Gooney Bird Greene

Gooney Bird’s last Story is one of love and acceptance, which is symbolic of the way she has felt so welcomed and appreciated by her classmates at her new school. This story, about how her cat fell in love with a cow that accepted him, is one that the class finds so touching that they all start thinking about pets they have had and perhaps lost. Gooney Bird’s empathy for her cat, and the way that she personifies Catman and the cow by describing their feelings, makes this last story particularly emotional: “During the day, he goes to the meadow with the cow, and while the cow eats wildflowers, Catman chases field mice and butterflies, listens to the buzzing of flies, and smells the warm and pleasant odor of cowhide” (77). Gooney keeps her listeners’ attention by using imagery that appeals to sight, smell, and sound. The sensory imagery also lends realism to her story. Gooney’s ability to provide just enough information to create imagery while leaving some things up to the imagination makes her stories intriguing to her audience.

Gooney inspires her classmates in other ways as well, such as inspiring them to dress in ways that reflect their personalities and to tell their own stories. The class is sad to hear that Gooney has no more of her own to tell, but Gooney tells them that there are invisible stories still waiting to be told and encourages them to consider their own experiences as a starting place. Even Mrs. Pidgeon becomes excited, interrupting Gooney at one point and looking forward to writing her own story about a pet that was lost and then found. Gooney’s ability to inspire others to Transform Real Life into Something Creative is her hallmark trait. When Felicia Ann finally speaks at the end, it is to suggest that the class kiss and hug, another demonstration of the love that they all feel for one another since Gooney arrived.

Gooney’s stories and the overarching story of the novella share common structural traits and themes. Each chapter, as well as the beginning of the novel, begins with a description of what Gooney is wearing because her clothes reflect her unique personality and self-assurance. Each of Gooney’s stories ends with a dance in celebration of a happy ending, and the story itself ends as the class all dances and hugs. The font change exists to indicate Gooney’s stories, and the use of the Courier font gives it a whimsical, nostalgic feeling. Lowry’s illustrations beginning and end each chapter; one showcases Gooney in her most recent outfit, and another sheds light on one of the many secondary characters, such as Malcolm when he cries or Mrs. Pidgeon when she is impressed as she listens to Gooney Bird. These illustrations anchor the reader in the characters and their personalities, provide a break from reading, and bring life to the characters.