The Geese March in Step by Jean-François Dumont

The Geese March in Step Reviews

• 
  Addie Hincks

  This book would be excellent to use in an elementary music classroom as an introduction to playing in an ensemble. I enjoyed how the story started out with a simple steady beat, then progressed through different additions to the original beat until a full ensemble rhythm was happening. I do wish the onomatopoeia text was organized in a fashion more conducive to musical notation, but that could also open up some creative opportunities for the class to decide their own rhythms. The story itself would also be a great way to help with student confidence. One of the lessons I took away from the story is that even if you do something outside of the norm, it could turn into something beautiful and exciting.
• 
  Mimi

  Great little picture book, awesome illustrations. Excellent to use in class, or with a group of kids (at least 3), so they can perform the animal song whilst reading.
• 
  Michelle Turnure

  This is a fun book to read to your kid. It introduces the reader to counting, rhythm, and animal sounds. I read this to my two-month old while she was chilling out on her back and she was smiling every time I counted "one, two; one, two..(tap)" and tapping her on the tummy. She also liked it when I read aloud the farm animal sounds like "peck peck peck" "Heeeee hawww" at different paces. Some of the sounds written in the book go on a little too long but still fun to read. Obviously she didn't follow the story at this age but she enjoyed hearing the sounds and the book kept her engaged. The illustrations are very cute and colorful. Love the spread where all the animals are gathered together and by the pond.
• 
  Rose Rosetree

  Don't let the picture book cuteness of this fine parable distract you. Before you, Goodreaders, is a powerful story about independence... and leadership.
  
  Igor is the leader of the gaggle of geese. Usually he keeps it marching in fine synchrony. But little Zita goes out of order. He reprimands her:
  
  "Since you won't make any effort, I can't let you be in the parade.
  You'll have to go down for your swim after they get here."
  
  Does Zita leave?
  Sure.
  Is she shamed in front of everybody?
  Sure.
  
  But wait until you read that happy ending! (No spoilers from me, of course.) I'll just give you, and the whole Goodreads-Verse FIVE STARS for this superb book. Words and pictures, both, are by Jean-François Dumont.
• 
  XZ

  I sort of want to hear what the beat was now. Maybe can make slides and get primary schoolers to acapella :S
• 
  Emily

  "The Geese March in Step" written and illustrated by Jean-Francois Dumont is a book that follows a group of geese on a farm. In this story, Igor leads a group of geese to the pond on a daily basis and he is in charge of making sure they march in perfect time. However, a new goose named, Zita, has trouble marching in time and throws off the whole group. Eventually she makes it to the pond with all of the other farm animals following closely behind. Piglets, a woodpecker, sheep, and other animals join in because they like Zita's beat.
  
  I would present this book to my first grade children, however I would have to practice reading it several times. As the story progresses, Zita's beat evolves from tapping and sniffing to a whole barnyard band. This is a story that I would love to present in a digital format where all of the animals would be represented in the final pages. Overall, this story is very predictable and goes perfectly with the saying, "March to the beat of your own drum". This story would be great for building a positive classroom community and teaching children about differences.
  
  
• 
  Jen

  really cute book. adorable soft, rounded oil illustrations. Nice message about being yourself and could start a discussion on whether tradition is always the most important reason to follow a tradition. I think if I read it aloud I would want to incorporate all the interesting animal sounds, but it would be hard to do that as a single reader, I think you'd need volunteers to do all the sounds at once like an orchestra of sorts.
  
  short enough for preschoolers, well designed endpapers- like ducks learning how to do specific dance steps.
  
  Originally published in French
  
  Free book recieved in return for an honest review.
• 
  Kifflie

  Well, I see this title and think about what "goose-stepping" means to me -- and the story does start out with a group of geese lead by a martinet named Ivan.
  
  Uh....
  
  (Keep in mind that this is by a French author/illustrator, and it makes a little more sense)
  
  But it gets better. Of course there's always one person who isn't going to march in step, and here it's the new goose, Zita. Ivan kicks her out of the line, and she starts doing her own thing. And the other animals on the farm looovvveeee the new rhythm, and soon boring, regimented Ivan is all by his lonesome.
  
  Not terribly original, but serviceable.
• 
  Annie

  This story's message is pretty universal, but also not very original. March to the beat of your own drum. It's a pretty basic story, and the uniqueness is really in the "sound effects" text that could make this interesting to read aloud with students. That alone might make this engaging to students, plus the animal characters are fun, but there isn't much here. There certainly isn't a clear connection to social studies, with virtually no social studies content or any description of an issue
  
  0/3
• 
  Barbara

  Igor is a tough geese taskmaster, and he works hard to make sure that all the geese stay in line. But Zita is a young, inexperienced goose, and she finds it hard to march to the beat Igor expects. But when Zita starts moving to her own beat and at her own pace, others end up following her. With its sunny illustrations and sounds, this picture book provides ready inspiration for anyone celebrating being true to oneself. There is a great lesson here for everyone.
• 
  Emily

  This is the second book I have reviewed by Dumont; the first was about chickens building a wall. But, neither book is really about chickens or geese. They are about society and acceptance. I was reminded of Thoreau's words about hearing a different drummer, and the little goose in this book certainly hears her own beat and can't help but follow it. I recommend these books for school libraries. They are fun and educational - a winning combination.
• 
  Denise

  Dumont's picture book embodies the notion of marching to the beat of your own drummer. This a great book to demonstrate the importance of being unique and that sometimes being different isn't a "bad" thing. There's a time for conformity and a time to stand out and shine, this little goose broke the mold and discovered her time to shine inspired others too. The book is a little lengthy for storytime, however I would recommend this to parents to read one one one with their child at home.
• 
  Maria

  Zita is a little goose who can't keep the time and is banish from the geese patrol. However her march to the pond brings others to her rythm.
  
  Why I started it: New picture books in the library... this one caught my eye.
  
  Why I finished it: Charming but I would have to invest lots of practice before I attempted to read this at Story Time.
• 
  Meg McGregor

  A rather interesting story featuring a little goose who marches to her own drummer.
  
  And leads the rest of the barnyard with her on her daily march to the pond.
  
  I have to admit I liked it better the second time I read it to Lexi, today, December 1, 2014. When I added the tapping sounds and then the barnyard sounds, Lexi was much more interested in the book.
• 
  pati

  I love the surly looking geese on the front and after I read the story, my love set fast! Zita is a wonderful little goose who is creating her own beat and then marching to it! The farm animals are all eager to keep up the wild rhythm!
• 
  Jill

  A short book with a great message of finding your own way even when you feel left out of the popular way.
  
  My daughter loved it because we have geese - and knowing the personality of the creatures we care for daily makes reading about their personalities in the page infinitely more enjoyable.
• 
  Edward Sullivan

  The goose-stepping reference will likely go over the heads of the intended audience but children will appreciate this light, appealing tale of non-conformity and individuality.
• 
  Elizabeth S

  Fun, but rather hard to read out loud.
• 
  Lynn

  An old story told in a new way -
  The dance steps on the endpapers are cute, too!
• 
  Dora

  Teach onomatopoeia
• 
  Debby Baumgartner

  Each morning Igor leads the ducks to the pond all in step. However, little Zita can not stay in step. What will she do to become a good goose?