The Boy and the Farm Goose

Henry, an eight-year-old boy on a farm with a big red barn and a sparkling pond, is shy and often unsure of himself. One sunny morning, loud honking draws him to the pond, where he finds a plump white goose wearing a red ribbon around its neck. The goose honks at Henry, the farmer, the chickens, and the cows, and though Henry is nervous at first, his curiosity wins out. He decides to watch the goose closely to learn why it honks so much.

As he observes, Henry notices the honks differ in pitch and pattern: a soft honk with a tail wiggle seems friendly, a loud honk near the barn door signals hunger, and a long, echoing honk calls other geese. Henry names the goose Gilbert and begins bringing corn and greeting him with a gentle honk of his own. Their friendship grows, and so does Henry's confidence. This tale by Jane MEADOW can be read on Kids Tale Book.