Duck and Goose, Goose Needs a Hug

by Tad Hills

Overview

Celebrate love and friendship with the New York Times–bestselling odd couple Duck & Goose in this sturdy board book, perfect for preschoolers!

Goose is feeling sad. What does he need to cheer him up? He doesn't need a game of tag. Or to stand on his head. Or a happy song. What he really, really needs... is a hug from a good friend.

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:	9780307982933
Publisher:	Random House Children's Books
Publication date:	12/26/2012
Series:	Duck and Goose Series
Pages:	22
Sales rank:	62,876
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 6.60(h) x 0.50(d)
Age Range:	2 - 5 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

The Duck and Goose series expands with a gently comedic story that makes it clear that losing a case of the blues is even harder when one’s well-meaning friends aren’t listening (a theme also explored in Jed Henry’s Cheer Up, Mouse, reviewed Nov. 12). Goose knows exactly what he needs, but Duck and crew repeatedly cut him off midsentence, suggesting games, headstands, and puddle-jumping to improve his mood. Goose’s frustration nearly boils over into anger, but the other birds get the message just in time, and the zinger “Well, why didn’t you just say so?” closes this escapade on a lighthearted, reassuring note. Ages 2–5. (Dec.)

Publishers Weekly

Goose has a hard time conveying to his gaggle of friends what he really wants. "I'm feeling sad. I think I need--" Goose says, but then he is interrupted by his overly helpful pals. They suggest a variety of cheering-up activities, such as a game of hide-and-seek, splashing in puddles and a happy song, but keep missing the mark. In a bold, double-page spread with a telling headshot of Goose pleading, "A HUG!" the buddies finally let Goose finish the request. The last two pages show the gang engaging in a group hug with the accompanying punch line, "Well, why didn't you say so?" Hills' double-page–spread paintings, depicting a bucolic, green landscape and his playful cast of birds, are as expressive as ever. He expertly conveys emotions through subtle tilts of heads and placement of eyes and eyebrows. Like other Duck & Goose titles, the tale is told only in dialogue, and each character's lines caption their actions. Goose's predicament is infinitely familiar to toddlers, who can have difficulties expressing their wants and needs. The sparkly, tactile words on the cover will attract young readers, but what's inside will provide real emotional resonance. (Board book. 18 mos.-3)

Kirkus Reviews

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