The Snow Goose

Name: William Joseph
Price range: $

by Paul Gallico, illustrated by Angela Barrett

Interest age: 7+
Reading age: 9+

Published by Random House Childrens Books, 2008

Classics
Historical
Love and romance

About this book

A lonely artist sets up home in an isolated lighthouse with only seabirds, boating and painting for distraction. Gradually he builds up a sanctuary where wild birds are safe from storms and hunters.

Philip Rhayader’s life changes when Fritha brings him a wounded snow goose. When the bird migrates to Canada, Fritha stops coming.

When the goose returns, her visits recommence. In May 1940, Fritha, now a young woman, finds Rhayader preparing to sail to Dunkirk to help rescue the army, trapped on the beach.

After weeks of doubt, she realises she loves him. The snow goose follows the boat to France, but tragically only the bird returns.

Hauntingly atmospheric illustrations accompany this inspiring tale of doomed love and bravery.

The book is over 60 years old and the terminology reflects this, for example its use of the terms 'cripple' and 'hunchback'.

About the author

Paul Gallico was an American novelist, short story and sports writer. Many of his works were adapted for motion pictures. He is perhaps best remembered for The Snow Goose, his only real critical success, and for the novel The Poseidon Adventure, primarily through the 1972 film adaptation.

About the illustrator

Angela Barrett is widely regarded as one of this country's finest illustrators. She won the 1989 Smarties Book Prize for Can It Be True? and the 1991 WH Smith Illustration Award for The Hidden House. In addition, she has been shortlisted three times for the Kurt Maschler Award and once for the Kate Greenaway Medal.

Her other picture book titles include Beware Beware, The Emperor's New Clothes, Through the Tempest Dark and Wild: Mary Shelley and the much acclaimed Beauty and the Beast.

More books like this

The Story of King Arthur

by Siân Lewis, illustrated by Graham Howells

5 to 14 years
What it was like in… Ancient Benin

by David Long, illustrated by Stefano Tambellini

7 to 11 years
Lily Tripp: Diary of an Accidental Time Traveller

by Amelia Tait

11 to 14 years
The World's Last Mammoth

by Mike Barfield, illustrated by Franziska Höllbacher

7 to 11 years