Izzy is a cheerful little goat who grows up before the reader's eyes. She finds a home, experiences her first raisin, and encounters poisonous snakes in her little world. She gives birth to her first kid, she endures the deaths of friends, and she comes to realize that her simple life is meaningful. Izzy seems well nigh human, her character a blend as it is of troublesome flaws and attributes of strength. Other persons in the book, human and animal alike, supply a rich fullness to this story.
A natural history section about goats includes the description of different breeds and caprine characteristics, goat folklore and comments about the role of goats in literature, and information on aspects of goatkeeping such as feeding, health, housing and routine care. Vivacious pen-and-ink illustrations by Don Collins light up high points in Izzy's journals.
TACY ELLIS is a high school Agricultural, English, Drama and Speech teacher in Woodson, Texas. She is a lifelong farmer, rancher and goat raiser and lives with her family in Woodson. |