The Goat of Many Colors

September 1, 2010

K-Gr 3-Flamingo and Anteater engage in humorous banter as they narrate stories related to the Old Testament. Get Me to the Ark joins a host of other picture books about Noah. This time the giraffes have the starring role. Although the other animals laugh at their long necks and legs, those attributes help them rescue the slow-moving turtles from the impending flood. Their unselfish love for others is rewarded when they have the honor of disembarking first at journey's end. Black uses Jacob's gift to Joseph of a multicolored coat as a jumping-off point for the tale of Gus, an unusual goat that loves to dive and swim. Jacob's elderly servant misunderstands his master's instructions and paints Gus to create a goat of many colors. Frightened by this treatment, Gus flees to a herd of wild goats that designate him as leader because of his unusual markings. He enjoys the privileges that come from being "top goat" until his orders almost lead to tragedy. When he dives in a pond to save a small goat, his paint washes away, and the others feel deceived. However, they all soon realize that each has a special, God-given talent. The color cartoon illustrations are pleasant but unexceptional. These picture books could serve as supplemental titles in church libraries open to using humor as a way to convey messages of faith.-Kathy Piehl, Minnesota State University, Mankato

Copyright 2010 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

August 1, 2010
Preschool-G This action- and wit-packed riff on the biblical story of Josephs coat uses a comics format to painlessly show how being different from ones herd can be a challenge, a potential power, and a disguise. Unlike the other goats, Gus is a risk taker. When he is winnowed from the herd by Jacobs hard-of-hearing servant and painted colorfully, Gus wanders into the desert and discovers a new herd, which worships his difference. The newfound power goes to Gus head and almost leads to disaster, but his quick thinking saves the day and redeems him in the eyes of the desert goats, who feel deceived when his paint washes off. The bright artwork features a storytelling flamingo and a less-than-patient anteater as the visible and verbal audience to this lively and endearing morality tale within a morality tale. There is no heavyweight theology in this one, but lots of opportunity to discuss insightsas well as puns.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2010, American Library Association.)