Everything Tasha tudo writes is so softly beautiful, and this is no exception. An only child, Amy expectantly waits for fall and the return of the geese. Happily, she heard the cry she was eagerly awaiting. The fall leaves were on the ground, there was a nip in the air, as the geese appeard in their chevron style. Faint, then louder the geese grew closer, breaking their v style as they approached the lake and the family potato field.

Because they always settled on the lake for a night, she and her father brought a sack of corn along to fed them Landing on the water and resting for the night until the morning, when they would be gone, headed south. Anticipating the pleasure of watching them as they flew in the mist, and left their piercing sound of good-bye. It was a haunting sound, the sound of leaving. Perceiving the geese as her friends, she knew she would miss them until their return.

Eating with her parents, was always a lovely event with three sitting round the table, hot food in front of them, but tonight she was in a hurry to see "her geese." Watching them on the monlit night was like a paitiing, and she longed once more to feel a part of this tablou. On this particular night, the geese were restless, afraid and confused. Some stayed on shore, others arose in their fright.

Her father noticed a fox that happened to get one of the geese and he flung the bag of corn at the fox to scare him away. Seeing blood on the neck of the goose, Amy was afraid the cut was to deep to save the goose,

Spending most of the day with the goose that was carefully taken care of away from the others, Amy carefully watched, nursed and hoped. . As the other geese called, the injured one turned to the side to listen and noted they did not leave without her While the geese circled, they would not leave as the white gander flew alone over the barn.

Amy went inside the barn, holding the neck of the goose, she cried and wished it would stay warm with her throughout the winter. Carying her friend out into the night the goose ran, and spread her wings. Rising to the moonlight, she joined her gander and togeher they joined the group who were waiting for them.

A small book, packed full of beatuty and the lesson of a male who would not leave his female behind, and a flock who would not leave without them.

Next year they would return and Amy would look for her friends again.

Exquisite art and a beautiful tale of nature, make this a special book that I will place on the shelf with my most precious illustrated beautes. ( )