(Enlarge) The new book Flightless Goose will land at the Maryland State Fairgrounds in Timonium on Nov. 29, during the Festival of Trees sponsored by the Kennedy Krieger Institute. (courtesy of eric and nataliya goodman)

Gilbert, the "Flightless Goose," lives on, thanks to a couple who have immortalized him in a full-color, hardcover children's book.

The book was penned by government writer and editor Eric Goodman and classically illustrated by his wife, artist Nataliya Goodman, a math and science teacher at Mercy High School in Baltimore.

"Flightless Goose" will land at the Maryland State Fairgrounds on Saturday, Nov. 29, at 7 p.m. during the Festival of Trees sponsored by Kennedy Krieger Institute.

That's when the Rodgers Forge couple will offer signed copies of "Flightless Goose" fresh from the publisher, Writer's Lair Books.

They will read from it just as they read the story to their daughter Nicole, who is now 10, and show the pictures to their son Alex, who is now 3 and not yet old enough to fully appreciate the story.

Nearly 10 years in the making, "Flightless Goose" is the tale of a goose who enjoys the usual pleasures of pond life until an accident renders him flightless and changes his life forever.

Left behind as the geese fly south for the winter, Gilbert must learn to tolerate teasing and the challenges of being different. In the end, he develops a talent no other goose has, and that helps him save the day.

The story behind the story is about overcoming challenges, accepting people -- and geese -- who are different, and focusing on positive strengths, say the Goodmans.

"It's the perfect book for children of all ages, as well as the parents and grandparents who love to read to them," according to the publisher.

And yes, there really was a Gilbert.

"When we lived in Ohio near a pond, my desk was in front of a window, and we saw a goose get hit by a car," Eric Goodman said.

"Like some other neighbors, we kept and eye on it and fed it bread crumbs. He survived until the other birds came back."

Why Gilbert?

"It just seemed like a good goose name," he said.

Flightless Goose can be purchased through book stores, and online.

The official Web site is www.RunGoose.com.

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