Inspiring Young Readers

posted on 23 Dec 2025

The Winter Snow Goose by Gill Lewis

Here at Letterpress, we’re always delighted to welcome a new book from Gill Lewis and The Winter Snow Goose is no exception to that rule. This is a fourth instalment in her ‘Island Vet’ series and is set on the remote Haven Island where Tia is getting ready for the onset of winter.

As the rain comes down and the tourists are no longer making their way to the Island, Tia is bored – and so is her best friend Nat (and her dog Guzzler). Tia’s mom is the local vet and when they find her preparing to move sheep from one island to another, Farmer Thomas offers the two youngsters the chance to go with him when the move takes place.

Nat’s dad is a keen ornithologist and he will go with them and he tries to explain that winter can bring plenty of new, different wonders to keep them occupied. They watch the pink-footed geese flying in and he promises to show them other wonderful things when they make the trip over to East Haven.

When the clear day starts to turn potentially stormy, they decide that they should get back home before the weather breaks. But before they can leave. they stumble on a bird that shouldn’t really be there – it’s trapped by a fishing line that’s tangled around its legs. What can they do but take the Snow Goose (for that’s what it was) back with them for Tia’s mom to take a look at.

They’re not back long before the storm arrives – and what a storm it is. The island is engulfed in the terrible weather and cut off from getting the vital supplies that usually arrive to bring the comforting extras like Tia’s favourite strawberry jam.

When the power fails and there’s only the lighthouse generator to help provide the whole community with hot food, how will they all manage? And what will happen to the injured Snow Goose?

Well, you are going to have to buy the book for yourself to find out because I’m not telling you any more.

Illustrated throughout by Irina Avgustinovich, this is a readable story aimed at the 7+ age range that will inspire you to seek out the other books in the Island Vet series.

Available now from Barrington Stoke – who specialise in producing books accessible to reluctant readers of all kinds – and can be obtained from your local independent bookshop (who will happily order it for you if they don’t have it on their shelves).

 

Terry Potter

December 2025