"Think Like a Goat": The Science Behind Animal Intelligence – A Smart Read for Curious Kids

Calling all animal lovers! What if we told you that goats, birds, octopuses, and even fireflies could outsmart us in surprising ways? That’s the idea behind Think Like a Goat, a fascinating children’s book by Canadian author Lisa Deresti Betik that takes young readers on an exciting journey into the world of animal intelligence. Recently nominated for the 2025 Yellow Cedar Award from Forest of Reading®, this engaging non-fiction title for elementary students in grades 4 to 8 explores how animals use communication, cooperation, memory, and emotion in ways that mirror — and sometimes surpass — our own abilities. This high-interest topic includes life science curriculum connections, touching on areas such as the characteristics and diversity of living things, as well as growth and changes in animals. Keep reading for an exclusive interview with Ontario’s Lisa Deresti Betik herself.

At Teachers on Call, our online and in-home tutoring team believe that books like Think Like a Goat are more than just great reads, they’re powerful educational tools. By showcasing the cleverness of creatures great and small, the book opens the door to meaningful conversations about empathy biology, and how we define intelligence. Whether in the classroom or during a tutoring session, resources like this spark curiosity and critical thinking — two things every young learner needs. That’s why our team of in-person and online tutors love recommending books that blend science and storytelling so seamlessly. Keep reading for our exclusive interview with Lisa Deresti Betik.

Books, Ballots, and Big Ideas: The Forest of Reading

The Forest of Reading is more than just a book award — it’s a national celebration of stories, student voice, and Canadian creativity. Organized by the Ontario Library Association, this beloved literacy initiative spans ten award categories in both English and French, engaging young readers of all ages across the country. What makes the program truly special is its student-led approach: kids aren’t just reading — they’re voting. Each spring, thousands of students cast ballots for their favourite books, turning classrooms and libraries into lively spaces of debate, discussion, and democratic action. It all leads up to the Forest of Reading Festival, an unforgettable event held annually at Toronto’s Harbourfront Centre (235 Queens Quay West, Toronto, ON M5J 2G8), where readers get the rare chance to meet the authors and illustrators they’ve grown to admire. At Teachers on Call, we’re big fans of how the program brings books to life while helping children understand the power of their own voices and the importance of civics education. We love that the program features summer reading recommendations curated by its kid and teen committees—check them out here!

About the Author: Lisa Deresti Betik

Lisa Deresti Betik has been drawn to storytelling since childhood, when she was known for spinning wild tales and letting her imagination lead the way. Today, she channels that same creativity into writing engaging, fact-filled books that spark curiosity in young readers. Born in Sault Ste. Marie in Northern Ontario, Lisa was inspired from an early age by the region’s natural beauty. A graduate of Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario, Lisa completed the Concurrent Teacher Education program, blending her love of writing with a strong foundation in education. She now lives in Waterloo, where she continues to write and champion literacy in her community. Her titles include Think Like a Goat and In the Dark, both published by Kids Can Press, which highlight her talent for making complex scientific topics accessible, fun, and full of wonder.

An Interview with Lisa Deresti Betik: Behind the Brains of Think Like a Goat

What inspired you to explore the diverse intelligences of animals in Think Like a Goat?

I’ve been curious about animal behaviour for as long as I can remember. Growing up in Sault Ste. Marie – a Northern Ontario city surrounded by majestic lakes and forests – gave me lots of opportunities to watch wildlife and to wonder why different animals are the way they are. I was also lucky to have various pets throughout my childhood, which let me see up close how smart animals are and how they have unique personalities.

Even now, I live with two cats, feed the birds and small critters in my backyard, and spend hours in the conservation area near our house, watching other living things. I’m still amazed by animals and am always eager to learn more about how they thrive in their environments. When I first thought about writing this book, I was pretty sure I’d find young readers who are also fascinated with animal brains and behaviour.

In doing some preliminary research for Think Like a Goat, I read primatologist and ethologist Frans de Waal’s Are We Smart Enough to Know How Smart Animals Are? and Jennifer Ackerman’s The Genius of Birds. These books were full of intriguing (and sometimes surprising!) discoveries about animals’ cognitive abilities, and I knew for sure then that I wanted to write a children’s book about them.

Your book covers various forms of animal intelligence, such as communication and problem-solving. How did you decide which aspects to focus on?

In the beginning, I collected any information I could find about animal intelligence. The chapter topics for the book became clear to me once I started organizing all of my findings. There were so many interesting scientific studies and observations about animal communication, cooperation, problem-solving and memory that I could write about, and the new research exploring animal emotions seemed especially meaningful to me, so I knew I definitely wanted to include that.

I think the forms of animal intelligence explored in Think Like a Goat are all very relatable to young readers, too, which is always important. Children can easily think of examples in their own lives where they’ve communicated with or learned something from others, remembered something important, cooperated with a friend, solved a puzzle, or felt happy, angry, excited, afraid, or sad. I hoped that this connection would help them better understand and appreciate the animals I wrote about.

What do you hope young readers will learn about empathy and respect for animals through your book?

I think the more we learn about other animals, the more we realize we have a lot in common with them. Think Like a Goat shows young readers that like them, other animal species also communicate, have friends and feelings, remember things, use tools, play, and cooperate with one another. Each animal is an individual with a personality and its own preferences. Every animal is intelligent (and amazing!) in its own way.

I hope that by reading Think Like a Goat, young readers will appreciate and feel a connection to all of the other creatures that live on Earth, and will want to live in ways that consider their well-being, too.

How can educators and parents use Think Like a Goat to spark curiosity and discussions about animal behaviour and intelligence?

Think Like a Goat introduces young readers to the unique smarts of a variety of creatures, but scientists continue to make new discoveries about animal intelligence all the time, and there is so much more for children to explore in this subject area.

Educators and parents can use the book as a springboard for further discovery. They can encourage readers to observe animals in their homes, outdoors in their neighbourhoods or on a live wildlife webcam (like this sea otter cam at the Vancouver Aquarium -  845 Avison Way, Vancouver, BC V6G 3E2), and to think about how the animals’ intelligent behaviours help them to survive and thrive. Readers can also use their observations to make inferences about what else these animals might be able to do. 

Young readers can also engage in classroom or home projects based on the understanding that scientists must design appropriate puzzles for the animals they’re studying. They can choose an animal to research to learn about its brain and body. Then, using the engineering design process, they can come up with a suitable challenge for that animal that would help them learn more about its problem-solving abilities.

To help young readers have empathy for other animals, educators and parents can encourage journaling, by creating writing prompts for students based on the information found in Think Like a Goat, or by using some of the ones created by PETA. Or, they can encourage young readers to become animal advocates. Children can research an issue that affects other animals, come up with a solution for it, and convince people of the importance of this issue through poster making, letter writing, a presentation, or planning a fundraising event.

You’ve mentioned that you used to tell imaginative stories as a child. How does that creativity influence your writing process today?

I used to tell some pretty wild tales when I was a child! I tried to convince my family that there were blanket-eating alligators in my room, and I once announced to my whole Grade 1 class that the Tooth Fairy had made me fall out of bed!

Though the books I write now are nonfiction (and I need to stick to facts!), I still love a good story, and that imagination I had as a child is as vivid as ever. I like to make the information in my books come alive through interesting, kid-friendly anecdotes and a little bit of silliness. I always hope that young readers will feel like they’re engaged in a fun reading adventure rather than simply learning a bunch of facts.

Do you have a specific routine or environment that helps you stay inspired while writing and researching?

My favourite place to work is at my kitchen table, which has a patio door view of our backyard. I can sit in the warm sunlight and see some of the creatures and natural phenomena I most like to write about. I have lots of room there to spread out my laptop, notes and reference books along with a snack or a cup of tea, plus a cat or two. (They like to take naps on my papers!)

Sometimes, just to switch things up, I like to work at my local public library. I have easy access to research materials there, and I like drawing from the collective energy of other people reading and working nearby. Also, the reader in me loves being surrounded by so many books, so this environment always makes me feel happy and inspired!

As for a routine, I usually like to start writing in the mornings, after a good breakfast and a walk or a step aerobics class that clears my head and any restless energy from my body. I tend to be intensely focussed when I’m reading, researching and writing, and I prefer to work for several uninterrupted hours at a time. (My cats usually have other ideas, though!)

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From the surprising smarts of animals to the engaging way complex ideas are made kid-friendly, Think Like a Goat is a standout resource for sparking curiosity in young readers. It’s the kind of book that naturally invites questions, wonder, and deeper learning—making it a perfect pick for classrooms, tutoring sessions, or family reading time. The content is further supported by a glossary, an index and suggested sources for further reading.

At Teachers on Call, we’re always on the lookout for books that combine education with imagination, and Lisa Deresti Betik’s work does just that. If this feature piqued your interest, be sure to explore our full Hooked on Books series. We’ve had the pleasure of interviewing talented Canadian authors who are helping to ignite a love of reading from coast to coast, like Sita MacMillan from Prince Edward Island and her book Sarah Ponakey, Storycatcher and Âhâsiw’s Forest Powwow or Dannay Ramadan from Vancouver on his book Salma Joins the Team.