Duck, Duck, Goose by Tad Hills

 

Duck and Goose are best friends. Goose is a sensitive soul who loves tiny things in the world such as butterflies - especially that beautiful blue butterfly that has just landed on his head! He can't wait to show his friend Duck, but Goose does know he needs to move carefully and speak very softly so as not to startle the butterfly. 

Meanwhile Duck has found a new friend and she is wild! Thistle lives to compete, and she lives to win! She is a huge boaster and has to 'out do' everyone. 

The three play all day but Goose is not having fun. Every game turns into a competition and every time Thistle just has to win. Eventually (in a deeply emotional moment) Goose just walks away. Your young reading companions might gasp when they hear what Thistle says about this:

"Oh, that guy was going to lose anyway."

Notice how Thistle doesn't even know his name and Duck is so keen to please his new friend he does not notice his friend's reactions. BUT when they do finally talk, they hatch the perfect plan to trick young Thistle.

There are quite a few books about Duck and Goose - Duck, Duck, Goose is the second book in the series which began with this one.

Blurb from author page: Duck & Goose, Goose & Duck. Feathered friends forever . . . or are they? That’s what we discover in this charming and hilarious follow-up to the bestselling Duck & Goose. You see, there’s a challenge to their friendship: a little whippersnapper of a duck named Thistle. Thistle’s good at everything (or so she thinks), from math to holding her breath to standing on her head. Duck thinks she’s fantastic. But Goose does not! And so Goose is faced with a problem close to the hearts of children everywhere: what happens when your best friend makes a new friend?

One hopes that in the next installment, Thistle may learn a thing or two, but at least Duck and Goose have figured out how to handle her. The charming illustrations portray this tale of friendship perfectly ... Kirkus

My only tiny reservation about this story based on the concept of 'twos company, threes a crowd' is that nothing is really resolved at the end. Duck and Goose have tricked Thistle but what happens when she wakes up - this is certainly a great moment in the story for a discussion with your preschool or Kindergarten group.

Tad Hills is the #1 New York Times bestselling author and illustrator of the Rocket and Duck & Goose series, including the New York Times bestselling picture books How Rocket Learned to Read; Rocket Writes a Story; R Is for Rocket; Duck & Goose; Duck, Duck, Goose; Duck & Goose Go to the Beach; and Duck & Goose, Honk! Quack! Boo! ... Tad lives in Brooklyn, New York, with his wife, two children, and his real-life dog, Rocket, who has not yet learned to read. Penguin Random House

Listen to Tad Hills here talking about his books. You will love seeing the full size Duck and Goose. 

Duck, Duck Goose was published in the US in 2007 and reprinted here in Australia in 2009 so sadly it is no longer in print. I picked up my copy for just 50 cents at a recent charity book sale. I am keen to gift this book to the grandchild of a friend and I will keep an eye out for any board books by Tad Hills - I think they would make good gifts for very young children.

Lousy, Rotten, Stinkin' Grapes by Margie Palatini illustrated by Barry Moser

"The problem was, Fox was only so high ... and the grapes were so, so, so high. 'No matter,' said he. I am sly. Clever. smart. After all, I am a fox."

Stop and ponder a few of these words - sly, clever, smart - and also think about the arrogance of 'I am a fox.'

Fox is certain he knows how to get those delicious grapes. He refuses to listen to the other animals who, as a reader, we can see, will have a much easier and potentially successful solution to the issue of obtaining those yummy grapes. He enlists the help of Bear and climbs onto his head but alas he is too short. Along comes Beaver. 

"You stand on Bear's head ... I stand on your tail. And on the count of three - Bear gives a boost - as you give an oomph - which brings me - there - and voila! Grapes!"

Beaver has a much better plan, but Fox will not listen. He climbs the tower of Bear and Beaver, but he is still too short. Along comes Porcupine. And yes, you've guessed the pattern of a tower of animals is repeated and of course it fails and of course Porcupine did have a way better idea, but Fox did not listen. Similarly, he does not listen to Possum. 

Next to arrive is Skunk but this time Fox declares defeat. Finally, this is the scene we have all been waiting for, Possum can run up the tree; Porcupine can shoot them down with his quills; Beaver can cut them down; and Bear can simply shake the tree. 

Fox storms off in a huff declaring he won't eat those lousy, rotten, stinkin' grapes while all other the animals settle down to enjoy them - they are delicious, huge, and so juicy. 

This book was published in 2009 and so sadly it is out of print but if you can track down a second hand copy, I do recommend this book as well worth adding to your school library collection. 

Blog report by James Patterson: Unable to reach the tantalizing bunch of purple grapes high in a tree, Fox, who considers himself sly, clever, and smart, makes a plan to get them. "Hop. Skip. Jump. Flying leap. And . . . No grapes." Which is when he turns to Bear for help. Bear eyes Fox's written plan and tries to make a suggestion, but Fox cuts him of with, "Ta-ta-ta-a-ta. Bear, Bear, Bear, my dear dim buddy. Your job is brawn. Not brain. You leave the thinking to me." Fox climbs atop Bear's head, but he's still not high enough, which is why he enlists the help, in quick succession, of Beaver, Porcupine, and Possum, stacking the animals into a not-quite-high-enough tower. The dialogue is crackling and Moser's realistic watercolors are comical in Palatini's latest reworking of the well-known fable.

Review: We see both the animal’s predatory authority and his egotistical foolishness when he is shown launching himself wildly at the grapes from various absurd locations. What really seals this picture book as a bedtime choice for children ages 4-8, though, is Ms. Palatini’s lively dialogue…In the end, as in Aesop, Fox stamps away disgruntled. But in this version, the other creatures feast cheerfully on the elusive delicacy that was, for resourceful them, always within reach. Wall Street Journal

Book design - notice the purple paper on the end papers, the placement of the grapes and fox on the title page, the huge bunch of grapes on the next page, and the eyes of the animals on the cover!

Here is a 2011 blog post by Margie Palatini. I was surprised to discover a book by Margie Palatini that was illustrated by our Australian illustrator Bruce Whatley.

Here are some other books by Margie Palatini:

Barry Moser is the celebrated illustrator of nearly three hundred books for children and adults. His work can be found in the National Gallery of Art, the Metropolitan Museum, and the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, among many others. Barry Moser lives in Massachusetts.

Finally here are some Aesop collections worth finding and adding to a school library. You could also just browse the non fiction shelves at [398.24].

The Big Trip by Alex Willmore

Bear is a huge show off. He loves to "strut his stuff" and nothing is allowed to get in his way. He is thoughtless and unkind and downright rude to the other forest animals. But of course he eventually meets his match when he bumps into a huge moose. 

"Hey Bear, you can't just go around doing whatever you want, pushing everyone around.' said Moose. 'The forest is for everyone and you need to take care."

Bear cannot shift Moose so he finally steps around him all the while poking out his tongue. He does not see the slope. He falls down and down and down and lands at the bottom of a smelly swamp. 

Now comes the delicious dilemma. Bear needs help but he has been so unkind to all the other animals so of course they are not keen to bother. Luckily Moose is the voice of kindness and reason. 

"None of us are perfect, right? We all make mistakes from time to time. What do you say we help him out?"

This story could be so didactic but the illustrations, the glorious huge moose and the choice of words help to keep the story light and fun.  

"Bear was embarrassed, a little bit soggy and very very grateful. He smiled shyly, 'Thanks everyone' he said softly."

Think about the way Alex Willmore uses the words - soggy, shyly and softly.  They are perfect choices and completely change the tone of the story. It is very clear Bear has learnt his lesson.

I am very happy to tell you this 2020 book (here in Australia) is very inexpensive in paperback at less than $15. 

Here are some other books illustrated by Alex Willmore:

The Queen of the Birds by Karine Polwart illustrated by Kate Leiper

Who is the best? Who is the biggest? Who is the strongest? Who can fly high and far? Who has the best song? Who has the brightest feathers? Who should be the king or queen of the birds?

Arguments begin. There has been a huge storm and someone needs to sort it all out. The eagle suggests they need a king and that they way to select a king is to hold a flying contest. 

"They flocked in their millions from all over the kingdom. The ruby-throated hummingbird, the curlew and the cuckoo. The white-crested laughing thrush, the heron and the hoopoe. The robin, the flamingo, the gannet and the crane."

Birds gather and the contest begins. Of course some birds don't fly - such as the penguin. Other birds only fly very short distances such as the pheasant and the partridge. Songbirds need energy for singing. Eagle knows he will be crowned the winner. He will be the King of the Birds! But as he flies high in the sky a tiny bird pops up beside him and then she flies even higher. It is the tiny Jenny Wren. 

"A queen for the birds, not a king!"

Now go back to the problem. All of this was not about winning or ruling it was about cleaning up the mess from the storm. Jenny Wren suggests that everyone can work together. Everyone can use their own special talents and very soon the work will be done. 

This story is based on a Celtic folktale. 

The art in this book is glorious:

My only very tiny quibble (I do adore this book) is the search and find page at the back which shows twenty-five birds for readers to identify does not list the puffin which as you may know is my most favourite bird. There is a puffin on the back cover and you will spy one in this illustration.

Publisher blurb: After a terrible storm, the Kingdom of Birds is looking for a leader. Will it be the bird with the loveliest song, or the brightest plumage? The fastest in the air, or underwater? The bird who flies highest, or those who stick together and work as a team? All across the sky, birds are flocking together. Nightingales and robins, barn owls and blackbirds. The eagle, the flamingo, the birds of the moor. Curlews and cuckoos and herons and hoopoes. And Wee Jenny Wren. Let the contest begin!

The Queen of the Birds has an easy to read lyrical text which uses alliteration, rhyme, consonance and different sized fonts to give it a musical quality. The words are woven around Kate Leiper’s vibrant illustrations which include lots of white background space. Story Snug

Companion reads:

Best Test

The Go-Away Bird

Rex The Rhinoceros Beetle by M.G. Leonard illustrated by Duncan Beedie

This book caught my eye because I adored Beetle Boy by MG Leonard. Now she has written a beetle picture book.

Buster has found a huge banana. His friend Rex is VERY impressed when Buster describes the way he climbed a huge tree, cut down the banana with his sharp horn and defeated an angry snake but is this really a tall tale? The truth is revealed with the arrival of a hungry chimp. The chimp takes the banana and then reaches out to snack on a tasty beetle or two. Rex expects his friend to spring into action but instead Buster cowers in fear.

In addition to a fun story about truth and lies, heroism and loyalty, Rex The Rhinoceros Beetle also contains four pages of facts about the rhinoceros beetle.  Did you know:

• Only boy rhinoceros beetle have horns
• Baby rhinoceros beetles eat rotting wood
• Rhinoceros beetles can't bite or sting or hurt you
• Their horns are hollow and light
• Rhinoceros beetles live everywhere except Antarctica

Here is a video of MG Leonard talking about her book and then reading Rex The Rhinoceros Beetle.

MG Leonard loves insects especially beetles. If you are looking for a brilliant Middle Grade series I highly recommend all the book in the Beetle Boy series:

A friend like Ed by Karen Wagner illustrations by Janet Pedersen

"Mildred and Ed had been friends for as long as anyone could remember ... even though some thought Ed a bit unusual."

First a little warning this book from 1998 is out of print.  Here is the good news, though, the internet has given book people like me an easy way to source out of print titles from anywhere around the world and often quite cheaply.

With this in mind I decided it was time for me to find a copy of one of my all time absolute favourite picture book - A friend like Ed.  Just before Christmas my mint condition, hardcover, dust jacketed copy arrived!  Good timing for my first Blog Post of 2017!

In the illustration on the second page we see some of Ed's hobbies.  He collects :

• buttons
• feathers
• left feet socks
• string
• pennies
• pencil stubs

Making this page even more appealing especially to a librarian - Ed classifies these objects.  His buttons are 'shiney', cloth, glass, square, teeny tiny and antique.  His pencil stubs are under 1/2" and over 1/2". His string is wound into a huge ball but Ed's best talent is for making homemade, fudge-frosted, triple-layer cakes and Mildred certainly enjoys sharing a slice or two.

Mildred suggests they try inventing some poetry.  Mildred tries hard but Ed seems to have a natural talent.

Here is a poem by Mildred :
Sunset is beautiful
orange and purple.
Early evening
look so ...
yurple?

Here is a poem by Ed
Leaves are falling
winter's calling,
Before you know
There will be snow,
So let us should 'hurray'
For this warm and
sunny day.

Ed gets a little carried away with making rhymes and one day he recites a poem about lemons in the middle of supermarket.  Mildred is so embarrassed.  She goes home alone and that night has awful night mares filled with buttons.  The next day Mildred meets Pearl at the ice skating rink. Pearl looks perfect to Mildred but astute readers will notice something is not quite right about her even from her very first words "I can do anything. And I can do it better that anyone else" she declares.  Unfortunately Mildred is so swept up by the idea of a new friend she doesn't notice the true meaning here.  Pearl is a selfish and arrogant girl who will have no idea how to be a real friend.

Mildred goes to a costume party with Pearl but she is trapped at the end of the dragon suit. They go skating on the pond and Mildred asks Pearl to teach her how to twirl but Pearl tells Mildred she should just watch. Meanwhile Ed sits alone, he makes a cake but he cannot eat it so he sorts his buttons over and over again.

Mildred wakes up one morning with a taste for some fudge-frosted, triple-layer cake.  She attempts to make one for herself but on the way to buy the ingredients she sees someone skating on the pond. It is Ed.  When he leaves Mildred stares at what he has done.  He has carved one word in huge letters right into the ice!

Spoiler alert :  Mildred writes a letter to Ed and places it near his door with a small parcel.

"Dear Ed
You may think this is a pen but it is not.  It is a thousand poems waiting to be written. It is a pair of wings to help you fly.  
Love Mildred."

Ed goes over to thank Mildred and arrives just as she is putting the finishing touches on her very lopsided fudge-frosted, triple-layer cake. She is so pleased to see her friend Ed that she climbs onto a kitchen chair and recites a perfect poem just for him.

I hope that you can find a copy of A friend like Ed.  I will begin my school year by reading this to our Grade Two classes.  We will talk about being a friend, quirky collections and of course cake! I also appreciate the way it is not left to Ed or Mildred to 'fix' Pearl.  This aspect of the story will make a good discussion point for my classes.

Wagner compassionately addresses an issue that is vital to children—the wish to fit in and be accepted. 

Here is the cover of my copy :

And with great excitement I have discovered there is a sequel.  It is of course also out of print but I have ordered a copy and YES it has a dust jacket!

You might also enjoy Stanza by Jill Esbaum if you want to explore characters who are talented poets. Check out this review.