Three Good Deeds

If Howard had known the old hag was a witch, he never would have taunted her. But he did, and she did what witches do--cursed him--and now he's a goose, which to tell you the truth, is not as serene and peaceful as it might look from the shore. People try to kill geese, for crying out loud, and the other geese are none too nice to newcomers. Howard is desperate to become a human again so he can show that old witch a thing or two. But the only way to break the curse is to do three good deeds--and how can you help others when you've got webbed feet, wings for hands, and can't say anything but " Honk "?

If it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck, it's probably a boy who's been cursed by a witch.

School Library Journal

Gr 3-5-When Howard tries to steal the eggs that were just laid near Goose Pond, he is caught by the old woman who protects them. She is rumored to be a witch, but Howard has no reason to believe this is true until she turns him into a goose in order to teach him a lesson. The only way in which he can reverse the curse is to perform three good deeds, which is much harder than he first suspects. Vande Velde uses her usual subtle humor to show what it might be like to be a boy stuck in a goose's body. Kids will get a kick out of seeing how Howard goes about getting his deeds accomplished; nothing happens the way he thinks it will. This is a good naughty-boy-makes-good book for reluctant or easy-chapter-book readers. It's clear, uncomplicated, and entertaining, and Vande Velde manages to offer a message without being too pedantic.-Carly B. Wiskoff, Great Neck Library, NY Copyright 2005 Reed Business Information.

Though all the children of the village of Dumphrey's Mill called the woman whose little house sat at the edge of Goose Pond "the old witch," Howard never suspected till too late that she truly was a witch. Caught Stealing Some Goose Eggs From A Witch, Howard Is Cursed For His Heartlessness And Turned Into A Goose Himself, And He Can Only Become Human Again By Performing Three Good Deeds.