Just You and Me

by Sam McBratney, Ivan Bates (Illustrator)

While searching high and low for a place to keep dry after a storm suddenly appears, Big Gander Goose tells Little Goosey to hide in one of the small nooks, but Little Goosey only wants to hide with Big Gander Goose and so refuses to leave his side.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Animals, Family, Fantasy

32 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1998

About the author

The 1943 born Northern Ireland native started writing children's books when he was a teacher in his thirties, with the aim of helping out students who had trouble reading. But he continued writing for a more-personal reason: "the act of imagining simply makes me feel good," he says. The fifty-seventh book of Sam McBratney's career, and his first book with Candlewick Press, was the much-loved GUESS HOW MUCH I LOVE YOU, which has sold an astonishing 15 million copies worldwide, and is available in 37 languages. "This is not the sort of thing you expect when most of your books have been remaindered," the author admits. "But, as the frog trapped in the milk discovered, if you keep going, sometimes you find yourself walking on cream cheese."

Where does Sam McBratney get his inspiration? "I told my children stories when they were young," he says, "so when I write I try to think of what they would have liked." But there may be another source guiding his writing as well. The author's father--who worked as a type compositor with the BELFAST TELEGRAPH, and whose favorite books were westerns--is the person Sam McBratney credits for giving him his love of the English language. "Most of my picture books--GUESS HOW MUCH I LOVE YOU, THE DARK AT THE TOP OF THE STAIRS, JUST ONE!, and JUST YOU AND ME--explore the relationship between a big one and a wee one," the author notes. "The big one is not called the father in the stories, but that's what he is. Although my dad died before I became a writer, the father in my stories has a voice and a presence that he would have recognized and understood."

In addition to authoring many books for children, Sam McBratney wrote radio plays for adults and a prize-winning collection of short stories. He received a degree in history and political science from Trinity College, Dublin, and worked for many years as a teacher.

Reviews

[Emma · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a lovely story which children in FS and KS1 would enjoy. It’s slightly longer than some picture books but if there was spare time it would be a nice class story at the end of the day. There are lovely pastel coloured illustrations and it teaches about sharing as the two geese look for somewhere to hide in the storm just for the two of them. As they go, they turn down offers from the other animals to stay with them by finding faults with where they live, so in the end they all end up sheltering in the same place. It also shows the relationship between the goose and gosling as the gosling is desperate to only be with the goose rather than be with other animals too, perhaps this is because it is young and scared and children may be able to relate to this. The story could also be used to study habitats which is in the Year 2 science curriculum.

[Steven Fox · Rating 4 out of 5]

ittle Goosey and Big Gander Goose are out walking by the river. When a storm approaches, they must find a warm, dry place to shelter them. But other small animals have claimed each of the nooks and crannies they try, and Little Goosey doesn't want to hide with anyone else but Big Gander Goose.Small children will know just how Little Goosey feels and be comforted by Big Gander Goose's understanding approach.

[Alana · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very tender story. I love that gander is very sensitive to little goose's concerns, but won't turn anyone away from shelter either, and entire is happy in the end.

[Pamela Powell · Rating 5 out of 5]

A sweet story, perfect for sharing with a young child, about a big goose and a little goose looking for shelter before a storm.

[Judy · Rating 3 out of 5]

We really liked this duo's 'Dark at the Top os the Stairs.' I was hoping for another strong story, but this one isn't as strong.

[Rolf · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fine, but it got very close to making a nice point about sharing your resources with those that need them, but didn’t really stick the landing.

[Hannah]

This fantasy book was about a little good and a big goose who were looking for shelter during a storm. They wanted to be together, just the two of them, but they ended up taking shelter with several other animals. After the storm passed, they went back to the river (just the two of them).

[Kelly Shiverdecker]

Published: 1998

This fantasy book is about a big goose who watches over a little goose while they are trying to get away and safe before a big storm comes, but the little goose doesn't want to be with anyone else besides the big goose.

[Stef Rozitis · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this book. One of my young co-readers (aged 3) asked what a "Gander" was and seemed quite challenged by a male parent/carer for the protagonist. I loved that the genders of the characters were pretty equally spread and not linked to particular qualities or stereotypes. I fet gander was a bit rude to all the animals about the homes they had chosen and that the little protagonist was a bit spoilt and inconsiderate in how she expressed herself but that is nitpicking really as the ending undid the seperatist attitude. It's a surprisingly complex book for one that can be seen as just "cute" so I am glad I read it.

[Lynn Davidson · Rating 4 out of 5]

A gosling and a gander try to find a safe place out of the storm, but the places they find are already occupied. When invited to come in, the gosling always tells the gander he wants it to be just the two of them. Finally, they find a hole to hide in and then sleep through the storm. When the storm is over, they make a discovery. Sweet story with wonderful illustrations.

[Stephanie Smoot · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a cute story about a mother and baby duck’s encounters when trying to find the perfect place to keep them safe from a storm that is quickly approaching. This reminds me of a similar book in the past, but the characters are a different type of animal.

[Bethann · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a book about a duck and his parent, who just want to hide from the storm together. The little duck wants to be alone with the parent. The duck is scared of the storm. They go all through the forest trying to find the perfect hiding place.

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

cozy celebration of grandparent relationships and special time for each child. nice handling of how children may enjoy looking back on their baby selves.

[Cws]

JEAROS3-McB

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

An AWESOME children's book. I still read it, and it makes me cry!

[Caroline · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good illustrations, cute story; not nearly as endearing as Guess How Much I Love You.

[T Akers · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my daughter's favorite books when she was younger. We read it just about every night for months. She still remembers it.

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute, simple story. Sweet illustrations.

[Brooke · Rating 5 out of 5]

so cute

[Little Champs]

2055

[Rachel Banks · Rating 5 out of 5]

A sweet story following a father goose and his gosling as they search for a place to hide from a coming storm. The little gosling is afraid of the thunder and wants it to just be him and Gander Goose when the thunder comes. While they're searching for a place to stay, they meet a few other animals who are looking for a place to stay too. They must all figure something out before the storm hits.
This book could be used in a classroom to test students on different parts of a sentence. You could make copies of the pages and have students circle adjectives, nouns, verbs, prepositions, and so on in different colors to see how well they know these sentence parts.