Goose Who Almost Got Cooked

Caldecott Medalist Simont's (A Tree Is Nice) masterly illustrations blend equal parts humor and suspense in this tale of an adventurous goose who narrowly avoids the roasting pan. A brief rest stop at a farm stretches into a lengthy sojourn as Emily enjoys the good life--regular meals, companionship with a gaggle of domestic geese, a shed for shelter. One day, however, she senses something amiss when one of her friends disappears. Shocked to discover a bucket of feathers (""Horrors!"")--and to glimpse her friend's remains on a platter at the kitchen table--Emily tries to escape, but discovers that she's molting, and therefore grounded. Conveniently enough, her feathers grow back just in time to make a desperate getaway. As always, Simont's illustrations are a model of simplicity and grace. Some scenes are strikingly beautiful, as when the geese fly in formation against a misty, cloud-filled sky; others display a comic touch, such as Emily's run-in with the farmer's blowsy wife. The superbly modulated art has no trouble getting this tale off the ground. Ages 4-8. (Sept.)