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Reviewed by Demetria Head for Readers' Favorite
Goats Don’t Wear Coats by Mary Barry is a children’s picture book about a determined goat who simply can’t understand why something as wonderful as a coat should be reserved only for dogs. As the story begins, readers are taken into the goat’s world where he fantasizes about wearing a coat. He imagines every kind of coat possible—tall coats, floaty coats, arty coats, gold coats, and even rainbow coats. He sets out to prove that it’s not just dogs who can wear coats, but goats can wear coats too! The charm of the story lies in the goat’s joyful persistence. Along the way, his dog pal continually insists that goats absolutely do not wear coats, only dogs do. Readers may ask what will happen when someone finally challenges that “goats don’t” rule?
In reading this story, I was struck by how warm, rhythmic, and whimsical it felt, both in voice and visual style. Mary Barry’s writing style moved with musical cadence that made the pacing lively without rushing through the narrative. Oshadi Sandareka’s vibrant illustrations gave the goat’s personality so much heart and humor. The thematic message of acceptance reminded me of modern picture books like The Day the Crayons Quit by Drew Daywalt, where playfulness gently leads into empowerment. What made this book exceptional was its ability to be silly and meaningful at the same time: a story about coats that is really a story about belonging, personal expression, and joyfully questioning “the way it’s always been.” Young readers will giggle, but they’ll also feel seen.
