Goran's Great Escape by Astrid Lindgren, illustrated by Marit Tornqvist Ages 4+ 32 pages Floris Books January 2011 Hardcover     Goran's Great Escape is a story about kindness. The setting is a farm in Sweden where cats roam freely and eggs are sometimes laid in shoes. The unexpected happens on Easter morning when a good-natured bull loses his temper. His escape from the barn causes the villagers to panic, but before one of them can put their heartless plan into action, a seven-year-old boy by the name of Karl steps forward to offer Goran a scratch between his horns. Horizontal lines draw the reader’s eyes across the double-page spreads, the narration a reminder to be sensitive to others’ feelings—and that sometimes the best way to solve problems is with a little bit of warmth and friendliness. Originally published in 1991 in Swedish, this story by Lindgren (Pippi Longstocking) will never look or sound outdated.     web reviews   Tanya Boudreau/2012 for curled up with a good kid's book   For grown-up fiction, nonfiction and speculative fiction book reviews, visit our sister site Curled Up With a Good Book (www.curledup.com)