Beatrice's Goat by Page McBrier

Since the mid-1980s, the week between the second and third Saturdays in June has been designated as National Dairy Goat Awareness Week. This week was started in order to educate the American people about the potential of dairy goats and their products. Many communities have festivals during this time in which people can taste foods made with goat milk and meat, try their hands at milking goats, visit goats at petting zoos, learn how to take care of goats, etc. Former President Ronald Reagan himself praised dairy goats for their ability to efficiently convert a wide variety of vegetation into nutritious milk and meat. Yes, goats are great at producing milk and meat. But... I would be at fault if I didn’t tell you about something else that goats can do... goats can change the world.

Disclosure: Affiliate links to Amazon are included in this post.

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Beatrice’s Goat by Page McBrier is a children's book based on real people and events. It’s about a little girl named Beatrice Biira who lived in a poor, rural community in Uganda and wanted to go to school. 

One day Beatrice’s community received 12 goats from Heifer International... an organization dedicated to eliminating world poverty and hunger... and Beatrice’s family was able to take one home. Beatrice's Goat describes how Beatrice’s family benefited from having this goat... they were able to sell its milk to other people in the community and save the money they earn. With the money they saved, they were able to send Beatrice to school to get an education.

When Page McBrier wrote Beatrice's Goat, Beatrice was about nine years old at the time. Beatrice now lives in the United States and is the Community Engagement Coordinator at Heifer International. One small goat changed Beatrice's world... and now Beatrice is using her good fortune to help others. Visit Beatrice Biira's website to learn more. 

Author's Summary  

Based on a true story, this heartwarming picture book shows how one gift changed the fate of a poor Ugandan family—especially the young girl who wanted to go to school.

More than anything, Beatrice longs to be a schoolgirl. But in her small African village, only children who can afford uniforms and books can go to school. Beatrice knows that with six children to care for, her family is much too poor. But then Beatrice receives a wonderful gift from some people far away—a goat!

Fat and sleek as a ripe mango, Mugisa (“luck”) gives milk that Beatrice can sell. With Mugisa’s help, Beatrice’s dream may come true after all!

Heifer Project International is a charitable organization that donates livestock to poor communities around the world, giving other families like Beatrice’s a chance to change their lives.

🍎 Title: Beatrice's Goat

🍎 Author: Page McBrier

🍎 Illustrator: Lori Lohstoeter

🍎 Publisher: Aladdin

🍎 Date: July 1, 2001

🍎 Pages: 40

Did you enjoy reading about Beatrice's Goat and Beatrice Biira? If so, check out these blog posts for more inspiring children's books:

• Book + Printable: All People Are Beautiful by Vincent Kelly
• Book + Craft: One Plastic Bag: Isatou Ceesay and the Recycling Women of the Gambia by Miranda Paul
• Book: Love Grows Love by Lauren Grabois Fischer
• Book + Printable: Anna's Prayer by Karl Beckstrand
• Book: Soar by Hillary Daecher
• Book: There Is a Girl Headed to the White House by Dr. Jasmine Killiebrew, Ph.D.

search words: Africa, Uganda, community, education, family, families, goat, goats, pet, pets