Goats Afloat, by Lezlie Evans, Julia Patton (illustrator)

 Publication June 1, 2025

Wonderfully silly with equally quirky and silly illustrations that will have you grinning and finding something new hidden within each read.  In my mind, I realized I was getting a Dr. Seuss vibe as I read, aloud of course, and chuckled at the five goats' misadventures. The playful vibe runs throughout, even when the goats seem to encounter danger although you may be so busy scanning the illustrations on each page to see what you can see or read the little signs that pop up here and there to fret over the cartoon danger. 

Kids are going to love this one, especially if you (or the children themselves) have a bit of the dramatic and can get into the goofiness of the rhythm and rhyme. The text is even scattered about at times, no designated spot reserved, such as when it seems to flow down the river with the boat. Colors are bright and, well, colorful, and each of the goats seems to have a distinctive look, a plus in my mind. Their intentions are good, of course, to take a birthday cake and gift to Granny but, oh, no, they're scared to cross the bridge and encounter the scary troll, so they hatch a plan of jumping into a boat to get there. Needless to say, their plan doesn't exactly work out but that is where the fun really begins. I won't run the fun by detailing the story, which actually contains several teachable moments, but will say to keep your eyes on not just the bouncy rhymes but the illustrations. See who or what you can spy as you join them on their journey. The beaver is just the first. And, hey, what a surprise they're in for at the end when they meet Granny's guest.

Serious fun. I loved this. The illustrations are whimsical and funny in themselves, plus the unexpected sights you will see as you cruise along, not smoothly, let me assure you. The teacher in me can't resist pointing out the subtle nods to not making assumptions based on appearances, planning ahead, and adapting to situations as they evolve. Problems solving is definitely emphasized although, well, let's just say the goats don't necessarily excel at that. Bottom line, this is one I can envision grandparents loving to read to their grandchildren over and over, finding something new to enjoy each time. Thanks #TwoLions for allowing me this fun sneak peek at these goofy but adventurous goats. It was a fun read, both aloud and the times I kept flipping through to see what else I might see in the illustrations.