Description

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*Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People  —National Council for the Social Studies/Children's Book Council*

*Honor Book —Society of School Librarians International*

How can reading a picture book in one country make a difference to a family in need living thousands of miles away? And what does a goat have to do with it, anyway? When Mrs. Rowell's class is inspired by a rainy-day book to reach out with helping hands, wonderful things happen. Not the least of these wonderful things is a combined, enthusiastic effort by the entire class to reach a common goal. In this true story readers will discover even the smallest good-will efforts are rewarded with positive results.

Humorous illustrations show the philanthropic process from inspiration through brainstorming to getting down to work, collecting funds and celebrating success. Give a Goat is a template for adults and children who want to work together to experience the satisfaction of giving to others and making a difference in the world. This book may inspire you, too. Making a change for the better is as easy as giving a goat!

Children / Character Education / Philanthropy

About the Author

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Jan West Schrock has worked as a classroom teacher, special needs teacher and school administrator both in the United States and abroad. She is currently a senior advisor for the charity Heifer International, an organization founded in 1944 by her father, Dan West, who worked as a relief worker during the Spanish Civil War. Heifer International, originally named Heifers for Relief, has grown over the years to serve over 8.5 million people in more than 125 countries.

Jan is the author of Give a Goat, the real story of a classroom in America that gets inspired, by reading the book Beatrice's Goat, to help families in need across the ocean. Jan lives in Westbrook, Maine, but travels the world to talk about "passing on the gift."

Aileen Darragh is a graphic artist and illustrator. She lives in Sanford, Maine, with her husband, her three girls, and their golden retriever Shadow. Her previous work includes To Touch a Cloud by Scott Arnold. Aileen provides volunteer graphic design services for her local library reading programs and for local school teachers. (Aileen is also a working mom, as assistant to the CEO of Dole & Bailey, Inc.) She and her kids love art projects of every kind: needlepoint, needlepunch, embroidery, sewing, beading, building doll houses, painting, drawing, and dyeing fabric. They have a chest of old clothes and love to dress up and put on impromptu plays (with the dog playing the prince when necessary). Black Beauty, the model for Give A Goat is owned by a friend of the family.

Praise For…

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The message of community service is what children
will ultimately remember and hopefully be inspired to emulate: ''I think
everyone learned that giving—and passing on the gift—feels really good.'' A
first choice for schools and public libraries.
— School Library Journal

Teachers seeking portrayals of kids cooperating to
make a difference, both in their communities and beyond, will find this book a
welcome resource.
— Booklist

The humorous watercolor illustrations complement the
text in providing a model for other class projects. These two books, One Hen and Give a Goat, are recommended as the basis for a class project and
further study of African children in Ghana and Uganda as well as one type of
philanthropy. For several years, this reviewer also has "given a
goat" to a family in Africa.
— Multicultural Review

Jan Schrock's book about a class project will
empower young readers to improve the world, and hopefully make them lifelong
givers.
— Pegi Deitz Shea, children's book author

At Heifer International, we have seen that when people work
together, seemingly small efforts can have big results. Whether it is in a
remote village, a busy urban neighborhood, or in a vibrant school classroom,
powerful changes occur when a community works toward a common goal. Give a Goat encourages children (and adults)
to look for ways to make a better world and inspires compassion, generosity and
cooperation. The impact made by the lively students in the story will be
multiplied again and again as other children follow their example and join them
in changing the world.
 
— Jen Girten, Ed.D., Manager of School Programs, Heifer International

Give A Goat not
only emphasizes the importance of giving, but also displays how each one of us
can truly make a difference. Working together to help others in need gives kids
a sense of empowerment. This book shows it can be fun too!
— Kendall Ciesemier, 14, founder of Kids Caring 4 Kids