"SCAPEGOAT: The Story of a Goat Named Oat and a Chewed-Up Coat," by Dean Hale, illustrated by Michael Slack, Bloomsbury, $16.99 (ages 5-7)
There are strange things happening at the Choat house, including a chewed-up coat, a destroyed television remote and a broken toy boat. Jimmy Choat blames it all on the pet goat, Patsy Petunia Oat. Shaggy-headed Petunia protests, but since no one in the Choat family speaks “goat,” it is unclear who the real culprit is.
Finally a neighbor, Bert Sproat, who does speak “goat,” translates Petunia’s gripes and the blaming game is set right.
But who is the scapegoat? Young listeners will find out in dozens of assonance-like rhymes sprinkled throughout "Scapegoat: The Story of a Goat Named Oat and a Chewed-Up Coat," such as, “Long story short, Dad got the report; they held family court and gave Jimmy an old pile of socks to re-sort…”
The collage and digitally rendered illustrations are spunky and colorful. The coin-eyed characters are expressive and set the mood for each day’s calamity. Prereaders will enjoy “Scapegoat” and its comic pictures and lilting wordplay.
Utah author Dean Hale is also wrote the graphic novel “Rapunzel’s Revenge and Calamity Jack.” Michael Slack’s illustrations have appeared in magazines and television advertisements. He previously illustrated “My Life as a Chicken” and “Pizza, Pigs and Poetry.”
IF YOU GO ...
What: Dean Hale book signing
When: Wednesday, June 22, 5 p.m.
Where: The King's English, 1511 S. 1500 East, Salt Lake City
Web: kingsenglish.com
Email: marilousorensen@ymail.com