News

Ever longed to read to a goat? Today's your day

By Lightning Reports, Published: September 1, 2021

Visitors to Carl Sandburg Home National Historic Site can “Read to a Goat” during National Literacy Month.
Beginning today, a red wagon full of books by Carl Sandburg will be available at the entrance to the barnyard an

d pasture. Carl Sandburg loved reading aloud to his family, friends and audiences across America. In this spirit, visitors are invited to borrow a book or bring their own, then find a comfortable spot on a bench in the yard or in the pasture and read aloud to the goats. The barnyard and pasture are open 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily.
Carl Sandburg wrote books for adults and children, something for readers of all ages. In an introduction to a collection of poems for young readers, he wrote: “Dear young folks, some poems may please you for half a minute and you don’t care whether you keep them or not. Other poems you may feel to be priceless, and you hug them to your heart and keep them for sure. Here, in this book, each kind may be found, you do the finding.”
Readers can also celebrate the program online by posting pictures of themselves reading their favorite book to their favorite pet and using the hashtag #ReadToAGoat.
A special bookmark will be provided to those who come to Sandburg and read to a goat. Bring your bookmark to the park store for a 15 percent discount on a book purchase. The park store is located at the pop-up tent behind the Sandburg Home and is open 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Wednesdays through Sundays.