Goldsworthy and Mort in Valentines and Easter Eggs

Kelly L. Green is co-author of The Ethical Shopper’s Guide to Canadian
Supermarket Products and associate editor of the Canadian Book Review
Annual.

Not since Frog and Toad has there been a pair of animal friends so
charming, so real, and so true to the spirit of friendship as
Goldsworthy and Mort. In this latest instalment of their adventures,
they begin by making wonderful, gooey Valentine cookies for their
friends, each reserving one last cookie for the other. But when
Goldsworthy’s cookie turns out to be larger than Mort’s, Vaughan’s
comedic talents create one of the funniest resolutions to a typical
children’s argument that I have ever read, or seen, for that matter.
When Easter rolls around, Goldsworthy and Mort are more thoughtful
toward each other, but their friends, Duck, Goose, and Hen, are none too
impressed with their Easter-egg high jinks. I believe this is the first
Easter story I have ever encountered that is told from a poultry point
of view.

This early reader does indeed belong in a class with Lobel’s Frog and
Toad series and Minarik’s Little Bear. The gentle stories are based on
experiences children have every day, and they are very funny. Vaughan
uses a considerable amount of challenging vocabulary and laces her
stories with word repetition, the introduction of new or unusual words,
and onomatopoeia. Hendry’s illustrations are colorful and detailed,
without being busy. She beautifully mirrors the textual mood swings in
the badgers’ facial expressions.

Highly recommended for Grades K-3. I hope we see a lot more of
Goldsworthy and Mort.