Duck for President (New York Times Best Illustrated Books (Awards)) (Hardcover)

~ (Author), Betsy Lewin (Illustrator) "Running a farm is very hard work..." (more)
Key Phrases: coffee stains, Farmer Brown

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

PreSchool-Grade 2--This award-winning team returns with a third story of farm animals with ambition. Duck is tired of doing his chores (mowing the lawn and grinding the coffee beans), and decides to hold an election to replace Farmer Brown. When he wins, Duck quickly realizes that running a farm requires too much hard work, and sets out to run for governor. With the help of the hens, and speeches "that only other ducks can understand," he eventually ends up running the country. Executive office gives him a headache, however, so Duck returns to the farm to work on his autobiography--on a computer, with the typewriter from Click, Clack, Moo(S & S, 2000) in the wastepaper bin next to him. Lewin's characteristic humorous watercolors with bold black outlines fill the pages with color and jokes. Cronin's text is hilarious for kids and adults and includes a little math and quite a bit about the electoral process. The animals, who have no verbal language that humans can understand, are empowered by the use of the written word, and the subliminal message comes through loud and clear--one can almost hear youngsters thinking, "Watch out grown-ups! Just wait till I learn to read."--Jane Barrer, Washington Square Village Creative Steps, New York City
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Product Description

My fellow Americans:

It is our pleasure, our honor, our duty as citizens to present to you Duck for President. Here is a duck who began in a humble pond. Who worked his way to farmer. To governor. And now, perhaps, to the highest office in the land.

Some say, if he walks like a duck and talks like a duck, he is a duck.

We say, if he walks like a duck and talks like a duck, he will be the next president of the United States of America.

Thank you for your vote.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4-8
  
• Hardcover: 40 pages
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing; 1 edition (March 2, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0689863772
• ISBN-13: 978-0689863776
• Product Dimensions: 10.1 x 7.8 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (49 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #382,183 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Mr. Duck Goes to Washington, September 23, 2004

By	E. R. Bird "Ramseelbird" (Manhattan, NY) - See all my reviews (TOP 50 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

Writing a satirical picture book is very hard work. Yet when author Doreen Cronin and her partner in crime illustrator Betsy Lewin wanted to write a coy clever encapsulation of politics for young `uns, they knew they had a character at their fingertips just itching to be used. Having first appeared in the duo's much loved, "Click, Clack, Moo", and risen to power in the subsequent, "Giggle, Giggle, Quack", Duck is a hero for our times. Now the famous fowl has set his sights on a goal worthy of his stature. He's running for president.

When the book begins Duck is working at Farmer Brown's farm, doing the necessary chores. But this becomes tedious to Duck and he insists on holding an election. Farmer Brown is chagrined soon after to find that Duck beat him fair and square. Duck is pleased with his success, but he soon finds that running a farm is hard work. Very hard work. So, without further ado, Duck runs for governor. Sporting placards that read, "I'm a duck, not a politician!", he visits small-town diners, marches in parades, and (my favorite line in the book), "gave speeches that only other ducks could understand". Duck beats the governor but finds that running a state is, you got it, "very hard work". So it's off to run for the presidency. You see where this is going. After making it into the White House duck finally finds that he still has to do a lot of work. A quick searching of the want ads reveal that Farmer Brown is looking for a good duck. The VP is placed in charge, duck returns to the farm, and the last shot we see of him is as he's writing out his memoirs.

This is probably my favorite book out of all the Cronin/Lewin concoctions. Kids will be amused by duck's antics and the silly ways in which he rises to power. Adults will be amused by the subtle references made throughout the story to contemporary politics. Note that on the title page Duck is looking a heckuva lot like Richard Nixon. Note that his presidential bid comes complete with placards reading, "Duck, making us proud again". Kids reading the tale may also notice the difference between campaigning for state governor and president. Where a person running for the state position walks in parades, and goes to town meetings, a person running for president rides in parades and plays the saxophone on late night television. I was also amused by author Cronin's choice of words. Each time Duck ends up doing work he gets covered in all kinds of junk. As a farmer he's covered in mud, muck, and coffee stains. As a governor he's covered in fingerprints, mayonnaise, and coffee stains. And as president he's covered in security badges, Secret Service agents, and coffee stains. Silly stuff.

There are plenty of picture books out there that deal with showing kids how the political process works. Most of these are dour staid affairs that deal only with the wonders of the president and how "he" can do nothing wrong. "Duck For President" is cannier than that. Through it, kids can read a satire that will amuse both their parents and themselves. They can see that sometimes the politicians we elect are not always up for the job. Using amusing pictures, repetition, and some delightful twists in the plotting, "Duck For President" is a great great book. Buy it if you have a sense of humor. Or want one.

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Another hilarious book in the series, March 3, 2004

By	Ariel Pawlak (POMPANO BEACH, FL United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I love the other two books in this series, Click Clack Moo and Giggle Giggle Quack. I think this new book is the funniest yet. The story centers on our loveable trouble maker Duck who decides that he is tired of his chores. In order to get out of his farm duties he decides to run for head of the farm. Much to farmer Browns chagrin he is elected but when the job proves to be too much to handle he moves on to the governors office and finally the presidency. There are a ton of insider jokes about politics throughout the book that will go over the kids heads. But that is exactly what makes it so fun for me to read. One particularily funny part has Duck going on late night tv to play the saxophone ala Bill Clinton. Also I am from Florida and there were a few jokes aimed at us relating to sticky ballots lost and close elections. My four and a half year old daughter enjoyed the book because she loves Duck but most of the content was beyond her. The book is very timely now with the upcoming elections and I think most kids can gleam a little of the political process from it while anyone who can remember the past couple of presidential elections will find it hysterical.

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Cutest Book Ever, June 28, 2004

By A Customer

I love this book. The pictures are sweet, the illustrations are beautiful, and the message is really clever.
I am 24, and I love this book.