One of the most delightful things about trying to review every single LGBTQ-inclusive kids’ book is that sometimes I spot fun combinations—like these two recent middle grade novels, each very different, but both involving goats—and both great. I kid you not!
Click titles or images for full reviews in my Database of LGBTQ Family Books!
In Vote for the G.O.A.T., by Ali Terese (Aladdin), soccer star Meg and fashionista Jo must team up to save their school’s mascot in an entertaining caper that weaves in themes of self-care, bodily autonomy, activism, and friendship. Jo, who uses a crutch because of juvenile arthritis, is also queer, and her crush on another girl (not Meg) forms a significant but not predominant part of the story.
Goat Magic, by Kate Wheeler (Oni Press), is a warm and imaginative fantasy graphic novel in which a goatherd must help a princess who has been cursed to turn into a goat each sunrise. They end up falling in love, even as they try to save the kingdom from treachery. There are some beats here from classic fairytales—a princess in disguise, a battle for the throne, a royal-commoner love pairing—but the engaging characters, witty dialogue, goat antics, and lovely worldbuilding offer originality and fun, while underlying themes about social justice, the control of education, and the difficulties of making change add substance.