Ganderfeather's Gift by Eugene Field
The poem tells the story of a young boy who receives a pair of ice skates from his grandfather on New Year's Eve. The boy is overjoyed and can't wait to try them out. He laces up the skates and runs to the frozen river, where he begins to skate with reckless abandon. As he glides across the ice, he feels free and full of joy.
By Eugene Field · First published 1890 · Genre: Fantasy, Children's Literature, Poetry · 392 words
First lines
I WAS just a little thing When a fairy came and kissed me; Floating in upon the light Of a haunted summer night, Lo! the fairies came to sing Pretty slumber songs, and bring Certain boons that else had missed me.
From a dream I turned to see What those strangers brought for me, When that fairy up and kissed me, -- Here, upon this cheek, he kissed me!
What this Textopian page supports
Ganderfeather's Gift is listed on Textopian as a poem by Eugene Field, dated 1890 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Poem
- Author: Eugene Field
- Date: 1890 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Fantasy, Children's Literature, Poetry, Adventure, Mythology
- Length: 392 words
- Structure: 1 section, 5 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Standard (8th-9th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Ganderfeather's Gift by Eugene Field
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
- Passage-specific claims should cite the exact /read/ URL for the relevant chapter or paragraph
Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering Ganderfeather's Gift?
- How does this poem by Eugene Field fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Fantasy first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
- Second Nature by Edith Nesbit
- The Candy Country by Louisa May Alcott
- The Laughing Hippopotamus by L. Frank Baum
- The Enchanted Wood by Oliver Herford
- Kenneth And The Carp by Edith Nesbit
- Rudy And Babette by Hans Christian Andersen
Genres
- Fantasy — The presence of fairies and magical elements indicates a strong fantasy genre.
- Children's Literature — The whimsical tone and simple language suggest it is aimed at a young audience.
- Poetry — The work's structure, rhythm, and use of rhyme classify it as a poem.
- Adventure — The exploration of a magical encounter implies elements of adventure.
Tags
Fantasy · Children's Literature · Humor · Imagination · Adventure · Magic · Whimsy · Youth · Coming of Age · Self-Discovery · Friendship · Growing Up