Do Like a Duck Does! (Paperback)

~ (Author), Ivan Bates (Illustrator)

Editorial Reviews

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.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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 Journal
Copyright 2002 Cahners 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: 40 pages
• Publisher: Candlewick (February 13, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0763632848
• ISBN-13: 978-0763632847
• Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 7.8 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #500,462 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Is He Really A Duck?, July 3, 2002

By	Roz Levine (Virginia) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)

This review is from: Do Like a Duck Does! (Hardcover)

Mama Duck is out leading her five baby ducks, and putting them through their paces. "Quack!" says Mama Duck./"That's the way to be!/Do like a duck does!/Do like me!" But who's that "creep-creeping" at the end of the line? He says he's a duck, a big brown duck, "Well, he has no feathers/and he has no beak./He has four claws/on his hairy-scary feet./He has two ears/that stick up a mile,/and a wicked/foxy nose/and a wicked/foxy smile." But shrewd Mama Duck isn't really fooled. She tells that old fox, "Do like a duck does", and pretty soon she has him waddling, scuttling, and strutting, jumping into mud puddles, eating bugs and beetles, running through thistles, and diving into the river. "Down go the ducklings, all tails up! And down goes the stranger. Glup! Glup! Glup!" Judy Hindley's entertaining text is full of rhyme, rhythm, and lots of energy, and complemented by Ivan Bates' engaging illustrations. Each action filled, two page spread is rich in farmyard detail, humor, marvelous facial expressions, and personality that bring the characters to life. And as that old "hairy-scary" fox slinks home with his tail between his legs, little ones will revel at being in on all the fun. Perfect for preschoolers, Do Like A Duck Does! is a joyous, manic romp kids will beg to read again and again, and that's sure to become a new favorite at your house.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fun book for kids under 6, September 3, 2005

By	K. Kohlhepp (palm harbor, fla) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Do Like a Duck Does! (Hardcover)

My 4 year just loved this book. I am still reading it to him almost 2 years later!!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Perfect for Storytime, April 3, 2004

By	Tabitha Hogan "birdylibrarystudent" (Winfield, KS United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Do Like a Duck Does! (Hardcover)

As a children's librarian, I read and book play with lots of picture books....and this is MY FAVORITE storytime book! This book is a no-fail, fun, and rhyming story. Each time this story is read, the children intently listen and study the pictures...by the end, they are telling the story with me. Then the fun begins again when we re-enact this wonderful tale. Thank you Judy Hindley & Ivan Bates. I recommend this to everyone who parents or works with preschoolers.