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Gossie and Friends
Gemma & Gus
Meet Gemma and Gus, the newest characters in Olivier Dunrea’s irresistable Gossie & Friends series! Gemma is the big sister. Gus is the little brother. Gus is always following Gemma around, but one day Gus sets out on his own. Just who is following who?
Another pair of darling goslings make their debut in this sweet story, with Olivier Dunrea’s perfectly pitched storytelling and endearing illustrations that Gossie & Friends fans have come to cherish.
Another pair of darling goslings make their debut in this sweet story, with Olivier Dunrea’s perfectly pitched storytelling and endearing illustrations that Gossie & Friends fans have come to cherish.
32 pages, Hardcover
First published March 5, 2013
2 people are currently reading
86 people want to read
About the author
Olivier Dunrea
69 books87 followersSince 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
Olivier (Jean-Paul Dominique) Dunrea (1953-) Biography - Personal, Career, Member, Writings, Sidelights
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews
March 19, 2016
Gemma and Gus are siblings. They both like exploring, but they have to learn to explore together.
February 13, 2019
Gemma is a small yellow gosling who likes to explore, and Gus is her little brother.
Gemma is the big sister, and Gus is the little brother. True to birth order, she is the extrovert, and he is the introvert. Gemma has an adventurous spirit and explores the world around her. Gus, on the other hand, is more timid and prefers just to follow his older sibling. When Gemma gets tired of Gus always following her, Gus goes off on his own only to have Gemma begin following him.
Children who have a sibling will relate to either Gemma or Gus. Like most sibling relationships, there is some annoyance, but there is also love. This is a gentle story, which provides children with the opportunity reflect on their own experience.
Gemma is the big sister, and Gus is the little brother. True to birth order, she is the extrovert, and he is the introvert. Gemma has an adventurous spirit and explores the world around her. Gus, on the other hand, is more timid and prefers just to follow his older sibling. When Gemma gets tired of Gus always following her, Gus goes off on his own only to have Gemma begin following him.
Children who have a sibling will relate to either Gemma or Gus. Like most sibling relationships, there is some annoyance, but there is also love. This is a gentle story, which provides children with the opportunity reflect on their own experience.
April 20, 2018
The Gossie series is just so cute to read. I love Dunrea's illustrations. So simple and sweet. I love how scruffy Gus is, and his little pot hat!
For a storytime, the Gossie series in general is a little simple for my older preschoolers and almost-kindergarteners, and the books are a bit tiny for a larger group. For a younger audience or for a smaller group (and definitely for one-on-one reads), this would be a great pick. This is a great one for storytimes on exploring or on siblings.
For a storytime, the Gossie series in general is a little simple for my older preschoolers and almost-kindergarteners, and the books are a bit tiny for a larger group. For a younger audience or for a smaller group (and definitely for one-on-one reads), this would be a great pick. This is a great one for storytimes on exploring or on siblings.
February 4, 2022
Gemma and Gus is an easy short read great for children just learning. The words are few and large on the page. Gemma and Gus is a great book to talk about sibling relationships especially since Gemma does not like Gus following her around. The illustrations are simple yet adorable, they really capture what is happening within the few words on a page. I think this is a great read for younger kids and for kids just learning how to read.
October 17, 2023
Make way for goslings! The cute baby geese in this book are... no surprise, given the title... Gemma and Gus. How are they going to get along?
Gemma is the big sister. Gus is the little brother. For much of the story, little brother keeps following around big sister. Eventually, Gemma tells him, in no uncertain terms:
"Don't keep following me!"
The ending is as cute as could be.
FIVE STARS for a very toddler-appropriate picture book.
Gemma is the big sister. Gus is the little brother. For much of the story, little brother keeps following around big sister. Eventually, Gemma tells him, in no uncertain terms:
"Don't keep following me!"
The ending is as cute as could be.
FIVE STARS for a very toddler-appropriate picture book.
May 10, 2022
It was a cute book and would be great for siblings to learn to get along. But my two kids get along really well and I didn't really love planting the seed that it's annoying when the small one follows the big one. For us personally, it won't be a favorite.
January 14, 2023
Gemma is the big sister and Gus is the little brother. Both are yellow goslings. One day the siblings venture out to go exploring. Gemma is leading and Gus is following. Gemma and Gus enjoy their exploring adventure.
September 12, 2017
Gemma and Gus A similar story to Gossie and Gertie, but I haven't read this one 1,000 times with my nieces so I don't have the same feelings towards it as I do towards Gossie and Gertie.
December 4, 2017
Really cute one!
July 30, 2018
Perfect to talk about good sister and brother relationship.
November 30, 2018
I like gosling books...they are so cute.
April 17, 2019
Cute, short, and fun.
March 5, 2020
Too cute!
January 22, 2021
I liked the book.
June 8, 2021
We love the Gossie & Friends books. This one seemed too similar to Gossie & Gertie for me, like I’ve read this before. But Elliot enjoyed it
June 29, 2021
Gemma and Gus, big sister and little brother goslings, go exploring as they navigate their sibling dynamic.
May 14, 2023
Very Cute
May 14, 2023
Pretty cute read
May 14, 2023
Adorable read
September 1, 2023
This is a cute book about a big sister and a little brother gosling. I love the illustrations. I enjoy when Gus looks a frog right in the face. I enjoy how they explore together.
August 21, 2024
2024 storytime theme: Olivier Dunrea gosling books
Reviewed from a library copy.
Reviewed from a library copy.
January 11, 2018
Check out more Picture book reviews @ Perspective of a Writer...
Gemma is a big sister who enjoys exploring. Gus is her little brother who likes exploring also.
This is a beginner reader book and I just loved it. The words were spot on for the age group. Sometimes with pictures books the words are a little above the intended audience age. This is fine with a more advanced reader who will simply be adding to their vocabulary, but with a beginner book would frustrate new readers. I loved how aspects of the story repeated and yet it was done in a charming way. Best of all is the message about siblings and how its okay to spend time together and to be nice about it.
The illustrations make this a truly compelling little story and very re-readable. My nephew loves to redraw illustrations from books and he loved many of the pages. Seriously you could cut out these pages and frame them cutely for a nursery! The size of the book is perfect for the age group, small and light enough to hold onto and slip into a bag to carry on the road and capture attention when needed.
I highly recommend this particular book to anyone with a beginner reader, and I look forward to reading the others in the series.
BOTTOM LINE: Two enchanting young goslings.
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August 16, 2016
Gemma is the big sister and Gus is the little brother. Gemma wears a explorers hat and carries around binoculars, while Gus wears a pot on his head. They are both very curious about their world and want to go explore. Gus wants to do everything that Gemma does. Gemma gets a little bit annoyed about her little brother always following her around and at one point asks, "WHAT ARE YOU DOING?" In the end, they find they like to explore together.
This is an adorable book that continues the Gossie & Friends series. The story is simple and sweet. Perfect for emerging readers. The illustrations are beautifully done in ink and paint. The colors are soft and convey a lot of emotion to their young readers. If the reader has a sibling, they will be able to empathize with one of the characters.
This book would be a good read aloud to preschoolers. The words are simple, but many students would understand the theme about exploration. They would also understand the characters' feelings about either being a big brother/sister or the little brother/sister. This is a sweet book about exploring the world around you and it would be a great fit for an elementary school library.
This is an adorable book that continues the Gossie & Friends series. The story is simple and sweet. Perfect for emerging readers. The illustrations are beautifully done in ink and paint. The colors are soft and convey a lot of emotion to their young readers. If the reader has a sibling, they will be able to empathize with one of the characters.
This book would be a good read aloud to preschoolers. The words are simple, but many students would understand the theme about exploration. They would also understand the characters' feelings about either being a big brother/sister or the little brother/sister. This is a sweet book about exploring the world around you and it would be a great fit for an elementary school library.
April 15, 2019
We love Gossie and friends books.
March 17, 2015
I like that this book explores a relationship between a brother and sister without hitting you over the head with it. Plenty of inferences can be made, but the focus remains on the action, keeping the narrative streamlined and effective in the story it's telling.
June 29, 2016
Charming from start to finish!! I have loved every book by Dunrea. This is no exception and I am planning to buy it for a small one in my life who has a new brother. Clear, bright art, and a story that nearly every child with siblings can relate to.
January 16, 2017
Gemma is a normal big sister who isn't happy with little brother Gus starts following her around. She eventually gets him to stop but then she seems to miss being with him. Very cute little book and loved the illustrations.
March 7, 2015
Love Love Love these books by Dunrea!!!!!!!
March 14, 2015
A relatable story of two siblings exploring together. Simple illustrations and text lend itself to sharing with toddlers.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews