the end for a bit of closure; it seemed like there wasn’t any narrative reason for it to be there.

[Hal · Rating 4 out of 5]

arc provided by the publisher via netgalley in exchange for an honest review

Ms. Goshsquash is a story about three young kids who have been bullies up to this point. They’re suddenly transported to Ms. Goshsquash’s house where she teaches them what it truly means to be kind.

I liked this one! I think it might freak out kids that are really young but I think for anyone over 5, it’s a good introduction into a discussion about kindness! The art was really cute too, it was simplistic but with stunning colours. I loved the fact that this book rhymed too!

I’d recommend this one, for sure!

4/5⭐️

[Anna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley and Dart Frog Books for a copy of "Ms. Goshsquash" in exchange for an honest review.

The old lady was shy, plump, round, always wore black and had a pet yak. She didn't like children who disrespected teachers, broke rules, skipped school and made others feel small. She helped naughty children be better. Was she a witch?

Roscoe, Tilda and Billy Bush had a lot to learn. They learned that skipping school, pushing, shoving and cussing were no way to behave. They learned quickly and were even helpful in school.

A great book to discuss acceptable and unacceptable behaviour and ways that others may be hurt by our actions.

[Nik · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a beautifully illustrated picture book about three children who learn a valuable lesson from a mysterious old woman (perhaps a witch) who everyone seems to know handles the bad children. The children are fearful about what exactly it is she does to bad children as she makes each one disappear one at a time. In the end she simply shows the children how their behavior has hurt other people and seeing their effect on others is what makes them choose to change.

I appreciated the message to think of how you effect others and adored the beautiful watercolor illustrations. My son really appreciated the rhyming story.

5 stars

[Kait · Rating 2 out of 5]

The book has such a great premise, kids being introspective and understanding how they may have hurt others.

But it’s slightly frightening.

With all seriousness, my child would be scared a Goshsquash “witch” would trap them in a mirror or lock them in a room as she did to the children in the story. I don’t think fear is the message I want my kids to associate with trying to be mindful of others emotions and how their actions have an influence on everyone around them.

Little tidbits of the story are wonderful. Reminders to try to be more considerate to those around you, such as this quote,
“There’s nothing special about being unkind. Try being respectful, and have a positive frame of mind.”

The kids end up back in class, like it was a mirage, and when one of them drops their bag, the others quickly goes to pick it up. Using their new kind and courteous attitude learned from their time with Ms Goshsqaush.

All in all I’m just not sure about this one.

[Nikki · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ms. Goshsquash by Lola Coleman was not a favourite picture book of mine, and my kids did not enjoy it. The illustrations were alright, but I did not like the story. While the lesson behind this book is a good one, I felt the execution was a bit creepy and not suitable for young readers, and I mean that in a way that young children who read picture books are not the kids skipping school.

It felt very "obey these rules or there will be punishment" instead of asking the "troubled" children to consider why they acted out in the first place. I liked the looking glass aspect of reflecting how their behaviour has impacted others, but it didn't give constructive ways to overcome those behaviours. We're to believe an old woman magically scares the children into changing their ways like in the fairy tales of the past. It just felt very off for a children's picture book where we're back to having to scare children into obeying rules.

Sorry, but I am not a fan, and I won't be recommending this one. Thank you to Net Galley for the digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Riya Bhatia]

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with this arc. This was such a delightful children’s book talking about how you shouldn’t be mischievous and go to school and be kind to others. Ms. Goshsquash sounds like an urban legend who helps kids be better and that is just so folktake like. The watercolour illustrations are absolutely gorgeous, will definitely be checking out the illustrator.

[Shauna Morrison · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the rhyming text and the watercolor illustrations, I found the text hard to read in places (especially n's and r's) but I don't know if that is just because it is an advance digital copy. I like that this story is reminiscent of older fairy-tales where a stranger tries to teach you the error of your ways. At times this book was really strange, I still don't know what the Yak had to do with any of the story.

[Hannah Crull-sher · Rating 2 out of 5]

Reading the first page or two I was excited because I expected someone similar to Ms Pigglewiggle, and I really liked the cadence of the book throughout. I loved the illustrations, but didn’t feel great about the story. It categorized the children who made mistakes as “bad” and while I like the idea of children changing their behavior after seeing the consequences of their actions, the way it was executed was more than a little creepy.

[Katherina Martin]

I was reading this book to my 5 year old while waiting for an appointment. I noticed that other children and parents where also listening. Beautifully illustrated story about 3 students sent to Ms. Goshsqaush’s farm for misbehaving. Well written and a great book for reading aloud and having fun with. Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Victoria Jackson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ms. Goshsquash tells the story of three naughty children who learn to behave with Ms. Goshsquash's help. It teaches children about the consequences of their actions and how things you do can affect others. It has beautiful illustrations to accompany the story.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for my ARC.

[Ginger · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was a cute, fun, and easy read. We enjoyed the illustrations but do not find it to be one we would purchase for our book shelf.

[Andréa]

Note: I received a digital review copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley.

[Lindsey Lewis · Rating 2 out of 5]

If you have children who don't know how to behave, don't bother to teach them right from wrong, just send them to the mean old lady up the hill. She'll kidnap them and scare the bad out of them.

The art is not bad, but the rhyming is disjointed and this idea of Ms. Goshsquash might actually be really scary for young children. I thought this was gonna be a funny little story about children who are rude or disrespectful to an old magical lady who teaches them a lesson by making them reflect on their behavior, but they were just skipping school and she straight up teleported them to her. The second child is literally saying "I didn't mean to be mean, I'll change." and instead of speaking with her about it, Ms. Goshsquash forces her into the door and drags her through the air into the room by force? It would be one thing if these children encountered a witch on their own, but the adults of the village know and allow this to go on rather than teaching their children? The only things these kids learn is to be afraid because they might get kidnapped. This might be a fun plot for a middle grade Goosebumps book, but not for little kids who are just learning discipline.

Note: I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley. I was not compensated in any other fashion for the review and the opinions reflected below are entirely my own. Special thanks to the publisher and author for providing the copy.