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Children have wonderful imaginations and it’s always
nice to see books that foster that imagination and help it
grow. Pat Skene’s The Whoosh of Gadoosh is one of those
books. It tells the story of the purple-haired lady that the
kids call Gadoosh because of her magic that makes kids go
‘whoosh’. When the kids come play with her in the park, she
gives them buttons that say ‘Press Here to Start’ and helps
them whoosh through the air. Her magic also makes them
sneeze out crazy things like orangutans and pigs in tutus.
When it’s time for the kids to go to school, they don’t
want to leave Gadoosh, so they take her with them, much to
the chagrin of their teacher, Miss Pitts. Will Miss Pitts
let Gadoosh stay or will the kids have to find another home
for their magical friend?
The idea of a magical friend that plays with kids is a
cute one, though parents might worry that it will make their
children less wary of strangers (especially since Gadoosh
looks like a crazy homeless person). The story is told in a
very sing-songy rhyming verse that may appeal to younger
readers, but may be a little too simplistic for older
children (and will probably grate on parents’ nerves). The
best parts of the book are the interesting and eye-catching
illustrations by Doug Keith. Children will love the busy
pictures that show the children enjoying the magic of
Gadoosh.
Although the rhyming style is a little annoying and the
message (crazy strangers are FUN!) may not be completely
appealing to parents, children will probably like the
imaginative story and lively illustrations. As long as
parents take the time to talk to their kids about the
subject matter, The Whoosh of Gadoosh should be enjoyable
for a wide range of ages and reading levels.
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Angela McQuay/2005 for curled
up with a good kid's book |
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For grown-up fiction, nonfiction and speculative fiction book reviews,
visit our sister site Curled Up With a Good Book (www.curledup.com)
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The Whoosh of Gadoosh