Customer Reviews

Duck

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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

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.

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

This is one of the sweetest books in my son's collection. We have many books that I know someday we will ultimately donate to charity, but this will stay in our permanent collection. The illustrations are lovely and the story is so nice: One day, a lonely carousel duck is befriended by a baby duck, but ultimately has to encourage the baby to be with real ducks so the baby can learn to fly. The carousel duck is then lonely, but the baby returns when he is grown and puts the carousel duck on his back so the carousel duck can see what it is to fly! Very uplifting.

Love this book. Pure and simple. LOVE this book. And so does our daughter. This is one of the books that goes into the gift basket when our friends are expecting.

A sweet, gentle tale about a carousel animals who longs to fly, and the duckling she fosters until he flies away with the real flyiing ducks.

Thisbook is a gem.

For synopsis please see above. Watching the faces of of the students when I read this book aloud in my elementary school library is so much fun. Their reactions vary but my favorite was when Duck was going to teach Duckling to fly and a little girl said "but she can't fly she's not real." It is one of the books nominated for the 10-11 CYRM so I read it 3 times today and will certainly enjoy reading it about 25 times more!
The illustrations are lovely and the story flows well.

Um, I'm a grown up...and I like it. So, maybe there is something to the review that suggested grownups will relate to it more. I bought it for the kid's shelf I keep filled for my niece/nephews/goddaughter...but I'm pretty sure I picked it out for me. I love little ducks. And, I loved the poignancy of it. Dreaming, sharing, teaching...helping others find wings you may never have. The end is, actually, rather happy (little duck does come back and help duck fly). It's really rather lovely. And it's a nice book to read...and think of other people who've helped you find your wings.

I just read Duck... again, again...

What a beautiful, gorgeous, wonderful touching book. Even as my son gets older, 5 now, we still love this one together. I can't say for sure that I've ever read it without tearing up a little.

What a wonderfully written and illustrated book!

Thanks Randy!