Duck [Hardcover]

Randy Cecil (Author, Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 12, 2008 | Age Level: 3 and up | Grade Level: P and up

The creator of Gator presents an enchanting follow-up about a carousel animal who longs to fly — and a love that is bigger than the skies.

Duck is a carousel animal who spends her days watching flocks of real, flying ducks — and her nights dreaming of soaring among them. Flying is all she can think about, until the day a lost little duckling waddles into her life. Soon Duck and Duckling are inseparable: they walk together, play together, even dream of flying together. Then the time comes when Duckling's yellow fuzz is replaced by long white feathers, and Duck is determined to do whatever it takes to help him learn to fly. But what if helping Duckling find his wings means being left behind?

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Returning to the scene of his book Gator (2007), Cecil here introduces another of the animals, Duck. Duck’s dream is to fly, but with wooden wings. He’s happily distracted when he meets little Duckling, but eventually Duck realizes his pal needs to learn how to fly. The question is: How is he going to do that? Much of the sentiment here will appeal more to an adult than a child, especially the way Duck must let Duckling go and try his wings. Then there’s the climactic moment when full-grown Duckling reappears; now it’s his turn to take Duck on his back and show him what flying is all about. Cecil’s varied design keeps visual interest. Some pictures are full page, some are round cameos in frames, and still others are impressive two-page spreads. The animals are charmers, and though the message may be lost on children, they will still respond to the warmth and love that the ducks feel for each other. Preschool-Grade 1. --Ilene Cooper

About the Author

Randy Cecil has illustrated many books for children, including LOOKING FOR A MOOSE by Phyllis Root, AND HERE'S TO YOU! by David Elliot, WE'VE ALL GOT BELLYBUTTONS! by David Martin, and MY FATHER THE DOG by Elizabeth Bluemle. He is also the author-illustrator of GATOR, about Duck’s friend and fellow carousel animal. Randy Cecil lives in Houston.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 3 and up
  
• Hardcover: 40 pages
• Publisher: Candlewick (February 12, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0763630721
• ISBN-13: 978-0763630720
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 0.3 x 11 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #757,869 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Randy Cecil has illustrated many books for children, including Looking For a Moose by Phyllis Root, and And Here's To You! by David Elliott. He is also the author-illustrator of Gator and Duck. His latest book is Brontorina by James Howe. Randy Cecil lives in Houston. To learn more about Randy, visit http://www.randycecil.com.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Helped me babysit little Devon and made him laugh!, March 16, 2009

By 

Betty L. Dravis "BETTY DRAVIS, author/reviewer" (Silicon Valley, CA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Duck (Hardcover)

It's about time for me to get back to reading and reviewing my beloved children's books. I chose this one because it seemed perfect for my great-grandson Devon.

Duck is a simple story about...well, er...a duck, a carousel animal who dreams of flying like the real ducks soaring in the sky above her. That's all Duck can think about, but wait till you see what happens when a lost duckling waddles into her life. They become fast friends and end up helping each other...in the most charming ways.

Author-illustrator Randy Cecil surely understands kids and what they like; his writing is enchanting and the illustrations capture the story, making it easy for little ones to grasp the meaning...even without words.

Since Devon turned one on January 27th, this was not the perfect book for him; there are picture books better suited for his age (perhaps I really bought DUCK for Grandma. lol) But as I read along, turning the pages, he grinned, laughed or clapped at each illustration. That's good enough for me!

I can't say enough about Randy Cecil. He's already known for illustrating other well-received books for authors like Phyllis Root, David Martin and Elizabeth Bluemle, and he wrote AND illustrated the ever-popular GATOR.

Kudos, Mr. Cecil for another book that will entertain our children for hours on end. DUCK will go in Devon's library and be re-read to him many times through his formative years.

Highly recommended.

Reviewed by: Betty Dravis, March, 2009

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars My daughter thanks you implicitly Betty Dravis!!!, March 24, 2009

By 

Andrew Ellington (I'm kind of everywhere) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Duck (Hardcover)

On March 17th I read a little review by one of my Ammy buddies, Betty Dravis, that raved this little book called `Duck'. I loved her review so much that I ordered the book that day (does this site pay commissions?) and it arrived to me just before the weekend. Since then I've read the book a record twelve times, and my wife just called me to tell me that my daughter got up this morning and went immediately to her closet, pulled this book off her shelf and started yelling "book, book, book!"

What's even better is that, not only does she love this book, but so do I!

I love children's books that are interactive, because they help hold my daughter's interest thus making for a more fulfilling reading experience. I mentioned in another review that `Where the Wild Things Are' is a perfect example of interactive literature, for it urges my daughter to howl and dance and parade through my living room. `Duck' has plenty of similar moments that keep her entertained. Not only does she love to "quack" (it is the cutest thing ever) but she also loves to run around the living room flapping her wings. The illustrations in the book are also delightful to look at, which makes for a fun reading time since they not only make her smile, they make me smile as well.

I will say this for the book; it is not meant for small children. My daughter is nineteen months now and even though she loves this book and insists I read it to her, towards the end I can tell it's running a bit long for her. That's why it's nice that she can get up and pretend to fly, but sitting there for the entire length of the book is difficult for her sometimes. Even still, she keeps begging for me to read it to her, so go figure.

My ONLY real complaint is the fact that they use the word `duck' `duckling' and `ducks' so much that I find myself getting tongue tied sometimes. It would have been nice to have given the duck a name so as to help differentiate; that way we aren't saying practically the same word three times in a sentence. That's it though, for aside from that I have no complaints. The story (about a carousel duck who longs to fly) is sweet and moving and will serve as a wonderful tale for when my little angel gets a tad older and can really understand what I'm reading to her.

With a wonderful story and splendid illustrations, `Duck' is one of my new favorite children's books and is sure to be a favorite of yours and your children (or grandchildren) as well.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars so sweet, June 2, 2008

By 

D. Harper - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Duck (Hardcover)

This book is adorable and sweet. The illlustrations re wonderful and the relationship between the big duck and the duckling is endearing.