GIVE A GOAT

Schrock, a former teacher and now a senior advisor to Heifer International, piggybacks on Page McBrier’s Beatrice’s Goat (2001) and imagines what some ordinary fifth graders might do when they hear it. Mrs. Rowell has no way of knowing that her rainy-day read-aloud would cause such a stir. But Beatrice’s tale gets the entire class shouting, “We want to give a goat!” They work together, arrive at a plan and practice their math skills by running a healthy-snack stand for the teachers. In the end, they have enough to buy a goat and some poultry—and they inspire other classrooms to make a difference as well. Darragh’s swifty, sketchy watercolors depict ordinary, multiethnic students working together, while in the background a goat waits to be sent to her new family. Her playful illustration of the animals’ transportation will have children in stitches. Although some spreads are text-heavy, it’s a great choice for classrooms interested in learning about philanthropy, or for any group of children who needs reassurance that yes, they can make a difference. (Picture book. 6-10)