Billy and Goat at the state fair

Dan Yaccarino

Book - 2015

A visit to the state fair cements the friendship between a boy and a goat who are very different from one another.

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Subjects
Genres
Picture books
Published
New York : Alfred A. Knopf 2015.
Language
English
Main Author
Dan Yaccarino (author)
Edition
First edition
Physical Description
1 volume (unpaged) : color illustrations ; 26 cm
ISBN
9780385753258
Contents unavailable.
Review by Booklist Review

This good-natured picture book introduces Billy and his pet goat, Goat. Billy is steady but timid, while Goat seeks adventure and fun. When they see a poster announcing the state fair, Billy plans to enter his pal in the best-goat contest. Goat, however, runs through the fair, rides the rides, and gobbles a lot of bad food. It's all Billy can do to get up the courage to find him and when he does, Goat is riding the biggest float in the fair parade. There's nothing to do but join him and then enjoy all the fair has to offer. By then, it's too late to enter the contest. But that's okay. Billy knows who is the best goat, even without a ribbon to prove it. Yaccarino brings all this amusingly to life in brush, ink, and digital illustrations that feature bright, crisp colors and such graphic elements as mazes and maps. But even with all the bells and whistles, it's the sweet relationship between Billy and Goat that is the heart of the story.--Cooper, Ilene Copyright 2015 Booklist

From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review

How can best friends be so different? Billy, a farm boy, is methodical and mild-mannered; Goat, a goat, is boisterous and a little impulsive. As Yaccarino (Doug Unplugged) writes, "Billy liked reading adventure stories, but Goat was always looking for real-life adventures." Their relationship works just fine until they decide to enter the "best goat" competition at the State Fair. Could this be the opportunity for Goat to learn to curb his enthusiasm, while Billy loosens up a bit? Yaccarino doesn't push his life lessons too hard, and his brightly colored, boldly graphic pictures are well suited to capturing the excitement and, in Billy's case, sensory overload of a big, sprawling event (he uses a dotted line to trace their path past rides and games to reach the livestock tent). But while there are many sharp-looking vignettes (Billy spends the middle of the book chasing after Goat, who always manages to be wherever the boy isn't looking), the characters' personalities aren't vivid enough to make up for a perfunctory story about mismatched but well-matched friends. Ages 3-7 Agent: Rebecca Sherman, Writers House. (June) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.

(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Review by School Library Journal Review

PreS-Gr 2-Billy and Goat are the best of friends, in spite of their differences. (Billy prefers reading adventure stories, while Goat seeks out real-life adventures.) When the state fair arrives, they enter the Best Goat competition. No sooner do the duo settle into the stall than Goat takes off, ready to experience the fair to the fullest, leading Billy on a chase that ends with the pair sitting on the biggest float in the parade. While catching his breath, Billy takes time to absorb the amazing sights. Then the buddies explore the fair: riding roller coasters, entering a pie-eating contest, and snacking on corn dogs. (Goat loves the sticks!) Unfortunately, they lose track of time and miss out on the judging. Yet they both know, blue ribbon or not, who's the real Best Goat. VERDICT Kirby Heyborne provides solid narration in this small story that wraps up a big message: best friends accept you unconditionally, give you courage to try new things, and share the fun. [A fine introduction to state or county fairs for young children": SLJ 6/1/15 review of the Knopf book.]-Cheryl Preisendorfer, Twinsburg City Schools, OH © Copyright 2015. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Horn Book Review

Billy and Goat go to the State Fair, hoping for the blue ribbon in the best-goat competition. Goat's propensity to seek "real-life" adventures prompts a raucous chase. When the friends happily reunite, they opt for an adventure over the competition--"Besides, Billy already knew who the best goat really was." Yaccarino's signature flat, retro digital illustrations joyfully capture the reciprocal friendship. (c) Copyright 2015. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review

A shy lad and his horned, adventurous best buddy take in the state fair. The lights! The rides! The corn dogs! Though Billy prefers reading about adventures rather than having them, as his caprine friend does, news of a best-goat competition prompts him to buff up his buddy and tackle the big, bright, noisy state fair. Goat promptly chews his way looseand from there, it's on to the log plunge and the tractor pull, a yodeling contest, corn dogs and floral displays (goat happily chows down on both), and even a ride on a float. Yaccarino portrays it all in flat, brightly colored scenes featuring a young farmer in overalls who goes from anxious to exuberant as he catches up with his eager companion and gets into the swing of things. In the end they miss the livestock competition, but before riding away in the back of a pickup beneath a sky filled with fireworks, they do come in "third (and fourth)" in the pie-eating contest. No matter: "Billy already knew who the best goat really was." As in Donald Crews' Night at the Fair (1998) (and unlike Ted Lewin's more frenetic Fair!, 1997), the crowds and carnival atmosphere come off as inviting rather than overwhelming. Billy's experience may encourage young children who share his attitude toward new adventures to screw their courage to the sticking place. (Picture book. 5-7) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.