Webster J. Duck (Paperback)

~ (Author), David Parkins (Illustrator)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

The star of Waddell's (A Kitten Called Moonlight) heartwarming tale starts life "All folded up so he'd fit in the egg," but soon the plucky duck is out and about, looking for the mother who's nowhere to be seen. Astute readers will notice on the book's title page that Mother Duck is merely taking a swimming break in the water near the nest, but Webster J. Duck doesn't know that: he heads for the adjacent farm fields and quacks queries to increasingly larger "ducks" with waggly tails (a dog), woolly coats (a sheep) and even udders (a cow). Each time, he realizes that "My mother would go/ quack-quack like me!" His new friends, moved by his despair, offer up clarion calls of "BOW-WOW!" "BAA-BAA!" and "MOO-MOO-MOO-MOO!" and successfully beckon Webster's mother for a joyous first meeting. Even very young children may notice the striking similarities to the classic Are You My Mother? Parkins's (Aunt Nancy and Old Man Trouble) painterly watercolors, however, possess a magic and originality that's hard to resist: his lakeside landscape shimmers with light, and he endows his pint-sized protagonist with emotional depth. Ages 2-4. (Aug.)
Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From School Library Journal

PreSchool-Grade 1-Waddell's solid pacing and concrete imagery are wasted on this hackneyed plot of a baby duck in search of his mother. Parkins uses pastel watercolor and pencil for endearing portraits of the hatchling in appealing postures and to depict friendly farm animals that assist in the successful hunt. Fine turns of phrase ("feathers were shiny with tiny duck tears") are offset by unanswered questions-children never do learn where the mother has been. Lovely springtime fare to behold, but nothing fresh or innovative.
Gay Lynn Van Vleck, Henrico County Library, Glen Allen, VA
Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4-8
  
• Paperback: 32 pages
• Publisher: Candlewick (February 9, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0763624314
• ISBN-13: 978-0763624316
• Product Dimensions: 9.9 x 9.1 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.9 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,410,258 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A WARM, FUZZY REMINDER OF MOTHER LOVE, July 24, 2001

By	Gail Cooke (TX, USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 10 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)    (COMMUNITY FORUM 04)

This review is from: Webster J. Duck (Hardcover)

Few children's stories are more affecting than those concerning mother and child. Add to that scenario an adorable baby duck, and you have a sure winner. Such is the case with Martin Waddell's latest.

When tiny Webster J. Duck became restless he tapped on his eggshell with his beak. Crack went the shell and Webster got his first glimpse of a very large world. But Webster was puzzled because he didn't see his mother, and he thought that all baby ducks had a mother. He quacked and quacked, but she didn't come so he set off to find her.

In his search he found friends with wiggly tails, and wool for coats. Webster was sure none of them were his mother. Of course, the story has a happy ending, and is reassuring to young ears. It's a warm, fuzzy reminder that mother's love them and are nearby.

5.0 out of 5 stars A sweet little story, February 21, 2007

By	Mathew A. Shember (Cupertino, CA United States) - See all my reviews

Webster J. Duck is born and finds his mother is missing. He sets out to look for her. A long the way he finds a duck with a waggly tail, a big wooly duck, and a bigger then big duck. He knows they are not his mother because they bow-wow, baa-baa and moo moo rather then quack quack. The strange ducks eventually help him find his mother.

The art work has a sweet look to it and I think my daughter likes it more then the story itself.

5.0 out of 5 stars My grand-daughter's favorite, January 3, 2007

By	Shirley A. Wright (Madison, WI, USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

A delightful book for 2-4 year olds. Highlights for my grand-daughter are when Webster breaks out of his shell, the animal sounds made by the other "ducks" as he searches for his mother, his sadness at not being able to find her and the anticipated happy ending. I bought a second copy to keep at my house.