Raz-ma-taz

Serendipity

by Stephen Cosgrove

When the young goat, Raz-Ma-Taz, runs away from home and becomes trapped on a high mountain, the rabbits come to his aid

Genres: Childrens, Picture Books, Fiction, Animals, Art, Classics

30 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1982

Reviews

[Shayla · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is about a little goat who wants to get his fellow goat’s attention. They just graze and let him roam and play. He gets sad, and he runs away, but he falls off a rock and gets stuck in a mountain. Some bunnies notice that he is in trouble and they help him get out of the mountain.
I like this book because there is text on one side of the page, and there is a detailed picture on the other side of the page. The text and pictures complement one another. There is also a moral to be learned at the end of the story. Which make this book a very worthy read.
I would use this book to teach my children. They would enjoy looking at the pictures, and they would also learn some great life lessons. They would be better kids for reading this book.

[Kelly (Maybedog) · Rating 1 out of 5]

Boring and the goat isn't accepted until he stops going on adventures where he could get hurt and instead contents himself with staying in the pasture and grazing and being like all the other goats.

[Hannah · Rating 2 out of 5]

I remember enjoying these books as a kid. This one went in a direction I did not expect. I thought the young goat would learn that he's a MOUNTAIN GOAT. No need to fret when climbing the The Highest of High. Instead, it's about the cost of showing off and what happens when a community shows up. I plan to revisit this, and I'll be looking to acquire more books in the series.

[Lana Kamennof-sine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another interesting child's book. The main character Raz, is a young goat, who's always wanting to be centrestage. He ends up being just that but not in the way expected. It speaks to a need for a less self-centred focus and the wonder of rabbits ;-)

[Ashley Zink · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a book about the dangers of being an attention-seeker. A little preachy for a children's book, but the illustrations are pretty. K-3rd

[Kole · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5

[Gracedlazydaisy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Meh

[Atlantis · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is part of a series from the ‘70s (Serendipity). Colorful pictures and a little lesson in each story. About one paragraph a page alongside a full page picture.

[Robert Drake · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a very sweet story. It also teaches a lesson. The pictures are adorable.

[K · Rating 3 out of 5]

Worth reading for the bunny chain illustration alone, which is absolutely ADORABLE and still gets me. This is sort of an earlier version of Sniffles, although with a happier ending, since the bunnies and goats do pay attention to Raz-Ma-Taz when it counts. The moral of the story is essentially: stop being a showoff. Which is a reasonably good lesson for kids that may or may not entirely apply to adulthood. (If only some meeting-dominating men could learn this instead of so many women taking "better to be seen and not heard" to heart.)

Lovely illustrations, which I think is the part that always sways me with these books. Let's be real: while the stories can be quite nice, these books never would've had their popularity without James's beautiful, long-eyelashed illustrations.

[Kat · Rating 5 out of 5]

Basic plot: A little goat wants attention.

I think I got my first Serendipity book through a Scholastic book order or book fair. I quickly became obsessed and collected a ton and a half of them as a child. I would spend hours just looking at the pictures because the art is simply gorgeous. The stories were whimsical and fun, and always ended with some sort of life lesson for kids. I kept reading these books long after other picture books had been set aside.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a book from my childhood that my mother was getting rid of; so I grabbed it and absorbed it into my own library. :D

Just because no-one is looking doesn't mean no-one is paying attention.

[Dee · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great book to teach your kids social skills, in a non-preachy way.

[Samantha wickedshizuku Tolleson · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was very similar to the, 'Boy Who Cried Wolf,' situation.

[Arwen · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you're showing off
and no one pays attention
Just remember Raz Ma Taz
and his scary revelation

Similar to the Boy Who Cried Wolf Raz Ma Taz wants attention so bad he's always doing stunts to get attention from the other goats. Until one day he runs away and gets himself into trouble, and his calls for help are ignored as more attention getting. Eventually they realize Raz is in trouble and go to rescue him. He cute story with a good lesson and wonderful illustrations you'd expect from a Serendipity book.