Shelf Awareness--Salvatore and the Goats of Mount Etna

PB Review: Salvatore and the Goats of Mount Etna

Salvatore and the Goats of Mount Etna by Uschi Müller, illus. by Brittany Lane (Greystone Kids, 40p., ages 4-8, 9781771649285 )

Salvatore and the Goats of Mount Etna is a fascinating tale of goats using their "sixth sense" to protect themselves--and their young goatherd--from disaster when a volcano unexpectedly erupts.

Salvatore, his parents, and their herding dog, Gina, live on a farm "at the foot of white-peaked Mount Etna," a rumbling, active volcano. Salvatore loves the goats, especially lead goat Bianca, who seems "to know more about the mountain than he [does]." Usually Papa takes the goats up the mountain to graze, but today Salvatore will do the job solo. Salvatore promises Papa he'll herd the goats--rather than letting them herd him--then, "with a whistle to Gina," he heads off. As they climb, Bianca, who usually leads the way, circles Salvatore; rather than eating grass, she begins "to kick and jump around." The other goats join in, and Gina starts to bark. When Bianca takes off down the mountain, followed by the rest of the goats, Salvatore realizes he's being herded! But Salvatore trusts Bianca, and when they reach the bottom, they hear the mountain roaring. Salvatore ties his scarf around his lead goat, and together they bring the herd safely home.

Debut author Uschi Müller, coordinator of the ICARUS project (International Cooperation for Animal Research Using Space) has crafted an intriguing, fluid story "inspired by true-life events" to illustrate the project's mission: to explore how "animals perceive upcoming catastrophes earlier than humans." Brittany Lane (The Day Dancer Flew) cleverly illustrates Salvatore's scenic home and conveys just the right touches of emotion and urgency through both human and animal body language. Backmatter rounds out this sure-footed offering with a pertinent, kid-friendly introduction to the ICARUS project. --Lynn Becker, reviewer, blogger, and children's book author. Originally printed in Shelf Awareness.