Petr Horacek's latest picture book has its happy book birthday today, introducing a character who is a true gastronome!
Goat is always hungry, and isn't always satisfied by eating grass so it's time for some farmyard mischief. The Greedy Goat marches off to the dog kennel where she swiftly snaffles poor Rover's food before he wakes up. She washes this veritable feast down with the cat's milk, pauses momentarily to wolf down the farmer's wife's lovely windowsill flower display and then (gulp) snaffles the farmer's pants off the washing line. Eeeeeeewwwwww!
Naturally, a diet such as this can only have dire consequences, and before long that beautiful white goat with the white coat turns a distinctly grim shade of green, purple, and all the other colours under the sun. Serves her right, but will she have learned her lesson? We'll let you guess the answer to that one!
Here is a book that is a complete and utter delight from start to finish, full of lovely little comedic moments (Petr's gift with expressions on the animal and human characters in this is utterly sublime).
It's a joy to hear Charlotte giggling her way through this as the naughty goat gets up to her gobbling greedy mischief. We feel we should warn you that you should definitely not try any of the things Goat gets up to in this book at home (apart from the milk-drinking bit!)
Charlotte's best bit: Goat's terrible turn as the awful diet takes its toll and changes her from a beautiful white goat to all the colours of the rainbow. Yikes!
Daddy's favourite bit: A thoroughly entertaining and hilarious romp with a naughty but endearing central character who gets her just desserts (and dinner)!
(Kindly sent to us for review by Walker Books)
"The Greedy Goat"
Written and Illustrated by Petr Horacek
Published by Walker Books
Publication Date: 7th July 2016