Review: Kid


Those that know me well know I have a thing for small cute reckless ungulates. My goat fetish began in childhood however, sadly has never bloomed into full-on ownership. How could one not love those rectangular pupils, devil-may-care attitudes and ability to eat anything in their line of vision? The real question here however is, how could one not love Peter Carnavas' latest junior fiction, Kid. 

Kid is a miniature baby goat; dial up the cuteness level. He is sweet natured and open-hearted; giving Wilbur the pig vibes. And he lives on the farm and sleeps with the hens because Kid is an orphan. After a dramatic midnight mission to chase off a marauding fox shortly after his birth, Kid's parents, Buck and Bess disappear into the wilds outside the safe confines of the farm, never to be heard from or seen again.

Audrey, the chook literally left holding the baby, raises Kid like one of her own and because of his diminutive size, they share a close and confidential co-existence. Each night Audrey supplements Kid's bedtime routine with adventure-laden tales about his parents. Although he can barely remember them, Kid feels like he knows them better than his own cleft-shaped hooves. It's the same familiarity he shares for his farmyard mates and the ever-presenting, distant mountain; the one his daring and brave parents raced up all those moons ago. 

Despite a nagging curiosity to reunite with his parents, Kid enjoys a serene existence, frolicking in the henyard, daydreaming in his log.  However, there comes a time in every kid's life that the call to seek more, feel more and be more arises. This urge propels Kid into a regime of determined self-improvement. He trains morning and night because what a very small goat needs before he sets out to find his parents is the ability to jump the farmyard fence. 

Eventually, he does so and sets off on his quest, alone even though Audrey and Harriet the pig, his closest chums, attempt to accompany him. How this beguiling little goat survives the wild and battles with the unknown and frequent waves of self-doubt forms the basis of this unique anthropomorphic adventure centring around friendship, family and belonging. It's a coming-of-age tale born as they often are, from trauma, reaching triumphant heights after scaling seemingly insurmountable obstacles. In this case the mountain provides the metaphoric and physical barrier between Kid finding his true family and his true sense of self. 

Kid and his likeable possie of pals suggest the faintest resemblance of the Bremen town musicians tale mostly because the animals take the lead, face numerous setbacks and confront their fears with resolute tenacity all of which is extremely kid (pardon the pun) relatable. Primary aged readers may eventually draw parallels with Charlotte's Web, yet Carnavas serves up a refreshing contemporary stoicism in the form of an adorable goat-shaped main character that elicits instant appeal and empathy. Don't even get me started about the gorgeous goaty illustrations that the spring merrily throughout Kid's tale. Like I said, what's not to love! 

Kid gives us plenty to love especially for the confident junior reader, animal lover, and those searching for their own g.o.a.t mini-hero to emulate.

Title: Kid
Author / Illustrator: Peter Carnavas
Publisher: UQP, $22.99
Publication Date: 2 June 2026
Format: Hardcover
ISBN: 9780702269257
For ages: 5 - 8
Type: Junior Fiction

Buy the Book:   UQP


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