Amazon.com When her family's fat, sleek new goat arrives in her poor Ugandan village, little Beatrice hugs her close and whispers, "Mama says you are our lucky gift...." And indeed it is true. Soon the goat bears two kids and provides enough milk to both feed the family and sell for profit. Until the goat arrived, life was very hard for Beatrice and her five brothers and sisters. The family could not afford to send the children to school, and it was difficult to make ends meet. Magically this one small animal, one of 12 given the village, opens up a new world of health and prosperity. Before the year is out, Beatrice happily realizes her dream of becoming a school girl and her delighted family moves into a sturdy new house.
Based on the true account of one family who received aid from Heifer Project International, a charitable organization that donates livestock to poor communities around the world, this moving story is eloquently and gracefully recounted. Vividly evoking the lush tropical landscape of central Africa, Lohstoeter's rich, deeply-hued illustrations perfectly complement the text and make Beatrice and her world affectingly real. Although she may live far removed from the comfortable middle-class lives of many young readers, it is clear that Beatrice is a girl of unusual heart and, like any child, filled with hopes and dreams. In her afterword Hillary Rodham Clinton writes, "Beatrice's Goat is a heartwarming reminder that families, wherever they live, can change their lives for the better." A portion of the publisher's proceeds goes to support the Heifer Project. (Ages 4 to 8) --Marianne Painter
Book Description
More than anything, Beatrice longs to be a schoolgirl. But in her small African village, only children who can afford uniforms and books can go to school. Beatrice knows that with six children to care for, her family is much too poor.
But then Beatrice receives a wonderful gift from some people far away -- a goat! Fat and sleek as a ripe mango, Mugisa (which means "luck") gives milk that Beatrice can sell. With Mugisa's help, it looks as if Beatrice's dream may come true after all.
Page McBrier and Lori Lohstoeter beautifully recount this true story about how one child, given the right tools, is able to lift her family out of poverty. Thanks to Heifer Project International -- a charitable organization that donates livestock to poor communities around the world -- other families like Beatrice's will also have a chance to change their lives.
- Beatrice's Goat, A wonderful story of people helping people (5)
This book is a wonderful example of what the organization of Heifer International does and how we can be a part of that. The story is written for children, but has great appeal for adults also. Very well written and the illustrations are wonderful. I highly recommend this book and the organization it depects. - Important Project (5)
I teach in an elementary school and one of the classes has been doing a fund-raising project to support the Heifer Project. We all read this book to our classes, and it was very effective. The illustrations are excellent, text excellent and all was very authentic. I nave spent some time in Africa and really appreciated the high quality of this book. - Captures the Imagination (5)
A wonderful compliment to teaching children about the world. We participate in the Heifer project, trying to go through the collection of animals. A teacher at school pulled out a copy of the book and the kids got excited. Charity in itself is too abstract, but how to get children to understand the importance of their role in the world. This story of the impact of the Heifer project is a good first start. - Charming uplifting story (5)
This is the wonderful account of Beatrice Birra who came from one of the poorest families in the Ugandan village of Kissinga. She longed to go to school but her family couldn't afford to send her. All of this changed after they received a dairy goat as part of a shipment sent to Africa by a 3rd World development organisation. She won a scholarship to a high school in Kampala and is now on a scholarship at Connecticut College. And I just read that she travelled to Ireland to thank the farmer who originally donated the goat. Sounds like a really great person. - a great gift idea (4)
Buy this book and then donate a goat through the heifer foundation in a child's name. Together they make a great gift. Be creative: throw in some goat cheese and other goat items and make it a gift for a whole family.The book is a true story of how a little girl's family got a goat that, more or less, changed their lives. Very cute story and a good cause.