Jasper & Joop

Jasper, a little white gosling, is exceedingly tidy. Joop, a little gray gosling, is decidedly not. While Joop splashes into puddles, Jasper walks around them. When Joop leaps into mud, Jasper shakes his head. Still, after Joop sticks his head into a beehive, they both have the same reaction: RUN! As in the other small, square picture books from the Gossie & Friends series, the text is distilled to its essence, and the drama unfolds visually against clean, white backgrounds. Precise ink drawings delineate the characters and minimally defined settings, while gouache paints brighten every scene. A fine series addition.--Phelan, Carolyn Copyright 2010 Booklist

PreS-Straitlaced Jasper and free-spirited Joop are an unlikely pair of goslings. Jasper likes his nest tidy and the barnyard dry, while Joop's nest is perpetually mussed, and he leaps gleefully into "MUDDY mud!" When Joop's enthusiasm for shenanigans lands him beak-deep in a beehive, Jasper's the one to honk emphatically: "RUN!" Both goslings discover that they do not like bees and end up in the pond with a satisfying splash. Dunrea's expressive vignettes capture the innocence and adventure of toddlerhood and imbue the tilt of a beak or the curve of a feather with humor and personality. These newest additions to his gaggle of goslings are sure to wiggle their way into the hearts of well-mannered and mischievous youngsters everywhere.-Jenna Boles, Washington-Centerville Public Library, OH (c) Copyright 2013. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Tidy Jasper and messy Joop are best friends despite their differences. Joop revels in puddles, mud, and dirty straw, while Jasper neatly avoids them. But to save Joop from some bees, Jasper leads him through grass, mud, and into the pond--and finds himself having fun. Both art and text are full of insouciant charm in this fine addition to the Goslings series (Gossie; Gideon; etc.). (c) Copyright 2013. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Meet a Felix and Oscar of the feathered variety in this pitch-perfect tale of friends as different as different can be. Roommates (or, rather, coopmates) Jasper and Joop could not be more unalike. Where Jasper is meticulous and tidy, Joop is carefree and messy. Where Jasper murmurs a disapproving "Muddy mud" or "Dusty straw," Joop will honk a thrilled "MUDDY mud!" or "DUSTY straw!" But when Joop goes sticking his beak into a beehive, it's Jasper who has the presence of mind to suggest that they run. Fortunately, even as they escape, Joop is able to show his best friend that sometimes getting dirty and wet can be a lot of fun. Few will be able to resist Jasper in his striped hat and matching tie, though scruffy-feathered Joop is the one kids will identify with the most readily. In Joop, the sheer joy of existence flows readily from the page. His is a life of exploiting pleasure in the here and now. Opposites may attract, but it's clear that Joop's carefree embrace of all things mucky will win the day (and the hearts of Joop-like readers everywhere) in this addition to Dunrea's diminutive gosling series. A winning tale of opposites attracting in spite of the odds. (Picture book. 4-8)]] Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

Jasper, a little white gosling, is exceedingly tidy. Joop, a little gray gosling, is decidedly not. While Joop splashes into puddles, Jasper walks around them. When Joop leaps into mud, Jasper shakes his head. Still, after Joop sticks his head into a beehive, they both have the same reaction: "RUN!" As in the other small, square picture books from the Gossie & Friends series, the text is distilled to its essence, and the drama unfolds visually against clean, white backgrounds. Precise ink drawings delineate the characters and minimally defined settings, while gouache paints brighten every scene. A fine series addition. Copyright 2012 Booklist Reviews.

PreS—Straitlaced Jasper and free-spirited Joop are an unlikely pair of goslings. Jasper likes his nest tidy and the barnyard dry, while Joop's nest is perpetually mussed, and he leaps gleefully into "MUDDY mud!" When Joop's enthusiasm for shenanigans lands him beak-deep in a beehive, Jasper's the one to honk emphatically: "RUN!" Both goslings discover that they do not like bees and end up in the pond with a satisfying splash. Dunrea's expressive vignettes capture the innocence and adventure of toddlerhood and imbue the tilt of a beak or the curve of a feather with humor and personality. These newest additions to his gaggle of goslings are sure to wiggle their way into the hearts of well-mannered and mischievous youngsters everywhere.—Jenna Boles, Washington-Centerville Public Library, OH