Customer Reviews

The Sissy Duckling

5 star:		(21)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

The Sissy Duckling is a fabulous children's book. I write this glowing review not just because I am a fan of the supremely talented actor and author, Harvey Fierstein, but because the book is genuinely good.

The story of Elmer, the different, special ducking is unique. It is funny and touching.

Anyone who has ever had a son that was different from the other boys, a son who preferred dress-up to football, baking to Pokemon, will appreciate this book.

My son does not play football or rough and tumble sports. He would rather read about knights or pirates or Napoleon. He would rather dress up as a Ninja or King than kick a soccer ball. He is not like the other boys his age --- he is more sensitive and compassionate. He is fiercly loyal and terribly creative.

If you have a unique, special little guy in your life, this is the book for him.

Oh, and I like to think of Elmer as Sassy - willing to fly his own course - rather than Sissy.

What a sweet book! I bought it because I love ducks and thought the title was so ingeneous. I read it and absolutely fell in love. I am an assistant teacher in a kindergarten and I am thinking about reading this to my class. There is one little boy who wears high heals and plays dress-up. I want to teach him it is okay to be different.

I wish I had this book when I was growing up. I wish the people I had to deal with had this book, too. Maybe then I wouldn't have had to deal with such grief. I was a sissy, the biggest sissy at my school. I had no interest in sports (and threw a ball like a girl), enjoyed dressing up in my mother's clothes, and played with Barbie dolls. And, yes, when adolescence reared its ugly head, I realized that I was a homosexual.

Concern that sissy boys will become homosexuals seems to be the main reason sissies are bullied, and told to be more masculine. But the fact is it doesn't work. People are people, and some of us are sissies, and some of the sissies, and some of the non-sissies, will grow to be homosexuals.

This book acknowledges that people are different, and our differences are what makes a world. This book is must reading for sissies, as well as the parents and teachers who deal with them.

I spotted this book in a store one day, and was enchanted. Adorable illustrations complement this simple story for children about accepting differences. While I guessed that ELmer is gay, I like how the book didn't actually say that. It described a different personality that is just different. Who cares what label goes with it, and who needs to assume? Socially, we're probably a ways off from arriving at that kind of comfort, but the harder we work to normalize it, the better. At the same time, there is nothing wrong with interpreting the story to be about sexual orientation today. The book will always be meaningful.

Some people fear showing this to their children because of the "mean faces" and "mean names," but children's stories are plenty dark aleady, sometimes even more so. I think the old "Ugly Duckling" is much sadder. Depends on the kid, of course, but it's your job as a parent to guide them through a story and explain things fairly. It's both a fable and a deeper story.

To the people who are barking about the "gay agenda": I feel sorry for you because you've resigned yourself to believing your ill-informed propaganda.

To the people who are "closeted homophobes", who try to bury their real criticism under complaints about the word "sissy" and use the oh-so-clever, "it's okay to be gay as long as they act straight in public": you're not fooling anyone and you're not helping anything. You're totally missing the point of the book and reading into all the wrong things.

Harvey Fierstein, great applause for you!

I work at Borders, and while sorting the Kids section I came across this book. While I'm getting a bit sick of every other celebrity and their dog writing a children's book, Fierstein is hilarious, so I read it on my ten-minute tea break. It was just the right balance of touching and funny, accessible to kids and quips that adults will snicker at. Any child who doesn't fit neatly into a proscribed social role should read this book. It is simply delightful.

The Sissy Duckling
By none other than the incomparable Harvey Fierstein, this book doesn't pull any punches. Elmer is a sissy duckling who is the target of bullying and scorn, and understood only by his Mama. Even Elmer's own Papa declares that "He's no son of mine!" But when Papa is shot by hunters and it's up to Elmer to save him, Papa learns firsthand about his son's true courageousness. It's disappointing and perhaps stereotypical that the father in this story is the intolerant parent who cannot accept his "different" son while the mother is accepting and shares a special relationship with him. Yet it's also sadly true that this is often exactly the case between fathers and sons, and The Sissy Duckling deals with this painful issue directly and honestly. Not an easy read, this book nevertheless imparts an important lesson for both fathers and sons.

This is an incredible story that reaches beyond any one experience in to something that I think all children feel at some point or another. It teaches courage, compassion, kindness, goodness, and love. What more could one want? This is a truly truly truly wonderful book for children (AND adults. . . ) read it for yourself!

I don't remember the last time I read a children's book (or any book for that matter) that made me laugh so much! I felt like cheering for Elmer and applauding him at the end of the story. Fierstein's humor definitely permeated this book, in spite of some darker parts in the story (such as the father duck's comments about his son). However, although I believe in keeping children innocent for as long as possible, childhood is not a fairy tale for most kids. I see nothing wrong with introducing heavier topics, such as uncaring parents, little by little, even at young ages (heck, take a look at how scary some fairy tales and Disney movies can be). Actually, many children might be able to relate to having such a cruel parent or guardian. It's amazing the amount of darkness in stories even young children can handle. Also, I don't see anything wrong with using the word, "sissy" in a book if you stop and talk to your listeners about how "sissy" can be a mean word and hurt people's feelings. Besides, there are worse words Fierstein could have used than "sissy."
In terms of some kind of pro-homosexuality agenda, there is nothing related to sex or romantic relationships in this book. Elmer does not have a boyfriend. Also, to infer Elmer is homosexual because he likes to dress up in his mother's clothes is to stereotype. I have plenty of very straight, male friends who dressed up as women for Halloween. You can't call Elmer "gay" just because he plays dress-up.
I read this book to the kids at the day care I worked in one summer, and the children ages four and over (we had children from ages 2-11 there) paid the most attention. The elementary school-aged kids answered the questions I asked as I read the story. So the best age for this book seems to be kindergarten and above.

This book is not just for kids, or [different] people. Harvey Firestein has written a book about being different, and learning to love and accept those who are different from us.

The pictures are quite bright and cheerful, and as usual Mr. Firestein shows pride in all of the characters in his story. Especially keep an eye on Elmer and his mama.

Publishers Weekly was right...this book handles its characters and the subject matter with aplomb!

"Elmer was the happiest duckling in the whole forest." But he was different from the other boy ducklings. While they boxed, built forts, and played football, Elmer baked, built sand castles and put on puppet shows. His father and the other boy ducklings called him a sissy, but his mother comforted him and tried to explain that "...sissy is a cruel way of saying that you don't do things the way others think you should." "You are special, Elmer, and being special sometimes scares those who are not." "...one day you will amaze us all." And no truer words were ever spoken. One day Elmer runs and hides from a playground fight with a bully, and later overhears his father belittling him and declaring, "He's no son of mine!" Heartbroken, Elmer runs away and makes a new home for himself in an old hollow tree deep in the forest. When disaster strikes the flock as they leave to fly south for the winter, and his father is shot by hunters, Elmer doesn't "act like a normal duck" and fly away to save himself, but stays behind, showing courage and ingenuity in the face of danger. "It may not have been what any other duck would do, but Elmer knew in his heart that it was the right thing for him to do." Harvey Fierstein has authored a sensitive story, with a positive message of acceptance, and how important it is to respect and appreciate our differences, that won't be lost on even the youngest readers. His simple and entertaining text is complemented by Henry Cole's bold, bright, and evocative illustrations, filled with eye-catching detail and marvelous facial expressions, that bring Elmer and his personality to life on the page. With its comforting and reassuring, happily-ever-after ending, The Sissy Duckling is a superb picture book that celebrates the unique and special qualities in each and every one of us. Perfect for youngsters 4-8, and best read aloud and shared, this is a wonderful, "must read" story, told with great insight, wisdom, and humor.