Just Ducks! [Hardcover]

Nicola Davies (Author), Salvatore Rubbino (Illustrator)

Book Description

Release date: March 27, 2012 | Age Range: 5 - 9 years | Lexile Measure: 940L (What's this?)

A young girl shares her observations about the mallards near her house in an engaging, informative story sure to make a splash with duck lovers.

Quack quack, Quack-quaack-quack.
It’s the first sound I hear every morning.

The young girl in this story may live in the city, but outside her window there’s a river full of mallard ducks! She hears them as soon as she wakes up, and on the way to school she sees them upside down bobbing for food. Interspersed with fun facts, her enthusiastic commentary about her feathered neighbors — what they look like, how they behave, where they nest, where they sleep — pairs swimmingly with cheerful watercolor illustrations.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Davies’s young narrator builds an impressive body of knowledge about ducks simply by watching the birds that live on and around the river that runs through her town...The text, set in a beautiful typeface that recalls rippling water, is pitch-perfect throughout, enthusiastic and confident, knowing without becoming precocious. Rubbino’s watercolors combine a sketchbook immediacy and economy with an appreciation for the ducks’ streamlined shape, handsome coloration, and placid and genial demeanor. Positively ducky all around.
—Publishers Weekly (starred review)

The daily activities of a young girl propel the easy-flowing language full of ducky details. Perfectly placed additional facts in smaller and similar-in-tone text are included on each spread...While Davies’ text gently informs, Rubbino’s mixed-media illustrations, done in a subdued palette of watery greens, grays and browns, truly impress... An ideal introduction to this familiar waterfowl—readers will enjoy diving right in.
—Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

A charming and informative tribute to the ubiquitous duck... The mixed-media artwork adds a sweet, old-fashioned character to the story. Created in a palette of greens and browns, the illustrations reflect the peaceful setting of the natural habitat in which these birds live. Like Robert McCloskey’s MAKE WAY FOR DUCKLINGS (Viking, 1941), this gentle picture book celebrates the wonder and awe nature can inspire in everyday life.
—School Library Journal (starred review)

The easy-going, colloquial tone of the text makes the information surprisingly easy to absorb... Rubbino’s watercolor paintings have a wonderful freshness and spontaneity about them, capturing the look and body language of ducks, while including details of physiology mentioned in the story. Beautiful, informative, and fine for reading aloud.
—Booklist (starred review)

About the Author

Nicola Davies is a zoologist and the award-winning author of many books for children, including Surprising Sharks, illustrated by James Croft; Ice Bear: In the Steps of the Polar Bear, illustrated by Gary Blyth; and White Owl, Barn Owl, illustrated by Michael Foreman. Nicola Davies lives in Wales.

Salvatore Rubbino is the author-illustrator of A Walk in New York and A Walk in London, the latter of which is an ode to his home city.

Product Details

• Age Range: 5 - 9 years
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Candlewick (March 27, 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0763659363
• ISBN-13: 978-0763659363
• Product Dimensions: 10.1 x 0.3 x 10.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #67,140 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #38 in Books > Children's Books > Animals > Ducks & Other Waterfowl
  • #55 in Books > Children's Books > Travel & Cultures > Where We Live > City Life

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars Entertaining Story March 2, 2013

By Irene's Christian Reviews

Format:Hardcover

I gave this book 4/5 stars. I thought the story was entertaining as it followed ducks and how they spend their days. I did not, however, enjoy the illustrations. I thought they were too brown and rather boring. If there had been better illustrations I would have enjoyed the story more. That said if a child likes ducks or if you live in a place where you see them a lot your child will enjoy reading about how they spend their day.

4.0 out of 5 stars 4 maggie January 11, 2013

By Thomas T. Wilheit

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

It looks like what I was expecting. I bought it based on the review in "Science". I think my granddaughter will love it.

5.0 out of 5 stars Perfect For Bird Lovers January 2, 2013

By Abigail M Ehn

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

Our son loves birds of all kinds. This book is a cute little story about a girl and the ducks outside her window. I especially love the new vocab words like "preening" and the definition that follows. What a great way to teach kids.