One Duck Stuck: A Mucky Ducky Counting Book [Paperback]

Phyllis Root (Author), Jane Chapman (Illustrator)

Book Description

Release date: March 1, 2003 | Age Range: 2 - 5 years

"Perfect for reading aloud, this counting book not only contains bright bold illustrations but also has lots of . . . sound effects that children will love to replicate."— Booklist

Down by the marsh,
by the sleepy,
slimy marsh,
one duck
gets stuck in the muck . . .

Can two fish, tails going swish, help? What about three moose, munching on spruce? Bright, spirited illustrations by Jane Chapman enhance this one-of-a-kind counting tale by Phyllis Root - a feast of sounds and numbers that will have listeners scrambling to join in the slippy, sloppy fun.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

"Splish, clomp, pleep, plop, plunk, sloosh, slosh, slink, zing." Who can resist a read-aloud featuring sounds like these? When, "Down by the marsh, by the sleepy, slimy marsh, one duck gets stuck in the muck," who comes to the rescue? Two fish, splishing, for starters. Then three moose clomping, four crickets pleeping, and so on. Still, "No luck. Still stuck." It takes a whole lot of teamwork to get this particular stuck duck unstuck from the muck, but this cheerful bunch is definitely up to the task.

From one duck to 10 dragonflies, the muddy fun never stops in Phyllis Root's chunky little board book. Young readers will giggle their way through the numbers, and by the time the duck's foot is released with a "Spluck!" counting will be a cinch. Jane Chapman's lush illustrations are full of marshy colors and muddy detail. The right side of each two-page spread shows the hapless duck earnestly waiting for liberation by its lively rescuers, while on the opposite side the featured number is printed, large and bold, over the text, and the splishers and ploppers are depicted again for easy counting. Chapman's enchanting art is also found in The Emperor's Egg, among other titles, and Root's other popular stories include Kiss the Cow!. (Baby to preschool) --Emilie Coulter --This text refers to the Board book edition.

From Publishers Weekly

Just as the title of this satisfying counting book says, there's one duck stuck (in the muck, as it turns out). Different groups of marshland creatures, from two fish to 10 dragonflies, appear with an offer of help. Each arrival is described with verbal relish: "Nine snakes/ leaving little wakes/ slither to the duck./ Slink, slink." However, no matter what the number or the species, the result is the same: the duck stays stuck. Root's (Mrs. Potter's Pig) wordplay finds an effective visual counterpart in Chapman's (Dora's Eggs) full-bleed gouaches. The illustrator revels in juxtaposing strong colors, so that the hues in her palette pop with a primary-like brightness. But the book does suffer from a major leap in logic: it's never clear how the animals tried to use their distinctive talents in their failed attempts to free the duck. When they all finally gather to effect a joint rescue effort, nothing happens except a recap of the funny noises they make; on the penultimate spread, the duck simply steps out of the goo with a "Spluck!" Will children wonder why the duck didn't extract itself earlier? Probably notAthey'll be too enchanted by Chapman's vibrant pictures and the immensely satisfying sounds and rhythms of Root's text. Ages 2-5.
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Age Range: 2 - 5 years
  
• Paperback: 40 pages
• Publisher: Candlewick (March 1, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0763615668
• ISBN-13: 978-0763615666
• Product Dimensions: 10.8 x 0.2 x 9.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (42 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #28,651 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #17 in Books > Children's Books > Animals > Ducks & Other Waterfowl
  • #67 in Books > Children's Books > Animals > Farm Animals

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Board book not the same as the original November 20, 2004

By Phil G.

Format:Board book|Amazon Verified Purchase

It didn't take long for my 2 1/2 year old son to start saying the words along with me. He loves saying the numbers and " stuck in the muck...". It is written in an amusing and rythmic fashion, so it is easy to read and remember. I originally got the book from the library, and my son loved it so much, I bought it. But, unfortunately, the board book is so abridged, that it leaves out all of the fun word play. Go for the original book. It will be a hit with any kid.

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful

1.0 out of 5 stars Board Book Edition ONLY - regular edition gets 5 stars December 1, 2003

By "elfling8"

Format:Board book

I checked this book out of the library and my daughter and I loved it. So, I ordered the board book version for her (she's 1 1/2), and found that a good 1/2 of the book is cut out. I'm returning it and getting the regular edition. So, if you like the toungue twisting verses, don't buy the board book.

20 of 22 people found the following review helpful

1.0 out of 5 stars It's ABRIDGED! August 6, 2004

By P. DiNardo

Format:Board book

All the charm of the original, and all the clever rhymns, are left OUT of the board book version. I LOVE the original, and was so excited to see a board book edition, until I started to read it aloud to my twin toddlers. Get the original, paper version. It's SO CUTE!

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Not full version January 30, 2002

By A Customer

Format:Board book

I purchased this book for my son to replace his well used copy.
I was very disappointed to find out that it is not the full version. This should be mentioned in the item's description. Now I will have to purchase another book[the full version] elsewhere.
I would however give the full version a rating of 5 stars.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars One Duck Stuck -- What Luck! June 24, 2000

By "carntire"

Format:Hardcover

One Duck Stuck is a darling children's book -- that moms and dads will love, too! We checked this out of the library, and liked it so much we went to amazon.com and bought 3!

It's rhythmic verse is enchanting and the kids recite it like a song. The alliteration is clever, as well.

The illustrations are colorful and alive!

The whole book just draws you in and makes you want to read it over and over again.

It's a feel-good, happy, sing-song little story the whole family will love.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars One Duck Stuck everywhere wonderful! August 28, 2004

By phmom

Format:Board book

I have read this book to my children and all the neighborhood children! I have even brought this book into their classrooms when I was asked to read to the class. I made up flash cards for them to holler out the "help, help" etc. The students just LOVED it and by the end of the book they were all joining in! GREAT fun!! for all ages!

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A fast favorite with my toddler. December 2, 2003

By Lemonade-stand

Format:Board book

My one year loves books - but not just any books. They have to be quick paced (to keep up with his fast page turning), have colorful and interesting illustrations, and have a repetitive but catchy story-line.

ONE DUCK STUCK delivers on all three counts and became a favorite the day we got it. The cheerful rhyme "no luck, still stuck" repeats on almost ever page, the story is cute with a good moral (all the animals work together to free the stuck duck) and the pictures are vibrant and interesting to the youngest of readers. We own tons of books but this is one of my son's top four and is re-read time and time again without him losing interest.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful! January 9, 2000

By Fogndog

Format:Hardcover

My 2 1/2 year old loves calling out the rhyming words as we read through this book - duck, stuck, muck. Nicely illustrated. Be prepared to read this over and over.