Duck in the Truck (Hardcover)

~ (Author, Illustrator) "This is the Duck driving home in a truck..." (more)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

"This is the Duck driving home in a truck./ This is the track which is taking him back." So begins this deliciously percussive rhyming story of a feathered truck driver who becomes mired in muck and the three animal Good Samaritans (a frog, a sheep and a goat) who try to help him. As Alborough's (It's the Bear; My Friend Bear) words roll out in an infectious, hard-hitting beat with more than a few rhythmic surprises, he metes out his bold pictures in perfect accompaniment. A triptych of vignettes creates a slow-motion effect as the truck first strikes a rock, is then shown aloft, and finally hits the muck; close-up spreads focus on the exasperated characters attempting to budge the vehicle. With light-hearted tension, wry characterizations and lots of squishy mud, this tale makes for a quacking good read-aloud. Ages 3-6. (Feb.)
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Kirkus Reviews

The mud may be sticky in this piece of rhymed tomfoolery from Alborough (Can You Jump Like a Kangaroo?, 1996, etc.), but the wordplay is clear and washed. Duck is motoring along a rutted country road in his old clunker truck. The truck hits a stone, bounces once, and lands in the glop. Duck hops off``These are the feet that jump the Duck down/into the muck all yucky and brown''and finds his vehicle stuck fast. Through illustrations that are so welcoming readers will want to crawl right into the artwork, Alborough then introduces Frog and Sheep and Goat, who yeomanly lend a hand. As Duck's wheels at last gain traction and he tools off into the sunset, he literally does his helpmates dirty: ``This is the Duck driving home in the truck/leaving the Frog, the Sheep, and the GoatStuck in the muck!'' A tale that is sweet, funny, and messythree attributes with which any child can identifycombines with sprightly verse and inviting illustrations to make Alborough's latest a thorough success. (Picture book. 3-6) -- Copyright ©1999, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4-8
  
• Hardcover: 40 pages
• Publisher: HarperCollins (February 29, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0060286857
• ISBN-13: 978-0060286859
• Product Dimensions: 10.7 x 9.6 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (30 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #787,944 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great book for teaching GOOD manners..., March 1, 2004

By A Customer

I agree wholeheartedly with the reviews that say "Bad Manners" review is shortsighted to say the least. If you want to engage in passive parenting and not use this book in any interactive and instructive way, then I suppose it's not the best choice. Why? Duck is like many people we meet in the world, not a bad Duck, just a little lacking in the social graces and a tad self-absorbed. Fortunately, he has good friends that model the good stuff and help him with his quandry. His story is told in a fun and engaging way with wonderful rhymes and gorgeous illustrations. It's a great book for engaging youngsters in discussions about things like friendship, patience, problem-solving and gratitude...in a completely age-appropriate way. And it's a fun ride, to boot.

Bad book? Not at all. Perhaps for someone who wants a book to do her parenting for her. But most will find it a treasure. Personally, I find it refreshing that this book teaches little lessons without explicitly telling you what those lessons are. It means I get to talk with my child--and that's what "quality time" is all about! BUY IT!

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Please ignore "Bad Manners" below, September 26, 2003

By	Timothy Hernandez "metimoteo" (the centennial state) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Amazon Verified Purchase

I am a volunteer reader for the Denver Public Library and I recently read this book to a group of preschool children. It's a fun book! This rhyming and repetition patterns of the text are characteristic of some of the finest books for young people. As far as the content of the story, yes, Duck is a character of suspect temperament, but I thought the author made that clear (Duck is an antihero). You are not expected to cheer for him. Besides as the reader, you should point out Duck's flaws to your listeners (it's your "moral" obligation). Ask your son/daughter how he/she would feel if someone treated him/her the way Duck treats his "friends". I spent time with my listeners and asked them about whether Duck was being nice to the other characters in the story and emphasized the importance of treating people well....check out the book for yourself at a library. ...

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fun story, great springboard for discussion about how people behave ..., March 3, 2006

By	Warrigal (Australia) - See all my reviews

My kids have both loved this one. The art is inspired, the predicament is hilarious, the rhyme scheme mostly works, Duck is the most gloriously hopeless egoist since Mr Toad, and the author appears to have faith in parents in general and thus leaves the ethical commentary up to you.

The ending has been the object of some controversy, but I like to think that Frog, Sheep and Goat took themselves off to the pub by way of an epilogue, forged a friendship for the ages, and then dined out on the story for years.