Customer Reviews

Duck, Duck, Goose

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Ducks and geese are not immediately adorable creatures. Anyone who has ever been bitten by a duck or chased by a hissing goose will agree with me here. Yet due to that law of nature that states that any and all creatures must start out cute in order to survive (the sole exception being pandas), baby ducks and baby geese are nothing short of adorableness incarnate. With his first book "Duck and Goose", author/illustrator Tad Wade went from fabulous Halloween costumer designer and husband of half of Schwartz & Wade to a star in his own right. His book was the kind of cute that everyone can agree on. There is good cute in this world and there is bad cute (ala Disney Cuties) and Mr. Hills has successfully placed his creations in the former category. His first Duck & Goose book was a well-deserved hit and now a sequel is here to follow-up the tale. If a ball was the mysterious visitor in the first book, imagine what a mysterious talking visitor could do.

Goose doesn't know it, but there's a new duck in the pasture and it goes by the name of Thistle. One day, as Goose attempts to maintain the butterfly that has landed on his head, his act of concentration is disrupted by the untimely arrival of Duck and his new friend Thistle. Thistle is a small highly-competitive duckling, and she's extraordinarily eager to show off her prowess in everything from adding to balancing sticks to hopping on one foot. Goose competes against this little challenger for a while, but he just can't seem to best her in anything. As such, he goes off to do his own thing, leaving the two ducks together. Duck, however, finds that though Thistle is admirable, she's also a bit tiring. He locates Goose once more and when their over-achieving (not to say egotistical) neighbor arrives, they have a contest to see who can fall asleep the fastest for the longest. Thistle complies and the two remaining friends go off to play with their ball, happy in the knowledge that this is one game where no one has to come off as "the best".

This will sound like an odd compliment, but I'm going to mean every word of it. Children's books fall all too easily into the well-worn grooves of their predecessors. You have your Amelia Bedelia knock-offs, your Where the Wild Things Are knock-offs, your Eloise knock-offs, etc. The Frog and Toad knock-offs are what I'm thinking of in this particular case. Lots of books feature two friends where one is perpetually grumpy and the other perpetually sunny. One worries and the other flits about. I can think of five different books off the top of my head that fit this formula, and without having read this book you might think that the Duck and Goose qualify for this stereotype. What makes Mr. Hills work so remarkable, however, is that he's managed to put a great deal of characterization into Duck, Goose, and Thistle without complicating his narrative or making it overly familiar. Goose would seemingly be a perfect candidate for grouchiness, but there's a subtlety to his low-key enthusiasm. Goose is not pleased with the appearance of Thistle, but he has the wherewithal to keep such thoughts to himself. When Thistle grows too intolerable a personality to hang out with any longer, Goose simply leaves and does his own thing. He may be jealous of Duck's admiration of this new friend, but he doesn't dwell on it. Kids will undoubtedly feel Goose's jealousy for him, but because he doesn't make a federal case out of it, Duck soon sees how Thistle is just a bit "much" and is quick to join his old friend once more. And though this isn't a moralizing book, "Duck, Duck, Goose" teaches kids a very subtle lesson. Think your best friend's new pal is annoying? Give your buddy some space and that fact will soon be apparent to them as well. I also enjoyed the fact that right from the start it becomes clear that all of Thistle's posturing is probably overcompensation for her diminutive size. Her scream of "I'm not little" at the story's beginning is an excellent example of how a picture book author can give characters full three-dimensional personalities with a minimum of wordplay.

The art of Tad Hills is just a joy as well. As with its predecessor, "Duck, Duck, Goose begins with dreamy endpapers that begin and end our tale from a distance. Here is the meadow, the lily pond, and the shady thicket where everything takes place. Here, at the start, is Goose standing stock still with a butterfly perched on his head. And in the distance you can see Duck and Thistle talking, just before they rush in and disrupt Goose's complacency. Duck and Goose are their regular cute selves, but Thistle is an interesting addition. She is smaller than the other resident fowls and tries to make up for it by moving posing, and dancing about as much as she possibly can. The cover is a beautiful example of the façade she puts on. And can I say, by the way, that I loved that the ending of this book wasn't one where Thistle stops showing off and befriends Goose? That would have been SO easy for the author to do, and at the same time it would have been dull as dishwater to read. Instead, the two friends leave Thistle asleep under a bush and go play by themselves. That way, kids who grow to really dislike Thistle will cheer on her being left behind and kids who adore Thistle will see her nap as a way of winning a contest yet again. Ah, but back to the art. Bright clear colors, great expressions, and visual gags like a near-unconscious Goose conked out after losing a hold-your-breath contest make this book just a sheer pleasure to page through.

Some kids will undoubtedly bemoan the all-too-brief appearance of Bluebird in this book. After having established herself as the voice of reason in the first tale, it would have been nice to give her a little more page time here. Mr. Hills, however, is undoubtedly well-aware of this and I'm sure that once this book becomes the hit it is bound to be, he'll give the Bluebird her moment to shine in the sun. Until then, no one's going to complain at all about having more fun with Duck and Goose. It has all the elements of a classic picture book and, I dare say, is better than the first in the series. A must-have purchase if I ever saw one.

My 2 year old daughter received this book recently for her birthday and it is great. Tad Hills' ability to mix sarcasm and wit into a children's story is impressive. Of the 50 or so books she has, I put this in the top 5 that *I* enjoy reading. There aren't too many of those, especially when they get read several times a week.

I'm now looking to buy DUCK AND GOOSE.

I am a big fan of this series, but this book cannot remain in our house. It IS a sweet stories showing the dynamics of adding a new (exhausting) friend to the mix. However, it is completely ruined for me by the author's "solution" for getting a break from the exaughsted, likely younger new friend. They lie. They lad thistle to believe that they are all going to take a nap. Thistle falls asleep, but they don't even rtry. They sneak off to play behind her back. Kids are going to learn those little lies and trickery on their own. They don't need a book to show it as the preferable answer.
Very disappointed

A great sequel to the first book... "Duck and Goose" look like they'll be simplistic and overly-basic -- both the artwork and the text are deceptively plain -- but these little guys actually have a richer and more believable emotional life than many picturebook characters. The newcomer, Thistle, is one of the most believable brats to be seen on the printed page in quite a while... But you still gotta love her!

These books might not have a long shelf-life (kids will probably move on past them fairly quickly...) but while Duck and Goose they are your book friends, you're lives will be enriched. Definitely worth checking out! (ReadThatAgain!)

Tad Hills' DUCK, DUCK, GOOSE tells of a couple who are friends forever - until new duck Thistle comes along. Thistle impresses Duck - but Goose is NOT impressed. Can the three get along, or is somebody destined to be left out? A warm story evolves.

In the opinion of my almost 3 year old Grandson, these are the best books ever!!! He received lots and lots of presents this Christmas as he is an only grandchild on both sides of his family. I spent less than $5.00 on this book and another in the series, and he was thrilled. The other toys and books have been put aside for later, while he reads, I read and we both re-read "Duck,Duck, Goose. There is something quite endearing about the little characters in this book, and several of the other books in the series subtlely teach valuable lessons to preschoolers. I also like the cardboard pages as they hold up well with the toddler crowd. 4 thumbs up!!

My children absolutely LOVED the book "Duck & Goose How are you feeling?" and I wanted to continue their collection of this masterpiece!! That is what it truly is, a masterpiece in literature, and in design. I would highly recommend it to every person who has children, and who may work with children. It explains feelings in a way that helps little ones identify with in their own lives. It is so very, very thoughtfully written. I was amazed tremendously, as I had been searching for a book that appeals to a very young audience, and I was dismayed at many of the selections I looked through-either the illustrations did not flow well, or the message was difficult to decipher independently, and TAD HILLS books are just exactly what any child would be drawn to, and learn from, and really have a great sense of appreciation for. If you are reading this Mr. Hills, "thank you, thank you, thank you so much!!!!" You really understand children!

I bought this book for my daughter who is an early childhood education major. She requested it after reviewing it in class. Great book!

My kids and I giggled our way through Duck and Goose, Tad Hills' first book starring these two lovable characters. With DUCK, DUCK, GOOSE, our favorite quacker and honker are back -- but this time there's another character thrown into the mix, and three is most definitely a crowd.

Duck is very excited to introduce Thistle, the new duck who just moved into the area, to his best friend Goose. And, at first, Goose is just as happy to meet this new duck.

That is, until Goose soon learns that Thistle is the best at everything, and I mean everything! She's the fastest, she's the best at math, she's had three butterflies land on her bill at the same time (compared to Goose's one), she can hold her breath the longest, run up the hill the fastest, and...well, the list goes on and on.

Goose learns very quickly that Thistle is the best, and that no one else can ever hope to measure up. And yet he's tired of everything always being turned into a contest. So he has no choice but to leave Duck and Thistle to their own devices and rest, by himself, behind his and Duck's favorite bush.

DUCK, DUCK, GOOSE is a wonderful book, about meeting new people, the spirit of competition, and the true meaning of friendship. Both toddlers and older readers will be enchanted, once again, by Tad Hills' brilliant illustrations, and the story will have them alternately laughing-out-loud and commiserating with how left out and lonely Goose feels.

This one is another winner, and definitely deserves a place on your keeper shelf!

Reviewed by: Jennifer Wardrip, aka "The Genius"

Description on this book stated it was in very good condition. I was apprehensive to purchase it since it was used, but I had to replace a lost library book (because it was chepaer than paying all the late fees)and the library employee suggested buying a used one in good condtion online. The book came in a timely manner and seemed to be in very good condition, as described. I will definitely consider purchasing more used books online for myself and my kids.