A cautionary tale about lying. Plato is a Greek goat who is duped into journeying to Olympia, where, he's been told, there is a great goat race that he is certain to win. When he arrives and finds only the ruins of the ancient stadium, where no races have been held for more than a thousand years, he realizes how both innocent flattery and deliberate deceit have combined with his own self-delusion to send him on a fool's errand. The large format and the watercolor illustrations of appealing animal characters are attractive. The Greek countryside is faithfully rendered, with many scenes enclosed by borders incorporating classical designs. For those seeking explicitly moralistic materials, there are also suggestions for ``teaching'' children to be honest and questions for discussion. (Picture book. 6-9)