100 Goats and Granny

How many goats does Granny have?  ‘Not 1, not 2, not 3, nor 4. But more and more and more and more’. Is it 99? No, there is one missing, that mischievous goat 100. Where did goat 100 go?  Granny goes everywhere with her goats, so a chaotic, noisy search starts. Indeed, there is so much noise, Granny has to intervene marching off with all her goats – or does she?

This is a fun book full of energy and life as young readers are introduced to numbers and are challenged to count but also to observe and explore the illustrations. The text by storyteller Atinuke swings along with satisfying repetition, rhyme and rhythm.  Granny is a very real grumpy granny whose character is captured by Lauren Hinds, as she marches across the page, harangues the crowd – and plays; just like her goats. The illustrations bursting with action and vibrant colours join Atinuke’s text in a joyous celebration of community and counting. Each energetic spread encourages the eye and the voice to engage with the story joining in with the children as they play and chase those naughty goats. This is a picture book that invites the active collaboration of reader with the book and its creators and one that demands to be shared.