Waiting for Mr. Goose
I liked "Waiting for Mr. Goose" by Laurie Lears because of the story; however, I did not feel this book was an accurate reflection of a boy with ADHD. I was disappointed by the lack of details in the story. The beginning of the book starts by describing the difficulty Stephen has being patient. “Stephen was always on the go” and “slow down” and “sit still” were instructions told to him. However, after that point the story goes on to discuss how he will catch the goose. Although Stephen has to use patience to catch the goose, the true struggles of a child with ADHD were not well portrayed in my opinion. Stephen’s perseveration, anxiety, and inner feelings may have been better told if the story was told in the first person. The author only touches on his emotions. “I’m not good at waiting” is something Stephen says. I have a son with ADHD and have an inside feel for the true depth of how strong these frustrations can be. If the beginning of the book had not opened with the note about children with ADHD, I would not have assumed that Stephen had ADHD. The illustrations fill the page and engage the reader. They pick up the main point of the text on that page. The illustrator chose colors of blues and greys to show warmth, or so I believe. I big idea of this story is Stephen practicing patience to save the goose from the chain on its leg. ( )

I didn't really see the emphasis on the AD/HD in this book, but it seemed like it would be a main theme since there was an informational introduction page to AD/HD before the story. I like the helpfulness of the boy also.

Stephen surprises himself when he summons up the patience to catch and help an injured goose. He normally has trouble sitting still and paying attention. This book also has notes for adults about children who have trouble staying focused or difficulty paying attention.