Merry Christmas, Ollie! (Gossie and Friends)
by Olivier Dunrea
Date: 2007
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 34
Format: e-book
Source: library
An endearing and beautifully rendered tale sure to be a family favorite.
It's Christmas Eve. Gossie and Gertie hang their bright colored boots in the barn. Peedie and BooBoo hang their striped stockings in the barn. Ollie stomps through the snow. It's not easy to wait for Father Christmas Goose!
With ample wry humor, beautiful ink-and-watercolor pictures, and irresistible charm, Olivier Dunrea shares the first holiday story of Gossie and friends.Ollie perfectly encompasses the adorable impatience of young children waiting for Christmas to finally come.
(synopsis from Goodreads)
This book is basically the Christmas version of an annoying child in a car shouting, "Are we there yet?" Father Christmas Goose (okay, I liked him) finally shows up, as he was always going to do, and Ollie doesn't really learn anything. The "story" is just Ollie being an impatient gosling. I would've liked something more, maybe his friends showing him how to be patient, or at least distracting him. Instead, they keep building up the impending event, probably increasing Ollie's impatience, to the point he shouts, "I want Christmas NOW!" Okay, fine, that may be how little kids would act, but there's no commentary on his impatience or behaviour. Father Christmas Goose comes, Ollie shouts, "Christmas is here!" and the book ends.
Underwhelming isn't really a strong enough word.
Premise: 1/5
Meter: n/a
Writing: 2/5
Illustrations: 3/5
Originality: 2/5
Enjoyment: 1/5
Overall: 1.67 out of 5
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