Polly and Her Duck Costume: + The true story of a little blind rescue goat
September 1, 2017
A small goat with a disability stars in this animal-rescue success story. Already the subject of several online videos, Polly is introduced here with cozy painted illustrations centering on a floppy-eared kid and featuring only partial views of her white human "mom." Virtually blind and taken in by Lauricella, the proprietor of a New Jersey rescue facility called "Goats of Anarchy," Polly finds comfort swaddled in a soothing blanket at first. But that slips off when she wanders around the house, so she is dressed in a toddler-sized Halloween duckling costume--a solution that not only keeps her content but cranks the cuteness factor up about a thousandfold as she draws a diverse audience of fascinated children at the grocery store and later gambols in a grassy field with Pippa, another rescued kid who becomes a constant companion. The author adds anthropomorphic language to this simple profile (" 'Where's my mom?' wondered Polly") but closes with notes on Polly's "true story," illustrated, rather counterintuitively, with photos of the caprine fashion plate modeling several outfits. Adorable but not exactly substantial. (Informational picture book. 4-6)
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November 1, 2017
K-Gr 2-The story of Polly, a blind goat, begins on the farm where she was born. She sometimes went hungry and was lonely but could hear the beautiful sounds of chirping birds and other nature sounds. Polly is soon taken to her new home and her "mom," Lauricella. Readers learn that Polly's favorite thing is to be wrapped snug in a warm blanket to calm her anxieties. Polly's mom understands her need to feel cozy, but she has to find a way Polly can have that feeling and still explore the world around her. Polly ends up finding joy in a warm Halloween duck costume. She wears it out and about and is able to take the world by storm without being worried and nervous. As Polly grows older, a new rescue goat is added to her family. Polly and Pippa become great friends. This heartwarming story is the true life of Lauricella and her farm, Goats of Anarchy. More about the farm is chronicled in the back matter, including real pictures of Polly in and out of her duck costume. The narrative incorporates messages that will appeal to children and educators alike: learning to adapt, rescuing animals in need, and forming friendships. VERDICT A nice addition to any young reader's library.-Erin Olsen, The Brearley School, NY
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