Catch That Goat!

by Polly Alakija

Chase after a mischievous goat! Ayoka has been left in charge of the family goat ― but within minutes the goat has vanished. This Nigerian market tale uses humour to impart a message about responsibility, and includes endnotes about Yoruba costume and language, Nigeria facts, and market life.

Genres: Picture Books, Counting, Africa, Cultural, Nigeria, Childrens, Animals

40 pages, Paperback

First published July 1, 2002

Reviews

[Janet · Rating 5 out of 5]

A debut title for this author in 2002, the reader is transported to all the richness of detail in a Nigerian street market. Ayoka, is asked by her Mother to keep an eye on the family goat, but it escapes and heads for the street market. As Ayoka searches for the goat, the merchants begin missing items and the concept is smoothly worked into the story which invites children to look closely at the beautiful illustrations. A great picture book for viewing another culture. Illustrations are done with mixed media on watercolor paper. Those currently doing illustrations with digital means would do well to study the beauty and uniqueness of the people illustrated on this story, as in my opinion digital media does not do Justice to the beauty of people.

[Baycee Reed · Rating 5 out of 5]

Colorful, Entertaining, Nigerian

When Ayoki is left in charge of her family's goat gets out of the house and is lost in the town. She asks all the people at the market if they have seen her goat, unfortunately, they have not and they are all missing something as well. Ayoki finds quite a surprise at the end of this book.

This book uses the elements of color and texture to help the book be true to its Nigerian storytelling. In the market, all the clothes, food, and textiles are brightly colored. The texture of the page helps the viewer to understand the materials used and the vibrant patterns worn in the market.

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting illustrations and action, this book transports the reader to Ibadan, Nigeria where Ayoka chases the family goat through the market. The mischevious goat steals various things from the market, and in the end is wearing the pilfered items. A great immersion into another culture, with Yoruban words scattered throughout. This would be a good book to revisit in a unit on Africa.

[Andrew Oh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good for older preschoolers, kids in younger grades. The end of the book shares some cultural uniqueness of the Yoruba people.

[Jennifer B. · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fun and colourful counting book! Offers a little insight into daily life in an African village. And what crazy stuff that goat steals!

[Jeremy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a cute read that teaches kids counting and offers up a little slice of Nigerian culture. I also think kids will enjoy pointing out where the mischievous goat is on every page.

[Lois · Rating 4 out of 5]

This colorful counting book tells the story of a young Nigerian girl entrusted to care for her family's goat. Each page of the book shows the goat creating havoc as Ayoka chases behind, asking a member of her village, "have you seen my goat?" only to be told again and again, No Ayoka, but I"m missing _____ whatever the number of items they are missing. At the end the entire village finds their missing items and Ayoka finds her goat, but not before her Mama! Delightful. Another Barefoot Books publication.

[Sam Gallagher · Rating 3 out of 5]

In the streets of Nigeria there is a missing goat... Ayoka was told to look after it by her mother, can she find it? She searches and searches but the goat is not anywhere. She finally finds the goat who has gotten into quite a lot of trouble on its outing. This book has some wonderfully done illustrations in bright, vivid watercolors and tons of detail. The book has all kinds of texture features in the paint that make each page very interesting. I thought this was a great book that looks at the culture and language of Nigeria and brings the place to life.

[Antonia · Rating 5 out of 5]

What beautiful colors this book has. I love the pictures and the realistic qualities of the drawings. It is also a great book to use for counting backward. My mom read this book to my niece and it is a great book to use when setting up a "what will happen next" moment for children or foretelling the story.

[Katrina Cole · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love the illustrations in this book by author/illustrator Polly Alakija. She really captures the look and feel of Nigerian culture and society. This is a fun book for preschool learners. It could be used for counting practice and introducing the concept of subtraction. Fun for a mischievous goat theme as well.

[Shannon · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a cute story about a runaway goat that also features some African culture and could be used to help teach counting. However, the counting aspect could have been done more effectively with less cluttered illustrations. There is so much going on in each page that children might have trouble picking out the object that is being counted.

[Oluwolebankole · Rating 5 out of 5]

excellent rendition of every day market life in nigeria and even more astonishing attention to detail in the illustration. a playfully honest and nice piece of work from an area with tons of folklore that is not in the limelight often enough.

[Skye Kilaen · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one doesn’t have a complex story, but I was so entertained by what this goat got up to on its romp through the marketplace. And my son’s laugh at the end was a nice payoff! It’s a bright and cheerful book that also shows a glimpse of modern life in another country.

[Kari · Rating 4 out of 5]

Worked well as a read aloud, although I had some difficult with some of the names.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. The colors are beautiful and the story is amusing. And it incorporates counting and culture. Hurrah!

[Colleen]

Here come the Animals! unit 2
Theme Library

[Sarah]

week three

[Angelina Justice · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a beautiful book full of color and texture that takes the reader and listeners on an adventure through a Nigerian marketplace. The silly goat makes the story a success with little ones.

[Tracy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this would be a boy who cried wolf story but it is not. It is a fun counting book, and a look after your own animal book.

[Ecl Storytellers]

A very simple story of a lost goat eating everyone's stuff in the market.

[Naomi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another reverse counting book. This one is a bit more unique due to the Nigerian influence, but it still is what it is. The illustrations and Nigerian terms are what really made it vs. the text.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun counting/math story that was set in the Nigerian culture. Really great illustrations, too.

[Kristin Joy]

Anna, Lucy and I enjoyed reading this.