Goats Eat Everything

Written by Mariya Anderson
Published in 2018

Why we chose this book:s
T has recently been interested in astronauts and he loves space rangers. When the author of Space Goats Trilogy: Goats Eat Everything offered to send me a copy for review, this seemed like it could be right up our alley.

Mom's Review

A funny little goat from space sets an example for eating one's whole meal.

This book touches on three situations when children may need prompting to eat a meal. Perhaps the meal is viewed as boring by the child, perhaps the child is a guest at someone else's table, or perhaps a new food is being introduced. In any of these situations, a child might be expected to consume a food they do not particularly like or try something unfamiliar. The goat from the cover is shown to be a great guest because he eats whatever is offered to him and he tries everything, regardless of shape, size, or texture. In the second half of the book, the author has theorized the reason for goats' undiscriminating appetite: they are from another planet where there is no food. It is an imaginative tale that could spark conversation about different meal expectations. Parents who advocate a child's choice in eating may not find the message resonant with their approach to meals.

Coincidentally, we read Goats Eat Everything for the first time with our lunch, and T stopped eating in order to listen to the story and look at the pictures.  After reading (and resuming lunch), we talked about having the space goat as a guest. T said he'd like the goat to come and eat all the pickles and olives! Although the point is that the child should try any food, I'm with T on that one - no pickle and olive eating in this house! We don't actually have either in our home. No one would eat them. Well, maybe a space goat would...

Son's Review
(age 2 years and 11 months)

Note: We read this as an ebook. T had never read an ebook before, and was confused and sad at first that there was no book "to hold." I explained that this is like looking at pictures of the pages. He was okay with the idea and we proceeded to read. It went well once he accepted the format, but from now on I think we will stick to "real books," as he calls them.

Before reading:
Mom: This is called Goats Eat Everything. Do you like how he looks?

Son: I do. He looks wacky cuz he's carrying something. What's he carrying?

Mom: Flowers

Son: Why's he carrying flowers?

Mom: He's visiting someone and sometimes people bring flowers as a gift when they visit someone. It's nice to do that.

Son: What's the book about?

Mom: That's a good question. How can we answer it?

Son: Read it and find out!

After reading: 
Son: Would you read it again?

Mom: Sure. Did you like it?

Son: Yeah, I really liked it.

Mom: What was the best part?

Son: Even if I don't like pickles and olives the goats will eat the pickles and olives for me cuz I don't like pickles and olives.

Mom: Would you invite a goat for dinner?

Son: Yeah. For pickles and olives. If you give me pickles and olives I won't eat 'em.
(He's pretty focused on those pickles and olives.)

Mom: Was there anything confusing?

Son: It was confusing why goats eat tin cans.
(The book says that goats don't eat tin cans, but I've told him they do. I'd better check my facts on that one.)