Review: Lessons from parents
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 08 15, 2013
Dustin Ross is a writer, illustrator and publisher from South Africa who is dedicated to making new and exciting children's books. "I love the sense of whimsy and fun that writing for children can be. In such a busy world it is so important for parents to snuggle up and read to their children on a regular basis. Reading should be fun!"  And with an introduction like that it is impossible to resist the entertaining and warmly touch and caring story of BILLY THE GOAT HELPS HIS FATHER.We meet the Goat family - father, mother, and son Billy who wants to know what his father does at work. His father is delighted and takes Billy in his truck to the house where he serves as electrician. The learning begins: `I work as an electrician - that is some one who works with electricity that is energy that helps make things work. It makes a light bulb glow, but it does much more than that.' Billy's father warns him about the dangers of electricity and for Billy not to touch. But as Billy's father in installing can lights, Billy is hungry and sees an `extra' can light, starts to eat it (remember, he is a goat!), and when his father sees this he warns Billy that he was instructed not to touch anything electrical. Bill is sorry, and cleans the can he intended to eat, and his father is proud of his response and helps him install the now clean light. When Billy and his father go home for lunch, Billy wants to start eating but his mother kindly reminds him to wash his hands: Billy has absorbed the importance of obeying his parents' advice, washes his hand and the family enjoys lunch together.Ross understands the difference between lecturing and teaching children about life and that warmth comes through in his tender little tale about family and respect and learning. Both the story and the illustrations are excellent. Grady Harp, August 13