Don't fidget a feather! by Erica Silverman illustrated by SD Schindler

Duck and Gander challenge each other with a series of, well challenges such as who can fly the highest or swim the fastest. Then Duck makes a suggestion:

"Let's have a freeze-in-place contest ... don't move. Don't talk. Don't fidget a feather! And the winner will be the one and only, true and forever champion of champions".

These two are very strong characters. A buzzing bee does not distract either Duck or Gander. A bunch of bunnies arrive and they sit on Ganders head and tap Duck's beak but neither fidget one feather. A cluster of crows land near the pair. They flutter and tickle and caw caw caw but neither fidget one feather. Then "along came fox". Gander and Duck are placed in a sack and taken to his den where the cooking pot is ready with carrots, potatoes, celery, squash, beans, salt and pepper. 

"Fox carried Gander over to the pot. Gander has to move now, thought Duck. But Gander did not."

Who will save the day? Who will win the freeze competition? Can there perhaps be two winners?

When the Teacher-Librarian from the library I visit each week exclaims "haven't you read that book" or "this book is wonderful" or "you will love this one it's one of my favourites" it makes me so excited I can hardly wait to dive into the book - old (Don't Fidget a Feather is from 1998) or new that's not important - I know the book she is recommending will be splendid. The downside is this is just one of those truly special books. There are sure to be more. There are sure to be thousands. How will I ever discover them? Oh well I will just keep chipping away at this library collection- picking up piles of picture books each week and sharing my wondrous finds here.

I am making a collection of stories about foxes. This one is a winner. It would be perfect to read aloud. The story has just the right amount of tension and fun with the addition of a very special conclusion. I read one reviewer who likened this book to The Tale of the Turnip. You can see the whole book here.

SD Schindler is the illustrator of the Catwings series by Ursula LeGuin and the wonderful non fiction book The Story of Salt by Mark Kurlansky which was a book I treasured in my former school library.

You might find Skeleton Hiccups in a school or local library:

Erica Silverman is the author of the Cowgirl Kate and Cocoa series.