Goose

Reach for this book when your child expresses a feeling of being a 'square peg in a round hole' or is struggling to find a social group where they feel truly understood. Goose is a gentle chapter book that follows a titular character who looks like a goose but feels like an outsider among his own kind. Through his quirky observations and quiet adventures, the story explores what it means to be authentic to oneself rather than performing for the sake of the flock. At 80 pages, this is an accessible entry point for early elementary readers who are transitioning into longer narratives. It addresses themes of loneliness and self-identity with a light touch, using humor and animal metaphors to make the heavy concept of 'belonging' feel approachable. You might choose this to open a conversation about how everyone has their own unique way of seeing the world, even if they appear the same on the surface.