An unusually perspicacious goat helps a Colorado seventh grader build character in this tumultuous summer flingAs inMatt Sprouts and the Curse of the Ten Broken Toes (2024), Eicheldinger embeds insistent messages about the importance of kindness and empathy into a contrived (if generally entertaining) ruckus. Looking for a summer job that isn't labor-intensive but mindful of his dad's requirement that it should "build character," Matt agrees to tend Nora, a neighboring farmer's googly-eyed goat, for eight days. After first discovering that Nora will eat anything from shoes to his girlfriend Grace's science project and can escape any pen, even one secured with a combination lock, he goes on to learn-from interactions with the oddly reticent new kid, Bobby Joe-the truth of his mother's repeated observation that the best way to understand others is to learn what's in their (metaphorical) backpack. Led by Nora, who turns out to be a good listener as well as comic relief, a lively cast buoys the tale and proves bighearted enough to show general willingness to make and accept apologies. As a result, all conflicts arising due to mishaps and misunderstandings are dispelled in the end. The human cast is largely cued as white in both narrative and occasional humorous cartoon line drawings.Lesson heavy but leavened with humor and humanity.(Fiction. 10-13)

Gr 4–7— It's finally summer, and Matt Sprouts is curse-free and planning to enjoy his break. Too bad his dad expects him to work all summer as a lawn mower for the family's vaguely intimidating industrial plant. Overwhelmed by the football-field-sized lawn, Matt begs his dad to let him find another job. He unexpectedly stumbles into an arrangement with Farmer Jed to babysit his googly-eyed goat, Nora, who has a habit of eating important items, seems able to teleport, and loves tummy rubs. Nora's antics prove to be more trouble than Matt bargained for, and hijinks ensue. Matt is often depicted as immature, jumping to conclusions about others and making reckless decisions—like pulling wires from an industrial machine, grabbing an electrified fence, or sampling random mushrooms in the woods. Supporting characters are one dimensional and contribute to an overall simplistic story's predictable moral lessons. All characters are cued as white. While humorous, straightforward sketches break up the text and may engage young readers, this second installment in this series is unsatisfying. VERDICT A second or third purchase for libraries looking to supplement their offerings for "Diary of a Wimpy Kid" fans.