My Goat Gertrude
Written by Starr Dobson
Illustrated by Dayle Dodwell
Recommended for ages 3-8.
Nimbus Publishing $18.95
This past week we were fortunate to host CTV’s Starr Dobson at Benjamin’s Books for the celebration of her book, My Goat Gertrude. We soon discovered that Starr is as nice a person off-camera as she is on Live at 5. And wow – does she have loyal fans!
Gertrude Allawishes is a goat that loves to eat anything she can get in her mouth – but really are there any goats out there that don’t eat everything in sight?? (When I was a child, our pet goat, Cindy, was known for munching on cigarettes – back when it was okay to smoke!!) Starr’s Dad brought Gertrude home to help around the house primarily to eat the grass but the family quickly found out that Gertrude ate more than just grass. She gobbled socks off the line, hair elastics and even tasty chocolate treats!
One day, Starr’s cousin Leanne comes to visit and instead of bringing 2 chocolate bars, she only brings one. On this day, Leanne is more in the mood to tease than to share. This infuriates Starr who chases Leanne around the rambling yard trying to get a piece of the bar. Gertrude wants in on the action and eventually snatches the WigWag bar and devours it in its entirety. Yikes!
For their behaviour, the girls are reprimanded by their parents but secretly Starr is pleased that Gertrude ate the bar. She now knows that Gertrude would go to great lengths to protect her – even as far as eating candy wrappers.
My Goat Gertrude is Starr Dobson’s first book. Part of the proceeds of the sale of this book will go to Special Olympics Nova Scotia.
Dayle Dodwell’s illustrations are whimsical and life like. This is the Nova Scotia native’s first children’s book, as well.
