If Howard had known the old hag was a witch, he never would have taunted her. She responded with a curse and now hes a goose. The only way to break the curse is to do three good deeds, but how can he--with webbed feet, wings, and only a "honk?" Distributed by Syndetic Solutions, Inc.

Gr 3-5 When Howard tries to steal the eggs that were just laid near Goose Pond, he is caught by the old woman who protects them. She is rumored to be a witch, but Howard has no reason to believe this is true until she turns him into a goose in order to teach him a lesson. The only way in which he can reverse the curse is to perform three good deeds, which is much harder than he first suspects. Vande Velde uses her usual subtle humor to show what it might be like to be a boy stuck in a goose's body. Kids will get a kick out of seeing how Howard goes about getting his deeds accomplished; nothing happens the way he thinks it will. This is a good naughty-boy-makes-good book for reluctant or easy-chapter-book readers. It's clear, uncomplicated, and entertaining, and Vande Velde manages to offer a message without being too pedantic. Carly B. Wiskoff, Great Neck Library, NY Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. From: Reed Elsevier Inc. Copyright Reed Business Information

Gr. 3-5. When a local witch sees the boy Howard stealing eggs from the geese that she tends, she decides that he needs a lesson--and she changes him, fittingly, into a goose. Correctly discerning that Howard rarely thinks of others, the witch refuses to return him to human form until he has done three good deeds. Howard's learning to be a goose is almost a full-time job, and it comes with unexpected, occasionally poignant setbacks, such as when his friends don't recognize him. Of course, Howard fumes, frets, and schemes to get around the curse, but he eventually stumbles into a good deed and feels the pleasure of doing right, if only briefly. Although Howard doesn't change dramatically, by the close of his uncomfortable lesson he has begun to think more about those around him--both the human and the feathered kind. With well-spaced print, plenty of dialogue, a strong dose of humor, and more invention than many books written at this level, this goose tale is a nicely accomplished, entertaining read, with strong potential for reading aloud to younger children. KathleenOdean. From: Syndetics Solutions, Inc. Distributed by Syndetic Solutions, Inc.