Customer Reviews

Nine Ducks Nine Big Book

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This is a wonderfully illustrated book about ducks. It is not as simplistic as that, though. Counting with a repetitious rhyme is the clencher that keeps kids reading. Their interest is maintained by the cute ducks that are constantly harassed by a fox. The story line is ingenious. I recommend all children be exposed to this book. It lends itself to numerous activities that will keep their imagination flowing.

Hayes' concept book couches counting in a tale of the "weak" triumphing over the "strong." As the nine ducks lure Mr. Fox deeper and deeper into their trap, readers follow their trail as it traverses full bleed, double page spreads of pastoral watercolors anchored by outlines. The repetitive text and winnowing number of identical white ducks heightens the tension and sense of impending doom until it crescendos with Mr. Fox's comeuppance. This role reversal--the hunter becoming the hunted--is cleverly telegraphed by the visual uniqueness of the sole remaining duck. The presence of the narrative makes this a number book suitable for learning readers. Moreover, the simplicity of the plot makes it an excellent choice for facilitating a reasoned discussion among high school students about the use of repetition as a rhetorical strategy--helping them progress from merely identifying this technique to analyzing its significance and impact.

Okay, so my daughter is only 16 months old, but we have about 50 different books for her to choose from and this is clearly her favorite. We have read this to her so many times that we sometimes hide it behind the others. No matter, she is too smart for that. She will pull out all the others and throw them on the floor until she finds "Nine Ducks Nine".