Silly Goose's Big Story, written and illustrated by Keiko Kasza. G.P.Putnam's. Penguin. 2012. $18.00 ages 4 and up

"That's selfish," said his friends.
But Goose wouldn't give in.
"They are my stories, so I'm the
hero!" he insisted.
They were so busy arguing, they
didn't notice that someone was
listening.
Suddenly, a big wolf shouted,
"Hello, lunch!"

Goose is a gifted storyteller and there is nothing he would rather do than regale his friends with imagined stories that are common fare for youngsters. There might be pirates, or dinosaurs; there is always a hero, and Goose consistently takes the leading role, leaving his pals to act out the rest of the story. Said friends say nothing until they can't take it anymore. They have no understanding that they never get to play the leading role. Goose says that he's the teller; he's in charge. Disgruntled, they begin to argue.

Only paying attention to the drama at hand, none of the four notice that they have an audience until Wolf makes his presence felt by capturing Goose in hopes of having him for lunch...as in 'hero' sandwich! Goose is terrified. Ever the storyteller, he tries to distract Wolf's attention with the tale of Wem.

"Oh, Wem is short for Wolf-Eating Monster."

Goose's description of Wem is a bit worrisome for Wolf, but he pretends that he is undisturbed by it. Then, Goose tells him that Wem is back; just as there is movement in the nearby trees, and spiky hair appears above them. When Wem makes known Wolf's assault on his olfactory senses, Wolf makes himself scarce. Now, Goose is left to worry about his own safety!

He need not.

Readers will love the tone of this tale, and the expressive faces of its characters. They will be privy to the way that Beaver, Porcupine and Squirrel feel long before Goose has any inkling. The costumes are great fun, and the storytelling ability of Goose is amped up in the lively gouache artwork created for Keiko Kasza's newest story.