Praise for Zander Stays
2024/2025 Chocolate Lily Picture Book Award Nominee
2024 Children’s Book Council Best Books for Kids & Teens Selection
49th Shelf Fall 2023 “Most Anticipated Books for Young Readers” Selection
CBC Books “14 Books to Get You in the Winter Holiday Spirit 2023” Selection
CBC Books “45 Picture Books to Check Out This Fall 2023” Selection
2025 Shining Willow Finalist
“[T]he images are sure to provoke giggles… Ritchie’s palette changes with the seasons, with the charming pencil, ink, and digital illustrations centering the goose and his every emotion…Readers are sure to want a goose of their own to overwinter with.”—Kirkus Reviews
“Readers of all ages can enjoy Ritchie’s gently playful lines and colorful renderings of the northern North American landscape and characters rendered in a style reminiscent of William Steig.”—School Library Journal
“The lighthearted story provides an entertaining intro to seasonal animal adaptations, and it’s a hoot to watch Zander try out the assorted suggestions. Lively, casual illustrations give playful ease to the proceedings and establish a wonderfully cozy atmosphere perfect for enjoying on a chilly night. A terrific tribute to taking chances and recognizing one’s own needs.”—Booklist
“This charming story about an iconoclast will appeal to kids ages 4-8 who love funny animal stories. Large, clear illustrations and the amusing conversations between the animals make this a good choice for Storytime, with many opportunities for kids to chime in with predictions.”—Youth Services Book Review ★ Starred Review
“A delightful and charming book….Winter-positive books are quite welcome, and this one is highly recommended for all children’s collections.”—CM Reviews
“The perfect book to read in the fall…. A fun story, complete with information on hibernation and adaption.”—The International Educator
“Zander Stays is a cute story about stepping out of your comfort zone and taking chances….My daughter and I enjoyed this read and I loved being able to teach her more about what animals do during the winter season while we're cuddled up with a blanket.”—YA Books Central
“While this tale from Ms. Fergus is rife with her signature storytelling, Scot Ritchie ups the humor at every turn with wonderfully attractive pencil, ink, and digital artwork that is fully focused on Zander. The final spread and endpapers add even more charm.”—Sal's Fiction Addiction
“Laughing out loud….I love this book.”—BookTime
“Zander Stays is a nicely illustrated picture book about helping others and it introduces young readers to the concepts of hibernation and migration.”—Metroland Media
“Attractively illustrated.”—The Winnipeg Free Press
12/02/2023
K-Gr 3—It's cold outside and Zander the anthropomorphized gander decides of his own volition to remain behind at his summer home while his flock migrates south for the winter. Encountering unfamiliar weather and climate change, he solicits survival advice from the neighboring animals. Unable to adapt as they do, he suffers until "a miracle" comes along, and he is rescued by a human child. While the dedication page seems to suggest this tale was inspired by daring and original thinkers, Zander's life hinges on divine intervention appearing as interspecies deliverance. Readers of all ages can enjoy Ritchie's gently playful lines and colorful renderings of the northern North American landscape and characters rendered in a style reminiscent of William Steig. The text will go down easier for readers who enjoy silly geese. The text concludes with an author's note that features a few scientific facts about the ways various animals adapt to winter conditions and contextual explanations of the terms hibernation and migration. VERDICT Recommended for libraries in colder climates where getting ready for winter is truly a matter of survival and books on this topic are needed. An extraneous purchase for others.—Jessica Fenster-Sparber
2023-07-26
When Zander the goose decides to stay through the winter, he may be starting a trend.
Zander is tired of the same old, same old. So when the other geese close up the summer home and pack their bags (literally—they have rolling suitcases!), Zander waves goodbye. He does the usual autumn things—jumping in leaves, taking sunset walks—but when the cold settles in, Zander decides he needs some advice about winter. None of the other animals’ tips seem to apply, however. He doesn’t like nuts like the squirrel, and painting himself all white (echoing the snowshoe hare’s color change), snuggling with bats upside down, and stuffing himself like a bear in anticipation of hibernation don’t feel right either—though the images are sure to provoke giggles. When flakes start to fall, Zander is at first delighted, then simply downright cold. Just when conditions are becoming dire, he’s rescued by a young light-skinned girl named Grace, whose winter adaptations suit him just fine. In fact, their activities are so much fun that the rest of the flock is tempted to stay the next winter. An author’s note describes the winter adaptations of bears, geese, bats, snowshoe hares, and humans and discusses hibernation and migration. Ritchie’s palette changes with the seasons, with the charming pencil, ink, and digital illustrations centering the goose and his every emotion. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
Readers are sure to want a goose of their own to overwinter with. (Picture book. 3-8)
