Escape Goat

by Ann Patchett, Robin Preiss Glasser (Illustrator)

Overview

From the international bestselling author of Bel Canto and The Dutch House, Ann Patchett, and the bestselling illustrator of the Fancy Nancy series, Robin Preiss Glasser, comes a hilarious and heartwarming story about a goat who keeps getting all the blame, but ultimately teaches one family about the importance of honesty and owning up to your mistakes.

The Farmer family has a big problem! Every day their goat escapes, and every day, Mr. Farmer brings him back. So when things start to go awry on the farm, it must be the goat’s fault.

Who’s to blame when Mrs. Farmer’s petunias are trampled?

Or when all the cupcakes for Archie’s party disappear?

And when the whole bucket of paint is spilled?

Of course, everyone blames the goat! But is it really his fault?

Find out in this epic collaboration between Ann Patchett and Robin Preiss Glasser, who create this perfect picture book about telling the truth.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780062883391
Publisher:	HarperCollins
Publication date:	09/22/2020
Pages:	32
Sales rank:	268,309
Product dimensions:	10.00(w) x 10.20(h) x 0.30(d)
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

Ann Patchett is the author of novels, most recently the #1 New York Times bestselling Tom Lake, works of nonfiction, and children's books. She has been the recipient of numerous awards, including the PEN/Faulkner, the Women's Prize in the UK, and the Book Sense Book of the Year. Her novel The Dutch House was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize. Her work has been translated into more than thirty languages, and Time magazine named her one of the 100 Most Influential People in the World. President Biden awarded her the National Humanities Medal in recognition of her contributions to American culture. She lives in Nashville, Tennessee, where she is the owner of Parnassus Books.

Robin Preiss Glasser has illustrated many acclaimed picture books, including the bestselling Fancy Nancy series, Lambslide, Escape Goat, and Grand Jeté and Me: A Christmas Holiday Book for Kids. She won the Children’s Choice Award for Best Illustrator of the Year for Fancy Nancy and the Mermaid Ballet. Robin actually wore tiaras and tutus when she danced with the Pennsylvania Ballet. Now she happily spends her days in jeans, drawing. Robin and her family live in Southern California.

Hometown:

Nashville, Tennessee

Date of Birth:

December 2, 1963

Place of Birth:

Los Angeles, California

Education:

B.A., Sarah Lawrence College, 1985; M.F.A., University of Iowa, 1987

Website:

http://www.annpatchett.com

Editorial Reviews

01/27/2020

In this follow-up to Lambslide, Patchett and Glasser return to the Farmers’ busy farm. This time, the focus is a happy-go-lucky unnamed goat who’s a serial escapee. He never goes far, and he causes little harm—climbing over the fence of his pen, he visits the horses and cows, eats a cabbage from the garden, and “scratched an itch on a pig’s back because the pig couldn’t reach it himself.” But the humans soon realize that the animal makes a convenient fall goat for their screw-ups. The Farmer boys blame Escape Goat for trampling the flower bed (they did it), Mrs. Farmer blames him for kicking over a bucket of paint (she did it)—the blaming continues. It’s up to young Nicolette Farmer, who has been keeping track of the family’s fibs, to demand justice. “EXCUSE ME!” she shouts. “You’re punishing the goat for things he didn’t do.” (The goat looks on in winsome cluelessness, chewing on alfalfa.) Readers may yearn for the anthropomorphized characters of the previous book, but the lesson here, delivered with the lightest of touches, is serious and unmistakable: justice, and goat justice in particular, will prevail. Ages 4–8. (Apr.)

Publishers Weekly

"In this follow-up to Lambslide, Patchett and Glasser return to the Farmers’ busy farm. This time, the focus is a happy-go-lucky unnamed goat who’s a serial escapee…The lesson here, delivered with the lightest of touches, is serious and unmistakable: justice, and goat justice in particular, will prevail." — Publishers Weekly

"...The visual jokes [are] made evident in Glasser’s exuberant ink-and-watercolor cartoons. The humans, the animals, and the farm itself are delightfully represented. Humorous, engaging illustrations support an…amusing tale." — Kirkus Reviews

"Patchett and Glasser follow up their first collaboration, Lambslide (2019), with another punny picture book…Readers will enjoy the silliness and the endearing illustrations from beloved Fancy Nancy (2005) illustrator Glasser, who truly captures the story’s chaotic energy. A fun book for kids of all species." — Booklist

From the Publisher

"Patchett and Glasser follow up their first collaboration, Lambslide (2019), with another punny picture book…Readers will enjoy the silliness and the endearing illustrations from beloved Fancy Nancy (2005) illustrator Glasser, who truly captures the story’s chaotic energy. A fun book for kids of all species."

Booklist

"Patchett and Glasser follow up their first collaboration, Lambslide (2019), with another punny picture book…Readers will enjoy the silliness and the endearing illustrations from beloved Fancy Nancy (2005) illustrator Glasser, who truly captures the story’s chaotic energy. A fun book for kids of all species."

Booklist

2020-01-12
The members of the Farmer family keep blaming their problems on their goat.

When the goat escapes from his pen, he gets into mischief—but is it he who tramples Mrs. Farmer's petunias? Did the goat eat Andrew's homework? Did he really knock over the paint can? Eat all the cupcakes for Archer's birthday party? And how about the gum on Mr. Farmer's seat? Mr. Farmer correctly observes that "Goats don't chew gum." Andrew retorts: "Escape Goat does." It takes honest Nicolette to finally get to the truth. She has to shout: "You're punishing the goat for things he didn't do." The other family members don't want to admit their own foibles, but in a slapstick scene Andrew throws a ball that hits the water pitcher carried by Mrs. Farmer; the water spills onto Uncle Nathan, who's carrying a basket of muffins; the muffins are hurled at Mr. Farmer who drops a huge salad. In the midst of this great ado, Nicolette sensibly points out the goat grazing nearby and says: "The goat didn't do anything." The story itself lacks real substance and the wordplay on "scapegoat" will almost certainly elude young readers, but they will get the visual jokes, made evident in Glasser's exuberant ink-and-watercolor cartoons. The humans (white-presenting save Archer, who has beige skin), the animals, and the farm itself are delightfully represented.

Humorous, engaging illustrations support a slight but amusing tale. (Picture book. 4-7)

Kirkus Reviews