Duck and Cover [Hardcover]

Jackie Urbanovic (Author, Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 27, 2009 | Age Level: 4 and up | Grade Level: P and up

When Harold, a large green alligator with a big mouth and an even bigger appetite, shows up at Irene's door seeking shelter, everyone hides. Except Max. Max persuades the other critters that this particular runaway needs their help. So while everyone keeps busy seeing that Harold remains well fed, Max cooks up a clever plan. But is a room filled with fake alligators enough to keep the zoo detective away?

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

PreSchool-Grade 2—Irene, the patient host to a menagerie of quirky animals, finds a new visitor at her door in this follow-up to Duck at the Door (2007) and Duck Soup (2008, both HarperCollins). Her visitor is Harold, an alligator on the lam from the zoo detectives. His crime? "I just had a snack! Okay, so it was someone's pet. I didn't know that!" Max the duck puts aside his fears of being eaten and convinces everyone to take Harold in. Sure enough, he has a large appetite, though he seems happy with the gang's culinary offerings. Eventually the zoo detectives show up at Irene's door, but Harold is off the hook. "The dog we thought Harold ate wasn't the girl's PET DOG. It was her HOT DOG." The charming watercolors will give audiences plenty to look at as these expressive creatures search the house for an alligator-sized hiding place and plot to save their new guest. The animals are clearly the movers and shakers in this household, and Urbanovic has done a fine job of rendering each one with clever humanlike postures and expressions. Readers will be especially tickled by the illustration of a room full of animals all dressed in homemade alligator costumes. With a comedic story and strong visuals, Duck and Cover is sure to please.—Jayne Damron, Farmington Community Library, MI
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From Booklist

As fans of Duck at the Door (2007) and Duck Soup (2008) know, Irene’s house is a haven for homeless animals. Still, she is shocked when an alligator knocks at the door and begs for sanctuary. Duck convinces Irene to shelter the gator, though their furry and feathered housemates are frantic with terror. As they get to know Max, they do want to help him—as far as their jitters will allow. Lively ink drawings with colorful washes amplify the comedy. The story reads well, but Urbanovic’s amusing portrayals of the animal characters steal the show. Fun for reading aloud to singles or groups. Preschool-Grade 2. --Carolyn Phelan

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: HarperCollins (January 27, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0061214442
• ISBN-13: 978-0061214448
• Product Dimensions: 10.3 x 9.6 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #485,395 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Jackie Urbanovic has written and illustrated two New York Times bestsellers, Duck at the Door and Duck Soup. She lives in Silver Spring, Maryland, and shares her studio with two playful dogs and one lovable cat, all rescue animals.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars GREAT STORY AND GREAT ILLUSTRATIONS...A very funny read., July 29, 2011

By 

D. Blankenship (The Ozarks) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Duck and Cover (Hardcover)

Another adventure of Harold the Duck, and it is a most welcome addition to this wonderful series. If you remember that Harold showed up at Irene's door and she and her menagerie took the duck in as it was very cold out and the duck was hungry.

It this continuing tale, duck has taken up residents with Irene and her companions and they are in the middle of a ball game of some sort, dogs, cats, birds, rabbits, Irene and of course Harold the Duck. There is a knock on the door....a cry for help! When Irene answers the door there stands a very large alligator who has escaped from the zoo. The animals, and indeed Irene herself is terrified. Harold though knows what it is like to be without a nice comfortable home and talks the rest of the crew to letting the gaiter in. The zoo police come to the door and Irene and her friends hide the escaped reptile.

The entire book is absolutely hilarious and you cannot help smiling all the way through it. All of the animals are terrified that the big green alligator will decide to have them for a snack and they do what ever they can to keep him fed.

The story ends well as we find there was a simple misunderstanding at the zoo and the big green critter is welcomed back.

I love the art work in this one and love the story line. It is a wonderfully funny read aloud for a group or just a one on one reading. The story has enough twists and turns to keep it interesting and the illustrations are certainly able to hold a child's attention.

This book and this series get very high marks as far as I am concerned.

Don Blankenship
The Ozarks

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Duck and Cover review, September 12, 2009

By 

Lori (Texas, USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Duck and Cover (Hardcover)

Duck and Cover is a wonderful story and illustrated beautifully. My Grandson loves it. There are three books with "Max" the duck and each with it's own fun story. I highly recommend all three. Enjoy.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Duck and Cover, August 13, 2009

By 

M. Antoinette Keller "pandabear" (Preston, Idaho United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Duck and Cover (Hardcover)

When I read this book to a group of children ages four to eight they loved this book and wanted to hear it again. I loved the book too.. and hope to see more books about these animals.