Booktalking Colorado - Full Booktalk Record

Booktalking Colorado Full Record:

	Title:	Goose Chase
	Author:	Kindl, Patrice
	Date Published:	2001
	Genre:	Retold Fairy Tales
	Grade Level:	6 - 8
	Booktalker:	Sam Marsh

Booktalk:
The King killed my canary today. With his hunting bow. All that was left was a few fluffy yellow feathers sticking out around the shaft. "Why!?" I yelled down from my tower. He thought 'twas a plump pigeon for my supper, he responded with a sinister smile. I remained in my tower, shut away until I should finish my wedding dress. At which time, I was to decide on my husband. The King, from neighboring Gilboa, or the Prince, from my own country of Dorloo. What a choice! A dastardly and evil King, or a lackluster, empty-headed prince. Not that a goose girl should ever have to make such a choice. Or ever be allowed the luxury??!! For I was and had always been a goose girl with my gaggle of 12 geese. My mother had died and I was left alone with our small cottage and the geese. It was a meager living, but it was what I was accustomed to, and I was happy. The geese, protective as geese are, keep intruders away from our cottage. It certainly wasn't my fault that I came to the attention of the two rulers. Not that I was bad looking. But, I was certainly no unearthly beauty, and I was dirt poor. It was the old. She had shown up just as I was getting ready to eat my meager meal of bread and water. Although she was rude and bullish, I did have impeccable manners, thanks to my mother, and I offered to share my meal with her. She immediately snatched up and ate ALL of my bread. She didn't understand the expletive I spouted, and when she said she was thirsty, she drank all of my water. "Why, you selfish old---" I began. "What ssaay? I'm a bit deaf." she responded. "Nothing," I muttered, remembering my manners. "You're a good girl, and patient with a bad old creature. Very well. When you comb your hair, gold dust shall fall like rain. When you weep, your tears shall be precious diamonds. And you shall be as lovely as the dawn." And, with a great cackle of laughter, she vanished with my flask and supper. Needless to say, I was dumbstruck and thought her daft. But, she was good as her word, and my hair, when I combed it, did shed gold dust. When I cried, the tears became diamonds. And, suddenly, I was as lovely as the dawn. Suddenly, a match with me was desirable, for it was more than hard to keep such gifts secret. Soon enough, the King and Prince were both pressing for my hand. To stall, I promised to let them know my choice as soon as my dress was finished. And now, despite all my delays, it was almost done. If I married the Prince, then the King would have him killed and I would soon belong to the King anyway. However, if I married the King...well, I would be safe so long as he felt he needed more treasure. But, his previous two wives had died under suspicious circumstances. Oh, if only my geese could protect me from Royalty and their desires.