We read this book at bedtime this evening, and it was a hit with the girls. Not only was this a true story, but the last few pages of the book included actual pictures of Polly and her other goat friends. My oldest daughter, Savannah, who loves all animals and wants to be a vet when she grows up, kept saying, "Ah, look how cute Polly is in her duck costume." And, both girls wished we could rescue goats like Leanne Lauricella does, and have the goats live in the house like Polly and Pippa did. I reminded them that we already had two rescue dogs and 2 rescue birds, and had no more room for animals, including goats, which I have never cared for.
I love when people share children's books about their rescue animals, as it is just a reminder about how people still have big hearts and will do anything to help an animal in need out. I felt so sad reading the first few pages of this book and learning about Polly being blind and scared. Even though I knew the back story of this book, it still pulls at your heartstrings if you are an animal lover. I looked over at my daughters and they had a tear in their eye, as they too felt bad for Polly and hoped that someone would come and give her a forever home. And, by the end of the story, we were all smiling and happy for Polly. She not only had a home and owner that made her feel safe and loved, but she was surrounded by other goats including her new best friend Pippa, who helped make her days on The Goats of Anarchy farm more enjoyable and memorable.
If you love heartwarming animals stories geared towards children, especially true stories, then you will want to pick up the new book, "Polly and her Duck Costume" and start your collection of this wonderful new series written by Leanne Lauricella. My girls can't wait for the next book arriving in November. In the meantime, this cute story is definitely going to become a staple at bedtime and one book the girls will pull from the bookshelf to read and admire the illustrations of Polly in her cute duck costume, as well as the scrapbook photos at the end. This truly is a wonderful story that kids of all ages, especially animal lovers, will love, and want to read or have read to them time and time again.
More about this book:
"Community, overcoming anxiety, helping friends, and understanding disabilities are a few of the themes at the heart of Polly and Her Duck Costume, the story of a blind baby goat and how a duck costume helped her blossom into a happy, healthy goat. With illustrations by Jill Howarth, this sweet picture book encourages kids to be brave, try new things, and be a good friend.
Author Leanne Lauricella, goat mama and curator of the wildly popular @GoatsOfAnarchy Instagram account, left her corporate life in New York City to open a sanctuary in New Jersey for goats with disabilities. With more than half a million followers, Polly and her duck costume became a fan favorite, as people rooted for little Polly to get stronger, learn to rely on her senses of hearing and smelling to navigate her way around the farmhouse, and eventually become confident and comfortable enough to interact with the other goats on the farm. The second story in the GOA Kids series arrives in November!
The Goat with Many Coats: The True Story of a Little Goat Who Found a New Home follows the story of tiny Prospect the goat, who needed sweaters and coats to keep his little body warm. "
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Polly's Story
A little over a year ago, Polly was born to a mother who rejected her due to her blindness (mother goats sometimes reject babies who do not seem like they will survive). Leanne Lauricella at Goats of Anarchy rescued Polly, at just a few days old, when she heard that sweet little baby goat was not getting the care that she needed. Polly was underweight from malnourishment, suffered anxiety whenever left alone, and did not interact with the other goats. Polly would often follow Leanne’s voice around the farmhouse, bleating to be held and cuddled. Laurciella found that wrapping Polly in blankets would help the anxiety, but the blankets would fall off whenever Polly got up for food or water. And that's when Leanne thought to try putting a cuddly duck costume on Polly...and Polly loved it! It’s Lauricella’s goat mama attentiveness and personal care that has allowed Polly to flourish to the point of overcoming the anxiety and struggles of her disability and become an active and social part of the Goats of Anarchy family. Polly now lives happily outside in the baby barn and eats, plays, and explores with her goat friends.
The Goats of Anarchy Story
In 2014 Leanne Lauricella fell in love with goats and her life was changed forever. She walked away from a lucrative corporate career in NYC, ditched the Mercedes, and built a goat sanctuary in rural New Jersey where goats with special needs could find a home. Lauricella began documenting herunconventional new life on Instagram, amassing over half a million followers on @GoatsOfAnarchy. The goats and other animals, typically rescued from abandonment or mistreatment, find a home on one of Lauricella’s two farms where each animal gets care for their special needs. Prosthetics and carts are provided for goats with missing or deformed legs, and indoor care for new baby goats, goats requiring intensive medical care or terminal illness. The goats’ stories have created a passionate and fast-growing following that serves to help financially support the upkeep of the farm and vet bills for Lauricella’s special needs brood.
Disclosure: I was sent a review copy from the publisher in order to write up an honest review. All views shared are mine and mine alone.
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