G.O.A.T. by Kate & Jol Temple, and Rebel Challenger
Scholastic Australia; RRP:$18.99AUD

Kate & Jol Temple are an unstoppable creative force right now with book after book getting better and better at bringing smart, funny stories to young readers. Word play has been a thing for this team since the glorious Room on our Rock. G.O.A.T is a wild ride through animal acronyms, starting (because where else would you start?) with the goat who thinks he’s the Greatest Of All Time.

Meet Goat. He’s a pretty great goat. But is he truly the G.O.A.T? Some of Goat’s friends are great too. How about the Deadliest Underwater Crumb King? Or the Duke Of Growling? In fact, Goat’s friend Duck is also a Good Or Awesome Tap-dancer. Maybe Duck is the G.O.A.T?

Everything in this book is just a little bit extra, with super expressive characters and splashes of inventive typeface that highlight the first letters of words. A visual subplot follows a troupe of termites who happen to enjoy firing sausages out of a cannon. It’ll make sense when you’re there!

The whole book feels like you could shout it in a room of school kids, pausing only to let them ponder the word puzzles. Every child will want to make a phrase from their own initials – and what a wonderful story extension activity to play around with.

Rebel Challenger piqued my interest when she brought the hilarious Keeping Up With The Dachshunds to life. She also designs pretty incredible fabrics – check out her website for links. Book bags anyone?

Ask for G.O.A.T at your favourite local or independent bookstore. Always support them!