THE WIDOW WOMAN AND HER GOAT

Another lilting Irish tale by the author of The Mullingar Heifer. Again the wonderful rhythmic flow of the sentences, the repetition, which make it ideal for reading aloud (and for story telling hours). The imaginative Celtic words of description and ejaculation have appeal for children, while the story itself is not told in brogue so presents no language understanding difficulty, for children from seven up. The story concerns a poor widow who longs for a child but but has only a goat. The goat, with the interference of fairies, eventually provides a small fair-haired boy of her own. There's keen wit and outright laughter in the story, and Billy, the goat, is an unforgettable character. The type is handsome and the black and white drawings by Henry Pitz are full of action and spritely charm. Use it in St. Patrick's Day display!