MrsK Books: The Whoosh of Gadoosh by Pat Skene

Sunday, January 25, 2015

The Whoosh of Gadoosh by Pat Skene

by Pat Skene

ISBN: 9780985541743

Publisher's Synopsis:

The air sizzles with excitement when kids catch sight of Gadoosh and her wild purple hair. As her floppy inside-out shoes leave the ground, the whooshing caper begins and magic buttons fly everywhere. Wacky as Dr. Seuss and reminiscent of Mary Poppins, this enchanting tale whisks us into a world of love and laughter.

"With pops and bangs, poofs and splaaats,

she whooshed the kids like acrobats.

Gadoosh's buttons filled the air.

Press Here To Start bounced everywhere."

MrsK's Review:

It is with great joy that I can review a book that I once edited. This marvelous story has been re-released and every educator K-12 should bring it into their classroom. The word choice is wacky, fun, and engaging. The story line is crafted with imagination, yet has an endearing "quest." Characterizations are realistic, yet portrayed with a whimsical quality that shouts "fun!"

"Gadoosh lives on the street.

They say that she's got magic feet.

I hear she sleeps without a bed,

upside down, right on her head."

Gadoosh is what we would label as homeless. Although her "gift" is more valuable than any adult would choose to acknowledge. That is until Jaimy and Jake befriend her.

"She wore a shawl around her dress.

Her hair looked like a frizzled mess.

Her sparkling eyes began to dance.

The kids adored her at first glance."

With all the fun of whooshing here and there, you realize that the kids are trying to find the perfect place for Gadoosh to live. She goes to school and the class is whooshed into the air. Miss Pitts reminds the children that Gadoosh can not stay at school. So off they go to the building with a "H" on top:

"That's when he squeezed Gadoosh's hand.

She grinned and seemed to understand.

Then Jaimy whispered in her ear;

'Let's go, Gadoosh, they need you here."

Such fun, such delight... you must meet Gadoosh and learn to whoosh!

MrsK

A must add to your shelf... for all ages... especially if you do not know how to "whoosh!"

Meet the Author:

Ask Pat Skene to share memorable career moments and you won’t hear much about her 25-year banking career, complete with designer suits, high-powered meetings, world travel, bonuses and budgets with too many zeroes to count.

Instead, you’ll hear about the children gathered at Pat’s feet as she tells them stories. Recently, one member of her audience was captivated but painfully shy, so her friends served as emissaries. Pat recalls, “After the story, her friends came up to me and said, ‘She’s too shy to ask, but she wonders if she could give you a hug.’” Suddenly, Pat and the child were embracing, with the others joining in for a heartfelt group hug.
“As exciting as my career was, nothing ever gave me the rewards I get from children,” says Pat, who retired from the banking business four years ago to pursue her passion for writing.

Meet the Illustrator:

Doug Keith has illustrated over thiry books and has earned a variety of awards, including an Emmy for his graphics work at KIRO Television in Seattle.

The watercolor and colored-pencil illustrations in The Whoosh of Gadoosh demonstrate Doug's playful sense of fantasy. His lively compositions and unique perspectives make this book a magical masterpiece.

"I received this book for free as an editor and reviewer."

No comments:

MrsK's Reading Bio

Reading is important! No questions asked, not even a blink of the eye from any student I grew up with. On the first day of the First grade, we were given our first books. Day two we all read aloud, round robin of course. Day three we were place in our first basal, now known as a lit circle group. Books were so important, publishers designed new curriculum so that every student was reading by the end of the first week. These early readers had images that looked like what we could see in the classroom, beyond the classroom, even on the big screen. Reading is important, throughout history every generation has believed that “Reading” opens up the world for endless possibilities.

I adore the 1950’s Dick and Jane books. Actually, most reading specialists and experienced (45+) educators believe that every student learned to read with Dick and Jane. Since these books are being re-issued, I have heard many parents, grandparents, and students claim that Dick and Jane stories of repetition does teach students to read.

Early influences from my mother influenced my desire to read. I would watch her read and we would go on “secret” excursions to the library. The library became my playground. I owned every book I could carry home, of course they needed to be taken back to their home after visiting with me for a week or two. My first book that I could pull off of the library shelf and read was, Father Bear Comes Home. I only saw my dad on Sundays for a few hours. I would pull this beginning reader off of the library shelf every week. Every week I would try to read the first chapter. Every week I got further in the story. My mom would let me check it out, only if I could read it myself (She didn’t like the illustrations therefore she didn’t want to take time to read it to me). One day, I pulled the book from the shelf and when mom came to get me from the children’s corner, I realized that I had read the whole story. I ran to the check out desk and the Librarian KERCHUNKED the checkout card. My mother, brother and neighbors read. My teachers read. We all read aloud all day long in school. The Priest read aloud every day at mass, even in Latin. Everybody in the Doctor’s office read. People on the bus read. Dad’s waiting in their cars as the Mom’s and children grocery shopped, read. In fact, once you could read and write, Sunset Magazine considered you a reader and sent you mail every day.

Reading is important; I’ve spent my life reading. I’ve traveled around the world and into space through books. My favorite genre is whichever book I have open at the time. Children’s Literature is my passion. Book clubbing is one of the best past times, especially if food is involved. In fact my friends of old are in a book club and we are about to embark on a beach trip to “read” and discuss our newest selection.

My “home-run” book story has helped every student find his or her own “home-run” reads. Every year, I have shared my, Father Bear Comes Home, and every year my students have brought in their “home-run” books. That’s the “diving board” into our Lit. Studies.

In “Growing Up Digital,” Tapscott’s insights into the new generations enthusiasm for the Net reminded me of my generation’s enthusiasm for reading, movies, TV, parties and our driving permits. The Net-Generation, as Tapscott describes, “are learning, playing, communicating, working, creating communities, and enforcing a social transformation.”
N-Geners are interactive “techies” who are always looking for a way to “work it” verses the TV Generation of “Baby Boomers” who started out looking for “how it works.” Reading development is tougher today, society moves too fast to invest their “non-working” free time into a book or even “home work.” Since I stepped into my own classroom, I have seen students being told to read, being forced to read, and threatened into reading. Homework is not any longer the vehicle for students to gain their future lifestyles or careers with. Yet, the Internet does create an enthusiasm for learning. Since I have been enrolled in these courses, I have used the computers in every subject. My students are using the newest technology in the classroom because I am giving them investigative sites to use as they learn from each other and books. I agree with Tapscott, in order to bridge the gap with this up and coming generation we must “live and learn with them.”

FTC Required Disclaimer: I receive these books from the publishers. I did not receive monetary compensation for these reviews. These reviews have been posted in compliance with the FTC requirements set forth in the Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising (available at ftc.gov/os/2009/10/091005revisedendorsementguides.pdf)