Gossie and Friends Book Review

Gossie and Friends

written by Olivier Dunrea 

These books are so cute! We have quite a few of them at our house, the holiday books are on my wish list. My kids go back to them again and again, and honestly, I don't mind reading them over and over. 

There’s something so sweet about these little goslings and their simple world. The stories are gentle and easy to follow, which makes them perfect for younger kids, but they still manage to capture those very real little moments—wanting to be close to a friend, feeling unsure, getting excited about something small. They feel familiar in a way that kids immediately connect to.

Each book focuses on a different character, and over time, it feels like you really get to know all of them. That’s part of the magic—kids start to recognize their favorites and look forward to seeing them again and again. 

The illustrations are just as lovely as the stories. They’re soft, simple, and not overwhelming, which I’ve found really helps keep little ones engaged. There’s plenty to look at, but nothing feels busy or distracting.

One of the things I appreciate most is how calm these books are. They don’t rely on loud humor or fast-paced action. Instead, they create a quiet, cozy reading experience that works just as well at bedtime as it does during the day.

We don’t have the holiday books yet, but they’re definitely on my list to add to our collection soon.

If you’re building a collection of books for kids ages 2–5, this series is such a good one to include. These are the kinds of stories that stick around—not just on your shelf, but in your daily routine.

This series is available in several formats: picture books, board books, emergent readers, and digital.  Each format is slightly different.  The picture books would be considered the original.  The board books tell the same story, have the same illustrations, and the same overall feel.  However, the number of pages, some of the wording, and the page layouts differ.  The emergent readers seem to be the same as the picture books.  The book itself is bigger than the picture books.  They are available in both hardback and paperback.

Book Summaries

(From Amazon)

Gossie-  Gossie is a small yellow gosling who loves to wear bright red boots—every day. But one morning she can't find them!

Gossie and Gertie- Gossie and Gertie are best friends. They splash in the rain, play hide-and-seek, and dive in the pond together. Everywhere Gossie goes, Gertie does too. Or does she?

Ollie- Gossie and Gertie are waiting and waiting for Ollie to hatch. They try poking, listening, even sitting on top of his egg—but Ollie just won’t come out.

Ollie the Stomper- Gossie wears red boots, Gertie wears blue boots, but Ollie has no boots. Stomping bootless after Gossie and Gertie as they tromp in the straw, romp in the rain, and jump over puddles in their colorful boots leaves Ollie frustrated. Little Ollie decides he really wants his own pair of boots . . . but what will he do if he gets them?

Peedie- Peedie is a small yellow gosling who sometimes forgets things. But he never forgets to wear his lucky red baseball cap. He wears it everywhere—until he puts it in a secret place.

BooBoo- BooBoo is a curious blue gosling who likes to eat. She likes to eat everything. Well, almost everything.

Gideon- Gideon likes to splash with the ducklings, hop with the frogs, play chase-the-piglets, and scamper all over the farmyard. But one thing busy Gideon does not want to do is take his nap, no matter how many times his mother asks . . . until he gets tired, of course. 

Gus- Gus loves to be by himself. He explores all over the barnyard, taking in the world around him. Until he finds three small eggs. His perfect companions might be inside! How long will they take to hatch?

Jasper & Joop- Jasper likes to be neat. Each morning he tidies his nest and puts on his cap and bow tie. Joop likes to be messy! Each morning he rumples his nest and musses his feathers. Despite their differences, Jasper and Joop are two very good friends--birds of a feather! But what will happen when one friend gets into trouble with some busy bees?

Gideon & Otto- Otto, a stuffed octopus, is Gideon’s favorite friend! He brings Otto everywhere. But one day Otto doesn’t stay right where Gideon put him. An irresistible story about friendship

Gemma & Gus- Gemma is the big sister. Gus is the little brother. Gus is always following Gemma around, but one day Gus sets out on his own . . . and Gemma follows him! What do these two yellow goslings learn from one another? 

Rudy & Rufus- Ruby and Rufus play at the pond every day. They swim in the rain. They swim when it's windy. Nothing can stop this inseparable pair from doing what they love -- until one day, the pond turns to ICE! Could it be that a frozen pond is twice as nice?

Pearl- Pearl sings sleeping songs, slurping songs, quietly, and loudly, all over the farm—all day long. Pearl loves, loves, loves to sing! But what will she do when she loses her voice?

Pearl's Lost Pearls- Pearl loves her pearl necklace. Maybe even as much as she loves singing! But when she comes home from a day of singing to friends all over the farm, her pearls aren't around her neck where they should be. Pearl retraces her steps, but it's only with the help of resourceful and observant friends that her prized possession is returned.

Ollies' Hug- When Ollie is in a grumpy mood and nothing feels right, a hug from a friend does the trick! The perfect book for little kids with big feelings.

Ollie's Valentine- Ollie is looking. Looking for a valentine. Gossie, Gertie, Peedie, and BooBoo all have valentines, but Ollie wonders who will be his. His search leads him to a special valentine of his very own

Ollie's Easter Eggs- Gossie, Gertie, BooBoo, and Peedie are all dyeing Easter eggs. Ollie wants Easter eggs too and he has a plan on how he'll get them.

Merry Christmas Ollie!- It's Christmas Eve. Gossie and Gertie hang their bright colored boots in the barn. Peedie and BooBoo hang their striped stockings in the barn. Ollie stomps through the snow. It's not easy to wait for Father Christmas Goose!

Ollie's Halloween- This Halloween, Gossie is a wizard and Gertie is a chicken. Peedie is a dragon and BooBoo is a bunny. Ollie is a mummy who thinks sharing is more fun than scaring. Join the goslings as they hoot, howl, and haunt the night away

Gossie and Friends Say Goodnight- Night is falling on Old Farm and Gossie, Gertie, Peedie, and BooBoo are getting ready for bed. Everyone is sleepy—except Ollie, of course.

About Me

I’m a mom of eight.  One boy and 7 girls.  I have been raising young readers for over 20 years. I’ve read a lot of books, and reread the good ones time and time again.

I’ve seen it all: great stories with disappointing illustrations, and beautiful books with not much to say. I look for the rare ones that get both right—engaging stories paired with artwork that brings them to life. I look for both. I’m drawn to picture books where the writing and illustrations work together to create something truly engaging, even on the tenth read.

I’m unapologetically picky. I skip books where misbehavior is a joke and focus on the ones that are truly worth your time.  

Here you’ll find honest reviews, carefully chosen favorites, and books kids genuinely come back to. More age groups will be added as my review library continues to grow.