It's a Giveaway! It's a Book Review! It's a Chat With an Author! It's Gilbert, the Flightless Goose!
A few weeks ago I received a small package in the mail. It was a brand new copy of “Flightless Goose“, a wonderful children’s book by author Eric. D. Goodman.
The book is beautifully illustrated (by the author’s wife, no less) but “Flightless Goose” is more than just another picture book. It’s a story with a lesson most kids can identify with. It’s the tale of a goose who can’t fly, who gets bullied by his “normal” geese friends, and who wallows in his sorrow as he tries to fit in with the rest of the bunch. But Gilbert need not worry, for the fact that he can’t fly is a lesson in disguise. His powerful legs turn him into the fastest and strongest goose in the flock, and it’s his two strong legs- not the flock’s wings- that save the geese from danger. Turns out that Gilbert the flightless goose wasn’t such a silly goose after all! Sound familiar?
The story is told in simple language and the book consists of equal parts words and pictures. Both my 3 year old and my 5 year old love it and are anxiously waiting for the movie to come out (for real). My 3 year old enjoys the story, but truth be told, he is completely enthralled by the illustrations. He’s been asking me to buy him a ball like Gilbert’s, and he loves the fact that the geese wear shoes, clothes, winter gear and use sport equipment. My 5 year old, on the other hand, seems to be more engrossed by the story. He empathizes with Gilbert and doesn’t understand why the other geese are so mean. He will be starting kindergarten in a month and I’ve been using the story to show him that he need not worry if he ends up being different than his classmates. After all, as Gilbert teaches us, it’s those very differences that make him great!
If you would like your own copy of “Flightless Goose,” you can purchase it here, or better yet, reply to this post with a question for the author to get a chance to win your very own copy. Eric D. Goodman will be joining us today (Thursday, July 28) and is looking forward to chatting with StinkyLittleFeet’s readers.
If you would like to increase your chances of winning, you can get 2 optional entries by liking the “Flightless Goose” Facebook fan page and by liking StinkyLittleFeet’s page (leave a separate comment for each like).
The winner will be announced Friday morning.
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Update: We have a winner! Congratulations to Mandy Mester on winning a copy of “Flightless Goose.” We will email you shortly with details.
This is just the kind of book I would love to read to my two boys! My 5 year old will be starting Kindergarten this fall and I have been trying to explain to him the importance of being nice to everyone and treat them how he would want to be treated.
Eric, do you have children of your own? What inspired you to write this book? With all of the bullying going on in schools now it seems like a great story and lesson to read to little children. I am looking forward to sharing this story with my boys!
Good morning everyone!
Thanks, Mandy. Yes, I have a 13 year old daughter and a 6 year old son. However, the first draft of Flightless Goose came about 10 years ago when we only had one toddler.
I got the idea for Flightless goose when I saw a real goose injured, rendered unable to fly, and left behind by the flock. I thought it would be a great premise for a story. At the time, I’d reconnected with storybooks since I was reading a lot of them to my daughter. It inspired me to make Flightless Goose into a storybook for children.
Pixar, there is a request for a movie version of Flightless Goose in the review above. Call me.
Good morning! We’re so happy to have you here today. My kids loved the book and I think it’s a great story to read to a kid who’s about to start the school year. Are you working on anything else at the moment?
Thanks — Nataliya and I would love to “spread the goose” to children everywhere. We’re glad to hear that your children enjoy it — and get the messages.
Yes, we’re currently working on another storybook with an entirely new cast of characters. It may be a few years before it’s ready for prime time (or Saturday-morning time, as the case may be).
After that, we hope to return to Gilbert and his friends for another adventure.
I also write grown-up fiction. My debut novel in stories was just published a few weeks ago. (In fact, I had my “book release” reading and signing last night.) It’s called Tracks: A Novel in Stories. You can learn more about it at http://www.TracksNovel.com.
And with that already published, I’m at work on another novel. Between promoting the books, and working on a new childrens’ book and adult novel, I’m staying busy.
I would love to win this book. It sounds so different from most fairy tales and Disney stories. Is this is a full time job for you?
Hi Alicia,
I am fortunate enough to say that I make my living as a writer. But the writing that pays the bills is mostly the non-fiction. I write media materials, press releases, marketing material, and the likes. The fiction (novels and childrens’ books) is what I enjoy writing most.
I have a questions for the author. How did you come up with the story idea? This is a great way to teach our children on how to deal with situations they may encounter when they are surrounded by other children. Do you do this as your full time job or just a hobby?
Hello Eric,
My son Daniel read this book in kindergarden he says. Did not forget it.
He wants to know what inspired you to write it? And how you get the idea about a goose?
Thank you.
Natalie
This might sound like a strange question, but my 5 year wants to know The book portrays the geese as animate characters who play and talk (the geese bully Gilbert by calling him the flightless goose, for example), but at the end of the story, when the geese are in trouble, Gilbert honks instead of explaining the problem. Why does he honk instead of talking?
GIULIANA,
The idea was based on a true story! We used to live on a lake, and my desk was situated in front of a large window overlooking the lake. A goose was hit by a car and rendered unable to fly. As I sat at my desk, I would watch the geese and how they interacted with the flightless goose. They still accepted him as part of the flock. But they really did tease him — flying away in a group, leaving him to swim to them, then flying back. And they had no choice but to leave him behind for the winder.
I thought it would make a great story, and a good way to teach some valuable lessons.
I write full time, but most of the bills are paid by my non-fiction writing. I write fiction and storybooks because I love writing.
Natalie,
The idea came from the real flightless goose in the lake outside my window. The inspiration was, very likely, my daughter. Because I was reading so many childrens’ books to her, I decided to make Flightless Goose into a storybook. (Having an illustrator as a wife was a plus.) Had it not been for Nicole and my reconnection with storybooks, Gilbert’s story may have been a YA novel or poem.
Gilbert speaks Goose, which is a series of honks and skwaks. The geese can understand each other, so I’ve translated their speech to one another. But when they’re talking to people, the people only hear honks, like we do.
It’s sort of like that in a lot of cartoons. Think of Lady in the Tramp, or the Aristicats. The dogs and cats talk to each other, but when people are around, they bark and meow.
So the next time you see dogs and cats and gees making their noises, just imagine: they’re probably talking to one another.
Hi Eric! I loved your storybook!! What a great lesson to teach our kids, especially in this day and age when bullying has become such an issue at schools. I was wondering if you have ever considered turning Gilbert into a series, such as Curious George, for example. I think the kids would love it!
Hi Clementina,
Yes, we’d love to do a series of Gilbert books. For the next one (following the non-Gilbert book we’re working on now) we’d like to have Gilbert take a vacation (with the help of his friends). Then we’d like to have him go to school with Johnny.
Of course, the market will decide whether we can do them. If more Flightless Goose books sell, we’re more likely to get the next one published! So please spread the news about Flightless Goose!
Hi Eric!
It is so inspiring to see people like you follow your passion. Was it always your first choice to become an author or where there other careers you were interested in?
Thanks, Daniela!
Yes, I’ve known since I was in the third grade that I wanted to be a writer. I began with short stories and worked my way to books. It’s just in my blood — I have to write. And I love it.
Eric,
I’m an aspiring author and wish you a lot of success with “Flightless Goose” and the rest of your writing endeavors.
What writing tips can you offer somebody who hopes to get published?