Mindi and the Goose No One Else Could See

PreS-Gr 1–The late McBratney presents a novel approach to the perpetual childhood need for an imaginary friend, this time a large invisible goose who is a bit cumbersome, and who sends a young white girl, Mindi, into her parents’ bed repeatedly. Her father, recalling an older gentleman, Austen, who is a problem-solver, sets off on a journey. The illustrations have an old-fashioned look: idyllic mountainous green pastures and wooden fences; tidy farm animals and well-intentioned folk of, perhaps, northern European descent in snug knickers; Scandinavian sweaters; Wellingtons; and wool caps. Mindi faces a choice. To receive a baby goat from Austen to care for and call her own, she must let Austen have the large goose that no one else can see. The baby goat wins, but when Mindi’s father visits Austen to give thanks, the old gentleman does indeed have a new goose.