
"I am charmed by goats and how they happily eat invasive buckthorn, so I loved the storyline of Minnie and her adventures. I sent copies to 4 states and love a photo of my great granddaughter mesmerized by the book being read to her."
- Sharon C
What our
Readers
Are Saying
"We loved that the author asked questions of the reader/listener so as to stimulate conversation. Kathy invites the reader to be Minnie's friend, which creates an inclusive experience. The "Be Brave" message is a good one for children. It's a positive story and even though Minnie is the only goat on the bluff, she truly is not. She has the sunshine, the moon and stars, the riverboat music that makes her want to dance and her woodland animal friends. And the final question Minnie has for the reader/listener is a great conversation starter."
- Marty S.

"The story depicts true life below and on the bluff tops. It would make you want to come and see the park, bluffs, and river. If you have already been here, it makes you smile from your memories. The story catches children and adults with beautiful detailed descriptions and illustrations. Every time I read it, I see a new detail in the drawings. It's so much fun to discuss bravery and what you would choose if you were Minnie."
- Pam H.
Minnie the
Goat

The inspiration for this book came to me after I heard reports of an elusive white goat living on a stone-faced bluff near my home. Thus, The Blufftop Adventures of Minnie the Goat, a fictional children's story based on real events, became mine to share with you.
Each year, Frontenac State Park contracts to have a herd of twenty to thirty goats brought to the bluff top prairie to eat invasive buckthorn shrubs. In the fall, after the buckthorn has been eaten, the goats are taken back to winter on a local farm.
Somehow, Minnie escaped three fall roundups and did not return to the farm with the rest of the herd. She has spent three winters atop "Prairie Bluff", braving the elements and thriving. She has become a legend among local residents, who have nicknamed her "White Lightning".
Most of the time, she is very elusive--especially in the summer, when lush foliage conceals her. Throughout the rest of the year, she is occasionally visible from our house. On sunny winter afternoons, her gleaming white coat can be spotted as she rests on a rocky ledge overlooking the highway, just watching the world go by....

Kathy Ause and her husband Bruce live near Red Wing, Minnesota, where they raised three daughters. They now have three wonderful grandchildren. Nature has always been an important part of their lives. Living in a rural area allows them to observe the natural wonders that occur in the surrounding bluff country.
About the Author
All Events
Browse our upcoming events

Holiday Book Signing EventFri, Nov 20Doghouse Books and R.R.
Cozy Christmas Holiday Boutique at Pier 55 (1)Fri, Dec 04Pier 55 Cozy Christmas Holiday Boutique
Cozy Christmas Holiday Boutique at Pier 55Sat, Dec 05Pier 55 Cozy Christmas Holiday Boutique
Contact
For media requests, collaborations, or general questions, please reach me out by email at:
minniethegoatmn@gmail.com
OR
complete the form on this page.

