Gideon

Gossie and Friends

by Olivier Dunrea

Meet Gideon, the newest addition to Olivier Dunrea’s gaggle of adorable goslings! Gideon likes to splash with the ducklings, hop with the frogs, play chase-the-piglets, and scamper all over the farmyard. But one thing busy Gideon does not want to do is take his nap, no matter how many times his mother asks . . . until he gets tired, of course. Another darling gosling makes his debut in this spunky story, with Olivier Dunrea’s perfectly pitched storytelling and illustrations that Gossie & Friends fans have come to cherish.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Animals, Fiction, Birds, Adventure, Juvenile

28 pages, Hardcover

First published February 6, 2012

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

[Jon Nakapalau · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nap time is important - great lesson for small children.

[Heidi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Seeing as my son is named Gideon, I had to read this to him. I liked it, except for the fact that his mom calls him inside for his nap, and he doesn't come. He continues to wander until he falls asleep in a haystack. Still really cute.

[Anthony · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gideon is a small ruddy gosling who prefers to play all day, and avoid his mother's call to take a nap. Gideon plays all over the farm ignoring his mother's call of nap time.

[Dolly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute board book for little ones. I read this book while hanging out in the board book section of our local library with our youngest and our two-year-old niece.

[Lara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gideon is a great gosling for those active kids - lots of good verbs to learn, and what kid can't relate to putting off their nap for a little longer? However, as much as I love Dunrea's illustrations - so simple and sweet - I wish the books were a bit bigger. As they are, they're challenging for group reads. The stories are a little simple for my older preschoolers and almost-kindergarteners, but the younger ones would enjoys this (and the whole Gossie series, really!). The small pictures just make it a bit harder for the larger audience. For a one-on-one read, I'd recommend it though!

[Andrés · Rating 2 out of 5]

It seems like this book was written to be extra long with the hope that little ones will fall asleep before the final page is read. And maybe that's a good thing: when "Gideon doesn't answer" from the haystack, did anyone's heart stop for a moment, thinking that something terrible happened? (even though this is a sweet kids' book, so of course not?) The illustration probably should have pictured him sleeping there.

[Vivian · Rating 3 out of 5]

Gosling Gideon is determined to avoid taking a nap.
If sharing this with a group of children, invite them to act out (in place) the many verbs. What a fun way to increase vocabulary! You'll be marching, dashing, hopping, sneaking, scurrying, splashing, scooting, scampering, bouncing, leaping, wandering, and scrambling.

[Rose Rosetree · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gosling Gideon has one surprisng attribute. Like a human child, he has grown up enough to resist taking a nap.

In other respects, he's also quite relatable. One would almost think this picture book character were human. ;-)

FIVE STARS for this very sweet story, just right for the very earliest readers.

[Alison · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gideon Reading Gossie and Gertie always seemed to be followed by a lot more, "follow me"s from the kids who heard the story, so maybe Gideon isn't the best choice with its refrain of "No nap, I'm playing."
 
Gideon is very cute though.

[E & E’s Mama · Rating 5 out of 5]

Our fifth book in the adorable Gossie & Friends series. This one is about a gosling who refuses to nap because he wants to play, until he ends up napping on a haystack. Elliot loves the repeated text “no nap! I’m playing!” and I wouldn’t be surprised if he started using it soon 🤣

[Maeve · Rating 3 out of 5]

Gideon is a gosling who loves to play all day long! While his mother calls for him to come take a nap, Gideon explores the barn and plays with all sorts of barnyard creatures...until finally he falls-exhausted-into a pile of hay.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gideon is a red colored gosling. He has a stuffed octopus that is adorable. His mother wants him to take a nap, but he is too busy playing. Eventually he falls asleep in the hay stack. This series is great for toddlers.

[Dan Hyer · Rating 4 out of 5]

My 3.5 yr old kids like the series with Gossie, Peedee, Gideon and other friends, but this doesn't get requested quite as much as others.

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

We are just adoring this Gossie and Gertie series! There are so many fun new verbs to learn while still keeping the text easy to read and entertaining for emergent readers!

ATOS 1.1

[Maggie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is cute and funny.

[Joy Keil · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such cute books. My daughter enjoys them, I enjoy reading them, and the illustrations are cute.

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love the simplicity of this series.

[Cheriee Weichel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ada and I have been having a lot of fun with this book this month. She is not a fan of having to take naps either.

[Cheryl]

Omg I'm just exhausted watching this gosling harass the sheep, hens, piglet, etc. It's a wonder they never object! I'm not a fan.

[Karol · Rating 5 out of 5]

Adorable story about Gideon not being ready to nap when his Mom tells him it’s nap time.

[Robin Obara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gideon also needed a nap after all.

[Megan · Rating 2 out of 5]

I don't love books that show kids disobeying their parents. It is a bad example for kids.

[Tima · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gideon is a tiny little gosling who wants to play all day. So when his mother calls for him to come take a nap, he refuses to come. Gideon runs off to play some more. Gideon plays with all of the animals in the barn yard, but soon his mother finds him fast asleep in the hay. He could not stay awake for another moment.

The bright, colorful illustrations are centered on every page and help tell the story. The font is large so the beginning readers can see the words. The vocabulary fits well with the level one grade. The book also comes with a downloadable audio version and a web address for additional games and activities. Parents and teachers will like the simple format. Children will be able to relate to Gideon and the amusing ending. This book would work well in a home school or classroom setting for early readers.

I received this book free of charge from Children's Lit in exchange for my honest review.

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Gideon, a ruddy gosling, doesn't want to stop moving. He plays and plays all day, and when Mama Goose tries to get him to take a nap, he refuses. When he finally collapses, it's in a most surprising place, and I suspect Mama is so relieved to have some peace and quiet that she'll just let him rest where he is lying. The pen-and-ink and gouache illustrations against a generous proportion of white space have a simple appeal to them, possibly because of all the creatures Gideon encounters and all the places he goes. Add this one to your collection of books about bedtime for young readers.

[Lindsey · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love the simple, bright, fun illustrations! Gideon is a little gosling who does not want to take a nap because he is busy playing. Dunrea's pictures and straightforward text show Gideon in constant motion and busy-ness in such a cute way!

The story is cute for all ages but especially for toddlers who can laugh at Gideon, find his octopus toy in each picture, and identify with resisting naptime.

[Christina · Rating 4 out of 5]

The series begins with Gossie & Gertie although they do not have to be read in any particular order. They are short, cute and fun books. They do not teach any higher values and morals; they are purely for entertainment. The reason I give them all four stars is because my son loves them so much, he carries them around with him everywhere and I like the art. Anything that encourages my semi-reluctant reader that well deserves a decent rating.

[K Morlando · Rating 4 out of 5]

We love Gossie and friends books.

[Ami · Rating 4 out of 5]

I adore Olivier Dunrea's gosling books. The illustrations are simple but very charming and the stories are fun. Best of all, my kids loved these books with their repetitive phrases and spirited characters. "Gideon" is as lovely as Dunrea's first books and I'm considering buying myself a copy, even though my kids have outgrown this series.

[Meredith · Rating 3 out of 5]

Gideon is a red-orange gosling who likes to play but who doesn't like to nap.

Like all the books in the Gossie & Friends series, this story is character-driven and gentle, expressing a sentiment to which most small children will relate and, thus, allowing them to reflect on their own everyday experience.

[Dee · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a fun little book. The illistrations and words are simple. The subject matter is something kids can relate too. Not wanting to nap and play all day. I don't know the morals of the book as Gideon doesn't listen to his mother and randomly falls asleep on a hay stack, but fun little book.