Mack’s digital pictures mix retro textile prints and boldly outlined, cartoonish depictions of round-eyed humans and animals…Kids may get a kick out of the wacky premise and broad, pun-studded humor.” —Kirkus Reviews
“The boy narrates; the duck makes wise-quacks, and the bright, colorful illustrations spill across the pages, especially when showing frenzied shenanigans, which nicely contrast the neat panels that frame the scene when order prevails. This goofy bedtime drama is a worthy sequel to Duck in the Fridge (2014).” —Booklist
“Duck on a Disco Ball is fun, punny, and most of all, gives us grown-ups the chance to wink at our kids when we say that fifteenth good night to our kids. Always leave ’em guessing.” —Mom Read It
“A fun story about a child who doesn't want to go to bed.” —GeoLibrarian
“…Would make a good story-time read-aloud.” —Youth Services Book Review
“Immediately after reading this book, my daughter declared, ‘That was awesome! Let’s read that again! That book is so cool.’ You can’t get a much better review than that from a three-year-old!” —Library Mom
“The illustrations are jam-packed with puns and one-liner jokes that kids love. Bright colors and quirky characters add to the fun.” —Batch of Books
“This book was a whole lot of fun. It is the perfect bedtime story!” —A Rup Life
“Jeff Mack has created a hilarious story with perfect outrageous illustrations that will have young readers giggling as they read funny puns and review everything that’s happening on the pages. Easy-to-read sentences with recognizable objects makes this a perfect read for any beginner.” —Kristi’s Book Nook
“But be aware: this book is PUNNY. SO many puns. Kids love them, so it works well in context, but oh man. I definitely groaned internally at a few…A fantastic romp that will delight little readers—even if it may make them want to stay up a little later.” —The Baby Bookworm
“A lively and back-slapping companion to Duck in the Fridge, Duck on a Disco Ball will continue the laughter and young children will beg for more Duck shenanigans.” —Beagles and Books
2018-07-24
A supersilly riff on a perennial question: What do grown-ups do while kids sleep?
The child narrator, shooed off to bed with his toy duck, stalls his grown-ups with questions: "What if my duck needs a snack?" "Or a giant boulder rolls over the house?" In the mornings, "something is always just a little weird." In this illustration, Duck lies flopped over that titular disco ball, above an open fridge that conjures Mack's previous Duck in the Fridge (2014). The boy decides to track his parents' nighttime whereabouts—and witnesses a rumpus that incorporates many of his previous, wild questions. Seemingly, parents and duck collaborate on chaotic fun that includes couch-diving and a multispecies party featuring snacks and hokey wordplay. Dad exuberantly yells, "I wanna rock!" Cue the duck, a crane, and a huge boulder that crashes the party—flattening the couch but not the maniacally upbeat mood. Magically, the parents fly out the window, sky-high, then fall back into bed—where the boy curls up to sleep, too. A dream, right? Maybe not: There's that duck, tuckered out behind the couch near a familiar electric guitar. Mack's digital pictures mix retro textile prints and boldly outlined, cartoonish depictions of round-eyed humans and animals. The boy's parents look like kids themselves, and the trio appears white.
Nothing new here, but kids may get a kick out of the wacky premise and broad, pun-studded humor. (Picture book. 3-7)
