Mr. Duck Means Business

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Mr. Duck Means Business (NOOK Kids) Pub. Date: 2/1/2011 Publisher: Simon & Schuster/Paula Wiseman Books
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Mr. Duck Means Business Pub. Date: 1/25/2011 Publisher: Simon & Schuster/Paula Wiseman Books

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Overview

All Duck wants in the world is a little bit of peace and quiet, but the other animals on the farm just don't understand. Can Duck make friends with his fellow barnyard animals and still get the peace and quiet he wants?

Editorial Reviews

Publishers Weekly

Mr. Duck enjoys solitude and follows a strict routine in his pond. "At precisely 8:01, he would glide across the perfectly still water," flanked by hand-painted signs that read "No Visitors Welcome" and "Don't Even Think About It." Everything changes one day when a pig does a cannonball off the dock, disrupting the tranquillity. "Mr. Duck all set to give Pig a strongly worded speech regarding private property," when a delighted cow dives in, too, followed by a goat, horse, and chickens. Mack (Hush Little Polar Bear) plays up both the barnyard crew's aquatic glee (at one point the pig and cow do a synchronized swimming routine) as well as Mr. Duck's party-pooper reactions. Amid the festivities, a fuzzy yellow peep finally notices Duck's displeasure: "Perhaps we've overstayed our welcome." Mr. Duck resumes his routine, but, predictably, feels lonesome. He paints a revised sign allowing "noise" for two set hours every afternoon. The animals' merriment is always tangible, yet the fuddy-duddy's new regulations don't really redeem his preceding grumpiness. Even with his late-in-the-game compromise, Mr. Duck is never quite likable. Ages 4–8. (Jan.)

Children's Literature

Mr. Duck likes living by himself at the pond. He follows a tight schedule, alone every day year after year, with signs of "No Visitors" clearly posted. But one hot summer day he is startled by a pig's "oink" and "SPLASH!" And although Mr. Duck "sputtered," "muttered," and "tail-a-fluttered," Pig just keeps splashing. Next Cow joins Pig, as Mr. Duck "grumbled," "mumbled," and "flip-flop-fumbled." Cow is followed by Goat and a chick ready to play a wild game of Marco Polo. Duck finally quacks until they get the message. They apologize and thank him for letting them swim. After they leave, Mr. Duck enjoys the quiet for a week. But by Sunday, he is ready for a happy compromise. Mack's acrylic paintings create naturalistic double-page scenes that emphasize the underlying comic behavior of the appealing actors, each with a real personality. Mr. Duck, of course the star of this drama, is presented as a near relative of Donald. On the several pages devoted to his reactions to his uninvited guests, the vignettes of his actions clearly express his emotions. Typography variations add to the appeal of this easy-going fun. Reviewer: Ken Marantz and Sylvia Marantz

More Reviews (2) Fewer Reviews

School Library Journal

PreS-Gr 2—A self-proclaimed introvert, Mr. Duck happily entertains himself and finds his pond perfect for a solitary life. One day, however, the neighborhood animals, uninvited, invade his territory; soon Pig, Cow, Goat, and others are reveling in a splashing, crashing, boisterous manner. Mr. Duck demands that they leave and they do (with proper apologies). Soon, however, he finds that solitude is not so great after all. Rethinking the situation, Mr. Duck finds a way to make time for himself and to enjoy his newfound friends. Sauer's clever use of language—"Mr. Duck grumbled. He mumbled. He flip-flop-fumbled"—will engage children and help soften the getting-along message in a humorous and likable way. Mack picks up on this note, filling the pages with color and action. The expressive characters (especially Mr. Duck) provide amusing touches in illustrations that sprawl across the pages. A pleasing book that offers a viable avenue for discussion about how sometimes compromise is the best way to go.—Barbara Elleman, Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art, Amherst, MA

Kirkus Reviews

Mr. Duck enjoys his solitude and his schedule. 6:00: stretch. 7:00: fluff feathers. 8:01: "glide across the perfectly still water"...until one day cattails obscure the "NO" in his "NO VISITORS WELCOME" sign, and Pig cannonballs in for some fun. "Mr. Duck sputtered. He muttered. He tail-a-fluttered." Pig doesn't get the message. Before Duck can really state his case, Cow dives in for some synchronized water ballet. Mr. Duck tries to let them know just how he feels about the intrusion, but they're joined by Goat, Sheep, Horse, Mouse, Chicken and ten chicks! "[T]he peace and quiet? It. Was. Gone." Mr. Duck snaps, and they finally get it. But after everyone leaves, the quiet eventually gets to him, so he comes up with a plan to save his alone time and still have fun with new friends. Sauer's dour and disciplined duck and his rhyming hissy fits will most definitely entertain. Mack's furry and feathered wide-eyed animals rendered in ebullient acrylic are a great match for this fine farmyard fable. (Picture book. 4-8)

Product Details

ISBN-13: 9781416985228
Publisher: Simon & Schuster/Paula Wiseman Books
Publication date: 1/25/2011
Pages: 32
Sales rank: 241,061
Age range: 4 - 8 Years
Lexile: AD320L (what's this?)
Product dimensions: 10.20 (w) x 10.20 (h) x 0.40 (d)

Meet the Author

Tammi Sauer

Tammi Sauer has worked as both a teacher and library media specialist. Her first book Cowboy Camp illustrated by Mike Reed was named a 2006 finalist for the Oklahoma Book Award, a Barnes & Noble 2005 “Holiday Pick,” and selected for Nevada Young Readers’ Award Reading List for 2007. She also is the author of Chicken Dance, illustrated by Dan Santat a 2009 NAPPA Gold Medal Award, Chicago Public Library Best of the Best book, and 2010 Oklahoma Book Award winner which Publishers Weekly called "sublime silliness" and the author of Mostly Monsterly, illustrated by Scott Magoon. Ms. Sauer lives with her husband and children in Oklahoma. Visit her online at www.tammisauer.com.

Jeff Mack has illustrated six books in the Bunnicula and Friends series.

He is also the illustrator of several popular picture books, such as Rub-a-Dub Sub, We're Rabbits!, and Starry Safari. Jeff lives in Easthampton, Massachusetts. Visit him on the Web at www.JeffMack.com.

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ReadingRoom

Posted September 3, 2011

Delightful

This book is delightful. The text is engaging and the illustrations are adorable. Mr. Ducks learns a great lesson and so will your own little ones. It is sure to become a family favorite...it is in my house!
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