Sergeant Billy: The True Story of the Goat Who Went to War

by Mireille Messier, Kass Reich (Illustrator)

Overview

A delightful tale inspired by the true story of a brave goat war hero. Perfect for fans of Finding Winnie and Rescue and Jessica.

During World War I, a goat named Billy was adopted by a platoon of soldiers and made his way across the ocean to be part of the war effort.

Billy . . .

Trained with the soldiers

Was smuggled across the ocean

Got snuck into the frontlines in a box of oranges

Ate some secret documents and was arrested for treason

Got trench foot

Head-butted soldiers into a trench and saved them from a shell

Came back home a decorated war hero

This charming true story follows Sergeant Billy from his small prairie town to the trenches of World War I and back, through harrowing moments, sad moments, moments of camaraderie and moments of celebration. This unforgettable goat and the platoon that loved him will capture your heart!

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780735264427
Publisher:	Tundra
Publication date:	09/17/2019
Pages:	40
Sales rank:	695,853
Product dimensions:	8.60(w) x 11.20(h) x 0.50(d)
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

MIREILLE MESSIER is a Montreal-born, Ottawa-raised and now Toronto-based author, freelance writer and voice-over artist. She has published over twenty children's books—including The Branch, which was nominated for a Governor General's Award—several articles for youth magazines and has collaborated in the production of many family programs and interactive apps for CBC, TVO/TFO and Teletoon. Mireille enjoys reading graphic novels, swing music and, of course, goats.

KASS REICH was born in Montreal, Quebec. She works as an artist and educator and has spent the majority of the last decade traveling and living abroad. She now finds herself back in Canada, but this time in Toronto. Kass loves illustrating books for all ages, including Megabat, Carson Crosses Canada, Hamsters Holding Hands and Dr. Coo and the Pigeon Protest. This is her first book about a goat.

Editorial Reviews

Messier’s smooth, well-paced text and Reich’s muted gouache illustrations. . . . [i]maginatively conveys the drudgery—if not the sheer terror—of war to a young audience.” —Kirkus Reviews

“Messier takes young readers beyond the mud and blood of World War I with her rollicking humanizing tale of a goat and the soldiers who cared for it. Illustrator Kass Reich expertly captures the tone of Messier’s words with her delightful illustrations. . . . Highly recommended.” —CM Magazine

"“Humanizes the realities of war.” —CityParent

From the Publisher

09/01/2019

K-Gr 2—During World War I, soldiers traveling by train stop in a small town and see a little girl named Daisy with her goat. They think a goat mascot will bring them good luck and ask to "borrow" Billy. There is little background on the soldiers or Daisy, and it is not until the story's end that readers discover that Billy is Canadian, specifically from Saskatchewan. Billy is smuggled aboard a ship to England and then brought to the trenches of France. It all seems like a light-hearted lark by the soldiers. Some readers may question the focus on a goat at the front and the somewhat trivialized depiction of life in the trenches. When there is no food, Billy eats a sock. Corresponding illustrations show a shell-shocked and bandaged Billy with trench foot but happy. Ultimately, Billy gets a medal for bravery in the face of danger. The illustrations are realistic but are missing any sense of difficulty at the front. We see a happy goat, happy soldiers, and a slightly frowning Colonel who does not think goats belong at the front. Billy survives; after the war ends, the animal travels back to Daisy in Canada. VERDICT Although young readers often enjoy stories about service animals, this unusual story, which is similar in tone and format to Lindsay Mattick's Finding Winnie but without the background details, seems to lack a deeper literary significance. It would be surprising if it caught the attention of young readers.—Susan Lissim, Dwight School, New York City

School Library Journal

2019-06-10
This is the remarkable true story of an ordinary goat who became the beloved mascot of the Fifth Canadian Battalion during World War I.

In Messier's dryly humorous tale, Billy adapts well to army life, traveling with the soldiers on training exercises, boarding the troop ship to England with them, and being smuggled onboard the ship to France in an empty orange box. He never complains about the squalid conditions of life in the trenches (he is depicted bleating at a rat) and provides important moral support to frightened or tired soldiers, who mention him affectionately in their letters home. He even saves lives, butting three soldiers into a trench before a shell explodes. Billy becomes such a great protector and defender of his regiment that he is promoted to sergeant and eventually becomes a decorated war hero, surviving the war and ultimately returning to his original owner, depicted as a little girl on a farm in Saskatchewan. Messier's smooth, well-paced text and Reich's muted gouache illustrations in warlike tones of olive and brown well convey the poignancy and humor of the story. Such afflictions as trench foot and shell shock are conveyed though not explored in depth, and no characters die. All human characters appear to be white.

Imaginatively conveys the drudgery—if not the sheer terror—of war to a young audience. (author's note, photographs) (Picture book. 4-8)

Kirkus Reviews