Review of Beatrice's Goat
by Caleb Powell (with a little help from Mommy and Daddy)


Beatrice's Goat by Page McBrier is about a little girl who lives in Africa (Uganda) with her mom and five younger brothers and sisters. She really wants to go to school like other children but Beatrice is poor and must help her mom with chores and with her brothers and sisters. Some days Beatrice goes to the school near her home and just watches the children doing their school work under the trees. She stands and watches, pretending she is there learning with them, too.

Then, one day, Beatrice's family got a goat as a gift and her name was Mugisa. Beatrice was so happy because maybe now Mugisa could help her go to school. Her mom told her she would have to take care of the goat and if she did, good things could happen. The milk from Mugisa could help Beatrice's family buy things they needed and they would have milk to drink.

But how would the goat help Beatrice to be able to go to school? The money saved from selling Mugisa's milk could pay for Beatrice's school books and uniform.

Now, will Beatrice have enough money to go to school or will she still have to wait and just keeping wishing she could go to school?

Note from Caleb's Mom: Beatrice's Goat is based on a true story and purchasing this book helps needy families. Beatrice, now all grown-up, was featured on 60 Minutes not long ago. To learn more about how you can help other families in impoverished situations such as young Beatrice and her family, please visit www.heifer.org. Be sure to check out Heifer International's "Read To Feed" program while there. Our home-school group participated in this particular project and raised close to $2,000 that will send a variety of livestock, such as a goat, to families in need worldwide.

Caleb is a 9-year-old homeschooler who is proving to be an all-around athlete. He plays soccer, basketball, flag football and runs track. In May 2005 he won a "Most Outstanding Performance" award at the District 2 Hershey Track and Field Championships, covering all of Northeast Florida. "While leading the soccer and football leagues in goals and touchdowns, Caleb is keenly aware of the feelings of the opposition and his teammates," says Coach James May who coaches Caleb in each sport. "He never wants to run up the score against competitors," May explains, "and uses his skills to create opportunities for even his least athletically-inclined teammates to score."

When he's not on the field, court or track increasing his skills with Coach May, Caleb enjoys joking around with his family and friends, swimming, and playing the piano and sports video games.



October 1, 2005