From School Library Journal
PreSchool-Grade 1-The lovable yet disruptive protagonist from Duck in the Truck (2000) and Fix-It Duck (2002, both HarperCollins) is back. Puttering along in his bright red truck, he runs out of fuel. What to do? He snatches a can of gas out of Goat's shed, but his getaway is quickly diverted by the sight of Frog heading to the dock for a boat ride with Goat and Sheep. As Goat runs back for something (it turns out to be gas), he warns them not to touch "the string." Along comes Duck, who can't resist, and soon Frog is waterskiing behind the out-of-control boat. When it runs out of gas, a long night washed out to sea is in store for the friends. Finally, they drift in on the tide, and Goat "busts" the bird for his fuel thievery. A comic ending shows Duck heading off for more gas while the others are back out in the boat. As in the previous two (mis)adventures, Alborough uses funny rhymes and words to great effect. The animals burst out of the boisterous, colorful pictures, which are sometimes in sequenced frames across a spread to show the course of events. This tale will definitely be a crowd pleaser for the preschool set, especially if paired with Eric Rohmann's My Friend Rabbit (Roaring Brook, 2002) for a storyhour on well-meaning, yet trouble-packing friends.
Bina Williams, Bridgeport Public Library, CTCopyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Review
Praise for the much-loved 'Duck in the Truck': With a nod to Dr. Suess and a wink to John Burningham, Jez Alborough deals an irresistible lesson in rhyme and analogy, as well as storytelling, which is hugely entertaining. 'Child Education' Alborough's pictures are addictive, combining graphic simplicity with painterly qualities... Duck in the Truck is a picture book where rhyme, illustration, wit and inventiveness combine to produce outstanding quality. 'TES Primary' Praise for Fix-it-Duck: Alborough's text is perfect for reading out loud and the mix of close-up and panoramic illustrations give an animated, live-action feel. 'Junior' 'Colourful, arresting and busting with action.' Child Education More praise for 'Duck in the Truck: Alborough's text is perfect for reading out loud, and the mix of close-up and panoramic illustrations give an animated, live action feel. 'Junior Magazine' Duck in the Truck is packed with all the rhyme, colour, imagination and humour a young reader could ask for. 'Young Book Trust' More praise for 'Fix-it-Duck': Rhyme, illustration, wit and inventiveness combine to produce outstanding quality. 'TES Primary' With light-hearted tension, wry characterisations and lots of squishy mud, this tale makes for a quacking good read-aloud. 'Publishers Weekly', US Praise for 'Balloon': Confirms Alborough's reputation for simple, lively, rhythmic picture books with a sense of fun. 'Sunday Times' Immensely appealing. 'Bookseller' You'll be coming back to this picture book again and again. 'Independent'
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
