From Publishers Weekly
A hungry fox tries to convince a duck family that he's just a "big, brown" version of one of them: " `Yes I am!' says the stranger./ It's really, really true!/ I can waddle, I can scuttle./ I can strut a little, too./ I'm a duck!/ I'm a duck!/ I'm a duck like you!" But Mama Duck exposes his ruse by putting the fox through his duck paces, making him wallow in a mud puddle, eat bugs and swim underwater. "I really always knew that was no duck," says Mama triumphantly, as the sopping, half-drowned fox finally slinks away. Hindley's (A Song of Colors) tight, percussive rhymes give the story a drumbeat momentum as the climax nears. Bates's (Just You and Me) watercolors possess a sunlit, translucent grace, yet he still reaps plenty of comedy from his characterizations whether it's Mama Duck's narrowed-eyed maternal skepticism or the fox's woeful look as he plunges into the drink. Other details, such as the fox's snout peeking out from the flower pots or piglets romping in the mud with the ducklings, keep the setting cheerful and familiar, and undercut the villain's menace. Ages 3-5.
Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.
From School Library Journal
reschool-Grade 1--While out for a walk, Mama Duck and her five babies meet a stranger who claims that he is also a duck, despite his "wicked foxy nose" and matching smile. Not fooled for a minute, Mama puts him to the test, watching closely as he tries to imitate the birds' behavior. After catching him drooling over one of her offspring, she leads the group into a river, where all of the ducks pop back up to the surface and the intruder sinks like a stone. Filled with bouncy rhymes and alliteration, the text is delightful to read aloud. The tension builds throughout the story, but the tone remains light, and there is never any doubt that Mama Duck has things firmly under control. The double-page watercolor paintings feature the earthy tones of the farmyard setting. Soft gray and black lines add detail and a sense of movement to the pictures. Humorous moments are highlighted, as the fox tries to waddle, chokes down a mouthful of bugs, and holds his nose while jumping into the water. His appearance goes from sleek and sinister to damp and defeated, while Mama Duck never ruffles a feather. A perfect choice for storytime, this enjoyable tale pairs well with others about foxes outfoxed, such as Mem Fox's Hattie and the Fox (Bradbury, 1987) or Pat Hutchins's Rosie's Walk (Macmillan, 1968).
Joy Fleishhacker, formerly at School Library JournalCopyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.
