Zander Stays

by Maureen Fergus (Author) Scot Ritchie (Illustrator)

Zander Stays
Reading Level: 2nd − 3rd Grade

Zander the goose is trying something new this winter. He is not going to go south. Zander is going to stay!

Every year as winter approaches, geese return south to avoid the cold and snow. Not Zander, though. Zander declares he wants to stay this year, but first he'll have to learn how to survive the harsh winter climate. Should he do as Bear suggests and put on a thick layer of fat? Or should he snuggle up with friends like bat does?

None of his furred friends seem to have the right answer for Zander, but he's determined to make the best of a freezing situation. He just needs to find a northern animal whose winter adaptation works for him. Luckily, one such animal arrives just in the nick of time, walking on two snugly booted feet.

In Zander Stays, celebrated illustrator Scot Ritchie brings humor and charm to Zander's adventure, from awe-filled autumn walks along the shore to cozy winter hijinks with his new human friend. Award-winning author Maureen Fergus imbues Zander Stays with humour that is simultaneously silly and clever. An author's note further explores how Zander's animal friends adapt to their winter environment.

Select format:
Hardcover
$18.95

Kirkus Reviews

Ritchie’s palette changes with the seasons, with the charming pencil, ink, and digital illustrations centering the goose and his every emotion. 

Review quotes

Praise for Zander Stays

49th Shelf Fall 2023 "Most Anticipated Books for Young Readers" Selection

CBC Books "45 Picture Books to Check Out This Fall 2023" Selection

"[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

Maureen Fergus
Maureen Fergus is an award-winning author who has published dozens
of books for young people. Maureen's books have been translated into dozens of
languages, optioned for film, and shortlisted for many awards, including the
Marilyn Baillie Picture Book Award, The Sunshine State Young Readers Award, and
more. Her picture book Buddy and Earl was a Boston Globe Best Book, and The
Day My Mom Came to Kindergarten
was an OLA Blue Spruce Award Winner. Maureen lives in Winnipeg with her family and has never met a
gander she didn't like.
Scot Ritchie is an award-winning illustrator and author with more than 60 books to his credit, including most recently Dinos Driving. His books have been translated into French, Korean, Indonesian, Polish, Finnish, Arabic and Dutch. Scot has worked with the National Film Board of Canada and has had his illustrations exhibited at the National Gallery of Canada. He lives in Vancouver, British Columbia.
Classification
Fiction
ISBN-13
9781772782967
Lexile Measure
700
Guided Reading Level
-
Publisher
Pajama Press
Publication date
October 20, 2023
Series
-
BISAC categories
JUV002040 - Juvenile Fiction | Animals | Birds
JUV019000 - Juvenile Fiction | Humorous Stories
JUV039090 - Juvenile Fiction | Social Themes | New Experience
JUV029020 - Juvenile Fiction | Nature & the Natural World | Weather
Library of Congress categories
-
49th Shelf Fall 2023 "Most Anticipated Books for Young Readers" Selection
CBC Books "45 Picture Books to Check Out This Fall 2023" Selection

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