A Good Day for Ducks

by Jane Whittingham, Noel Tuazon (Illustrator)

Overview

Rain is falling, and these siblings know just how to enjoy it: raincoats, rubber boots, puddle jumping, swimming ducks, and wiggling worms! A thunderstorm sends the children scrambling for home and a cup of hot cocoa. Maybe it will rain again tomorrow! From the acclaimed creators of Wild One, A Good Day for Ducks is a child-centered celebration of the joy that can be found in any rainy day. Jane Whittingham's spare but sensory-laden text and Noel Tuazon's energetic and endearing illustrations are packaged in a sturdy book format with padded cover, rounded corners, and extra-heavy paper. The format is perfect for eager, little hands, while the sweet story will make even the weariest of parents nostalgic for their own puddle-jumping days.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781772780611
Publisher:	Pajama Press Inc.
Publication date:	09/21/2018
Pages:	24
Product dimensions:	9.00(w) x 10.10(h) x 0.60(d)
Age Range:	1 - 4 Years

About the Author

Jane Whittingham is a librarian from Burnaby, British Columbia, and earned her Masters of Library and Information Sciences at UBC with an emphasis on children's librarianship and literature. Much like the adventurous main characters in her picture books, Wild One, Duck Days, and Queenie Quail Can’t Keep Up, Jane loves to explore. And every time she jet-sets across the globe, Jane takes pictures of all the cats who cross her path.

Noel Tuazon was born in Manila, Philippines, but has been living in Toronto, Ontario, since the 1970s. Noel studied Fine Arts and Art History at the Universityof Toronto and Animation at Max the Mutt. Since 2006, Noel has also worked on storyboard revisions at Nelvana Animation for TV shows such as Grossology, Babar And The New Adventures of Badou, and Ranger Rob. Noel has illustrated comics, graphic novels, and picture books, including Wild One and A Good Day for Ducks, both authored by Jane Whittingham.

Editorial Reviews

2018-07-24

In this Canadian import, a brother and sister play outside in the rain and then enjoy a snack and art activity together.

The wraparound art on the cover shows the children in their rain gear as they follow a mother duck and her ducklings, with raindrops splashing down. The older sister sports red rain boots, a yellow slicker, and a polka-dot umbrella (an accessory beloved by many a preschooler). The brief, patterned text uses a loose format stating an action or a new development followed by sound or action words and then a corresponding further action. The two children jump in puddles, watch ducks and worms, see lightning, and hear thunder before returning home with their mom in a dirty and wet state. The children and their mother present white. After putting on warm sweatshirts and bunny slippers, brother and sister sit down to mugs of cocoa and art supplies, creating pictures of the ducks they saw. Impressionistic illustrations use light, splashy washes of color with scratchy ink outlines and white backgrounds, conveying both the excitement of the rainy outdoor scenes and the familiar, cozy atmosphere inside. The simple plot, short length, and rich vocabulary make this a fine choice for toddlers just beginning to listen to real stories, but there's enough interest and action for older preschoolers as well.

Just right to enjoy after a rainy-day outing while sipping a cup of hot chocolate and perhaps wearing a pair of bunny slippers. (Picture book. 1-4)

Kirkus Reviews

Praise for A Good Day for Ducks

2021 CCBC Best Books for Kids & Teens Fall Starred Selection

Reading Rockets "Holiday Buying Guide 2018: For 0–3 Year Olds" selection

Jbrary "2018 Favourite Storytime Picture Books" selection

"This charming story captures the joy of a rainy day....VERDICT A comforting and appealing choice for storytimes and one-on-one sharing."—School Library Journal

"The simple plot, short length, and rich vocabulary make this a fine choice for toddlers just beginning to listen to real stories, but there's enough interest and action for older preschoolers as well. Just right to enjoy after a rainy-day outing..."—Kirkus Reviews

"A sweet story...The watercolor and ink illustrations add charm and energy to this everyday weather adventure."—The Horn Book Guide

"A Good Day for Ducks would make for a good bedtime story…an excellent bridge book for those transitioning from board books to picture books."—CM Magazine

"[T]his offering is a great read aloud for preschool groups or family time. The lovely depiction of a brother and sister who are close in age, and perfect companions, heartwarmingly shows a wonderful example of being content with simply playing in the rain..."—Resource Links

"We rated this book: [5/5]...Author Jane Whittingham has written a spare text filled with onomatopoeia and lyrical writing that will charm little ones and those who read to them. The gorgeous watercolor illustrations by Noel Tuazon seem to be washed by the stormy day, and they are the perfect complement to this enchanting story. This is a sweet story children will ask for over and over."—Seattle Book Review

"[A] sweet story about two young children enjoying a wonderful rainy day....Sound effects such as 'drip drop', 'splish splash', and 'quack quack' will also appeal to a younger audience and could be fun for a library story time."—Youth Services Book Review

"Written and presented with the same sparkling liveliness as Wild One, A Good Day for Ducks is the wonderfully rhythmic, sing-song tale...that a reader (and listener) cannot help but be inspired to join in on...The combination of effective, chanting-like text (perfect short length for toddlers and up to appreciate!) with lovely, soft watercolor and ink drawings makes for another great picture book from the Canadian author and artist duo."—Fab Book Reviews

"This exuberant ode to the joys of rainy days is toddler perfection! The brief, lyrical text ripples with energy...Swishy, perky watercolor illustrations amplify the sense of freedom and joy."—Orange Marmalade

"This is a book in celebration of a rainy day, of siblings, and of the fun of experience. Like Jane's previous book Wild One, this is a book about children enjoying nature."—Canadian Bookworm

"In A Good Day for Ducks...we get to embrace our inner child and spend a day in the rain...This book makes me wish for rainy spring...days."—Book Time

“Gentle repetition and some onomatopoeia are keys to toddler happiness. Add textured illustrations and she’s hooked. This book lays out a perfect day in the rain complete with splashing, puddle jumping and watching the ducks.”—Vancouver Mom

From the Publisher