Loving Gracie

Culinary content creator and New York Times bestselling author Hannah Taylor’s debut picture book sings with voice and heart as she tells the true story of caring for a wild gosling.

Behind the Taylor family’s house, three children find a tiny goose, waiting patiently for parents who never return. The children don’t touch her, or bring her inside. But then, something unexpected happens: she joins their flock of chickens, and their white duck takes her under his wing–literally.

They name her Gracie. From then on, Hannah and her children become Gracie’s quiet helpers. They do what they do best, taking to their cozy, warm kitchen to bake special wheatberry bread just for Gracie. Lilyan measures, Indie cracks eggs, and Buck kneads with flour-dusted hands. Together, they carefully feed her. And Gracie, in turn, joins their family. But as Hannah watches Gracie grow, her heartache grows too: All wild things must be freed.

And one day, it is Gracie’s time to be free, spreading her wings and taking off into the wide-open sky. As the family grieves, the children bake their special bread–this time, for Hannah. It is what they do for each other in times of need. 

With Southern warmth, New York Times bestselling author and culinary creator Hannah Taylor (@LilyLouTay on TikTok and Instagram) tells the poignant, true story of her family caring for a hatchling.