First published 1963
A young boy decides to surprise his mother with an unusual birthday gift: a pet goose. He brings the large bird home, excited to present this special offering. His mother receives the goose with delight, but the boy's joy quickly turns to worry. His grandfather has other plans for the feathered creature. The elderly man, approaching his eighty-eighth birthday, announces his intention to serve the goose as the centerpiece of his birthday feast. The boy faces a terrible dilemma. His loving gesture has placed the goose in mortal danger. He must find a way to protect his gift from becoming his grandfather's meal. The conflict pits the boy's innocent generosity against family tradition and his grandfather's expectations. DeJong crafts a tale that explores the collision between childhood idealism and adult practicality, where good intentions create unexpected consequences.
Genres: fiction, literary-fiction, family-life
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking, whimsical
Tropes: conflict-of-ideals, good-intentions-gone-wrong
Period: 20th-century
169 pages · Hardcover · Harpercollins