Once Upon a Goat

May 15, 2019
A picture-book fable featuring a king, a queen, a fairy godmother, and...a goat? In this sweet and playful fable, a royal couple wishes hopefully for a child. While they claim "we're not particular," they also present their fairy godmother with a wish list that their child have "glowing skin, bright eyes, and hair like ocean waves" and preferably be a boy, "but any kid will do." She gets to work, and on the next full moon the king and queen receive the answer to their wishes--but it's a goat and not the perfect human boy they were expecting. Disappointment turns to despair before despair turns to delight as this unusual trio becomes a loving and happy family. When they are ultimately given the opportunity to correct the "misunderstanding" and swap their beloved goat for a human child, the royal parents arrive at a creative solution. The smoothly paced illustrations are nicely varied among vignettes, full pages, and double-page spreads. The artwork is rich with traditional fairy-tale motifs, and the austere lines of the palace contrast amusingly with the chaos brought by the goat child. While it has a small cast of human and humanoid characters, all of them present white. With its gentle morals of acceptance, not judging by appearances, and being open to outcomes different than expectations, this is a lovely family read-aloud. (Picture book. 4-6)

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June 3, 2019
Two monarchs who wish to become parents receive an unexpected happily-
ever-after in this story by Richards (Penny and Penelope). After the privileged couple requests a “kid” from their fairy godmother, they receive a baby goat. The pair tries to look on the bright side (“We won’t need to change its diapers”), but their unruly charge sows chaos, as captured in amusing, not-quite-medieval pencil, watercolor, and acrylic illustrations by Barclay (Sheep Dog and Sheep Sheep). The goat’s insatiable appetite—even the book’s first page has a bite taken out of it—is the last straw, and after the beast consumes the royal rosebushes, they send it away, until seeing it in a rainstorm causes a change of heart. When the fairy godmother checks in months later, she’s bewildered: “You must be joking,” she declares, realizing her mistake. Her visit to a goat family reveals a naked cherub among them, but no one seems happy when the fairy proposes a simple switcheroo. Luckily, there’s an alternative, and what might have been “be careful what you wish for” turns into a more inclusive takeaway about family and its many forms. Ages 3–7. Author’s agent: Ammi-Joan Paquette, Erin Murphy Literary Agency. Illustrator’s agent: Lori Nowicki, Painted Words.

Starred review from May 15, 2019
Preschool-G *Starred Review* A young king and queen long for a child, but they're not too choosy. As the king tells their fairy godmother, Any kid will do. Still, it's unsettling when a little goat appears on their doorstep. Initially confined to the palace grounds, the little fellow looks so forlorn that night, standing in the rain, that the king and queen bring him indoors, and there he stays, increasingly beloved as he frolics happily each day. Later, the fairy godmother returns, realizes her mistake, and fetches the misplaced baby, who is quite happy with his goat parents. The child initially fears the king and queen but loves the baby goat. Luckily, the palace is large enough to accommodate both kids and all four parents. Is this the family the monarchs had wished for? No, says the queen, Better. Beginning with a familiar fairy tale wish, the story concludes in an unexpectedly open-minded way. Richards' simply written, enjoyable text reads aloud well. Working with pencil, watercolor, acrylic, and Adobe Photoshop, Barclay uses composition effectively to frame the story and draw attention to certain elements. A corner is chomped out of the right front endpaper, revealing a picture of the lovable little goat eating the missing piece. A fresh, amusing, kindhearted picture book.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2019, American Library Association.)