The Goat Lady

by Jane Bregoli

Book Overview

Her other neighbors bemoan the "Goat Lady's" rundown house and barnyard animals, but the children see how she cares for her goats, they hear her stories, and they come to love her. For many years Noelie has provided goat's milk for people who need it and has sent her extra goat kids to poor people in poor countries through the Heifer Project. The children's mother paints a series of portraits of the "Goat Lady," and her art show at the local town...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 088448260X
• ISBN13: 9780884482604
• Release Date: June 2007
• Publisher: Tilbury House Publishers
• Length: 32 Pages
• Weight: 1.02 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.4" x 9.4" x 10.4"
• Age Range: 4 to 7 years
• Grade Range: Preschool to Grade 2

Customer Reviews

The Goat Lady

I was looking for a book for my nephews and neices. We raise goats. I am extremely delighted with the lessons taught by this book;the tenderness of the relationship between the wonderful lady and her animals; and the illustrating. Overall excellent rating . Would recommend for young and old.

Excellent Book for all ages

Jane Bregoli captivates audiences with her friendly depiction of goats and neighbors of all ages! Delightful, inspired paintings illustrate her true story. Readers from all over will enjoy this classic story, solid in values, strong in spirit, and a joy to read over again.

*Goats export Noelie's GOOD WILL around the world*

"The Goat Lady" is a beautiful book for every member of the family to savor. It is a true story told with gentleness as if to forgive readers who might have been among the irascible neighbors making trivial complaints about her goats and unkempt property. Through the story we learn to appreciate Noelie's spirit and kindnesses, and can recognize those objections as poorly disguised attempts to protect so-called 'property values'! Ironically, the neighbors' homesites were once land owned by the elderly woman and sold to pay bills when her husband was dying. It was in 1988 that "the Goat Lady" introduces herself to the author's children: "I am Noelie Lemire Houle, French Canadian, born in 1899." NOELIE ! With that lovely name how could she NOT be filled with kindness 'for man & beast'? She began raising goats after learning that she needed to drink goats' milk to strengthen her bones and alleviate the arthritis she suffered. In time her herd increased, milk products were sold or traded to benefit many, and the extra kids were donated to the HEIFER PROJECT which sent her good will on a trip around the globe! This story will give great impetus to the work of that organization, and increase its influence a hundred-fold. Author Jane Bregoli (www.janebregoli.com) illustrated her book with delicately perceptive portraits of Noelie. I am still taken with the artists's ability to paint the fuzziness of Noelie's cartigan sweater and the fine goat hairs, as well as subtle shadings of color. Reviewer mcHAIKU points to her favorite portrait on p.22 and exclaims, "This is truly superb!" I hope all readers are equally enthusiastic about this fascinating story of a stalwart lady and her goats.

The Goat Lady

In this tale of a young girl who is curious about her odd neighbor, the girl takes a journey to find out that her neighbor is not that strange after all. Her neighbor is an old woman who takes care of goats to receive the nick name goat lady. The girl soon befriends the old woman and ends up helping her tend to the goats and other animals on her farm. The old woman tells her of how she became a goat farmer and she teaches her about the goats. The girl has her mother paint a portrait of the old woman and she ends up painting so many that she has an entire gallery exhibit. After the exhibit, the neighbors learn more about the goat lady as well at stop complaining about her un-kept yard when they realize what a nice person she is. Along with a great storyline, this book has wonderful illustrations. This book could be used in the classroom for so many different activities, one of the most important being kind to your neighbors and not "judging a book by its cover."

Touching book for children and parents alike.

I was touched by this story of an old lady whose love exudes from every inch of her aging body. This is a great story to read to children because it teaches them that appearances are not all that they seem. Recent research shows that children identify with thing of beauty straight from the womb. However, it takes time to realize that not all beauty is external. This book approaches children at a level they can understand yet communicates an ideal deeper than they have yet imagined. The beautiful artistry from Bregoli shines throughout, and never appears rushed. Each (done by jane herself) painting is exquisitely and intricately crafted by a master with the brush. For some, it comes rather effortlessly. I sense this is the case with Jane, but I do not know her personally. One of my favorite children's books in years. Perhaps the best I've read since The Ox Cart Man.