A kids book that doesn’t shy away from the heartache of betrayal, shame at one’s bad choices, and having to come to grips with the pain that those bad choices can cause oneself and others. It then wraps up beautifully with reconciliation, compassion for the weaknesses of others, and forgiveness when the truth (mostly) comes out.

The concept is one that even small children can learn from, and older ones can discuss the details of, and it comes with the added bonus of exposure to Steig’s amazing vocabulary choices and descriptive abilities. ( )

The Real Thief is a book about Gawain the goose who guards the royal treasury. When things begin disappearing, King Basil becomes suspicious of his loyal guard. Despite Gawain's good reputation, all his friends start to think the worst. Where is the real thief while Gawain suffers the suspicions of everyone around him?

Like most WIlliam Steig books, The Real Thief deals with some pretty heavy issues in a delicate way. Trust, betrayal, friendship, loyalty, regret and redemption are a few from this story. All are dealt with in a manner that is appropriate for young audiences.

Especially interesting is how the story covers events from two points of view. It may be one of Steig's lesser known works, but it is another classic.

This is a great book to read aloud to young ones (especially when transitioning from picture books to chapter books). ( )

The goose who guards the king's treasury is falsely accused of theft. What he cannot forgive is not the actual thief, but all his friends who believe he is guilty. Deals with issues of friendship, trust, forgiveness, guilt, in a way that works for both children and adults. ( )