Duck and Goose

by Tad Hills, Tad Hills (Illustrator)

Overview

At long last, the classic New York Times–bestselling and award-winning Duck & Goose is available as a board book. It’s a must-have for every child’s home library.
 
Meet Duck and Goose, two birds who mistake a polka-dotted ball for an egg and must master the art of cooperation—and sharing—to take care of it. But friendship is not always easy, as proved in this funny, accessible story. Children will instantly recognize themselves in these adorable and eternally optimistic characters. And with an abridged text, this board-book version of the original is perfect for the youngest Duck & Goose fans.
 
Praise for the Duck & Goose series:
 
“Duck and Goose have taken their places alongside Frog and Toad and George and Martha as fine examples of friendship, curiosity and problem-solving.” —Kirkus Reviews
 
“Charming, funny, simple, and surprising. . . . Hills is master of the light comic touch.” —The Boston Globe

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780399557460
Publisher:	Random House Children's Books
Publication date:	01/03/2017
Series:	Duck and Goose Series
Pages:	36
Sales rank:	46,750
Product dimensions:	6.70(w) x 7.40(h) x 0.90(d)
Lexile:	AD630L (what's this?)
Age Range:	3 Months to 3 Years

About the Author

Tad Hills is the author and illustrator of the highly acclaimed New York Times bestselling picture books Duck & Goose; Duck, Duck, Goose; Duck & Goose Go to the Beach; How Rocket Learned to Read; and Rocket Writes a Story. He has created numerous Duck & Goose board books, among them the ALA-ALSC Notable Children’s Book What’s Up, Duck?; Duck & Goose, It’s Time for Christmas!; Duck & Goose Colors!; and most recently, Duck & Goose, Let's Dance! The Rocket series includes a board book, Rocket’s Mighty Words, and two leveled readers, Drop It, Rocket! and Rocket’s 100th Day of School. Tad lives in Brooklyn with his wife, their two children, and a dog named Rocket. Visit the author online at tadhills.com.

Editorial Reviews

Starred Review, Publishers Weekly, December 12, 2005:
"Hills' feathered heroes enact a dialogue familiar to anyone who has negotiated with siblings or playground rivals."

Starred Review, Kirkus Reviews, December 15, 2005:
"Every artistic decision underscores the humor with deft mastery ... Readers will hope to see more of this adorable couple."

Review, Parents Magazine, March 2009:
“The title characters have a big fight over a giant egg. When it turns out to be a ball, they learn to play with it together.

From the Publisher

From different directions, a young duck and a little goose march across a grassy field toward a big spotted sphere. Upon quick inspection, they decide it is an egg, although shrewd readers may point out that it closely resembles a soccer ball. "I saw it first," says the yellow duck. "I touched it first," taunts the white-feathered goose, placing his black foot against it. In separate thought bubbles, each imagines building a fence around the presumed egg, Duck posting a "no honking" sign, Goose with an "absolutely no quacking" placard. "After a flurry of fussing,/ grunting and groaning,/ slipping and sliding," they climb atop their claim and huffily sit back to back. But as time passes, they begin planning their hatchling's future and referring to it as "our baby," at least until a bluebird comes by to ask if she can play with their ball too (then exits to let them resolve their differences). Hills (My Fuzzy Friends) pictures the cartoonish characters against a sky blue and summer green landscape that provides a theatrical backdrop to the argument. This mini-drama implies that a plaything can be more fun for two and shows how even stubborn characters can cooperate. Hills's feathered heroes enact a dialogue familiar to anyone who has negotiated with siblings or playground rivals. Ages 3-7. (Jan.) Copyright 2005 Reed Business Information.

Publishers Weekly

PreS-Gr 1-In this goofy story, a duck and goose mistake a big spotted ball for an egg. Each one claims it and they fight over taking care of it. In the end, they realize their foolishness and become friends, enjoying their ball together. The themes of getting along, sharing, and settling one's differences come across loud and clear, and the author does a good job with the subject without becoming too didactic. While the narrative is fairly straightforward and has touches of childlike humor throughout, it's the bright and colorful artwork that will attract youngsters' attention. The cartoon-style oil paintings set against soft-focus, almost impressionistic backgrounds keep Duck and Goose center stage, and their expressions are priceless. A sweet addition.-Lisa S. Schindler, Bethpage Public Library, NY Copyright 2005 Reed Business Information.

School Library Journal

When Duck and Goose enter the stage from opposite sides of the frontispiece, striding determinedly across a meadow toward a large, polka-dotted ball, the stage is set for a classic noodlehead story. Each believes the ball to be an egg. Each claims it, competes to hatch it and ends up sitting atop it together, whiling away long hours by agreeing on the many duck and goose skills they will teach their baby. When an observant bird points out that their egg is a ball, Duck and Goose, realizing their mistake, are just as happy to play with it. Delighted listeners will immediately see Duck and Goose's mistake and wait expectantly for the predictable "big reveal." Every artistic decision underscores the humor with deft mastery: the cheerful primary palette; the artfully balanced composition; and the simplicity of line that depicts every inch of these ridiculously earnest fowls, from the tips of their beaks to their expressive eyes to the bottoms of their feet. Duck and Goose's gradual shift from adversaries to partners to playmates is indicated artfully by effective but subtle changes in book design and text. Readers will likely hope to see more of this adorable odd couple. (Picture book. 3-6)

Kirkus Reviews