G.O.A.T. by Kate Temple and Jol Temple. Illus. by Rebel Challenger

Goat maintains that he is the best. When challenged he points out that GOAT means ‘greatest of all times’ although the duck says that he thought it meant ‘gobbles oats and tyres.’ We have a lovely tale of opposites, as the animals all make use of their initials to make another series of words. Thus, Cow becomes ‘coolest overalls wearer,’ even though she does not wear overalls. Donkey is saddled with ‘devourer of nice kind easter yams,’ and termites ‘terrible eaters really must investigate the exploding sausages’. Any of the animals are intrigued with Goat’s view of himself and offer different versions of using the four letters to produce a different phrase. G.O.A.T. is also, ‘grunts often at termites,’ and 'glorious octopus arms twister,’ while the starting point ‘greatest of all time’ keeps popping up as other animals take it as their own. The animals spar with each other as the talk about the meaning of the four letters, finally coming to the consensus of everyone becoming a G.O.A.T.

This very funny picture book will delight younger readers as they see the animals discussing the acronym, GOAT. They will have a great deal of fun working out acronyms of the words for the animals, and brainstorm acronyms they have seen used as well. 

Challenger’s illustrations will enthuse the readers with a deeper understanding of the fun to be had with acronyms, while portraying the animals with human qualities. They debate the term greatest, thinking they all deserve this adjective. Kids will love seeing the animals’ expressions and stances change as they challenge the donkey, and children will be able to talk Nobu the body language seen in the book.

I love the endpapers, the first showing sausages being thrown while on the last endpaper, we see all the animals shown through the book.

The last page of the book gives another level of humour, as the octopus is not sure whether he can be included. More about the illustrator, Rebel Challenger can be found here.  And the authors, Kate and Jo Temple can be found here.

Themes: Acronyms, Humour, Animals.

Fran Knight