Duckie & Snaps: We Cannot Be Friends

by Ame Dyckman, Tim Miller (Illustrator)

Overview

The antics will have you cracking up as the newly hatched Duckie, an enthusiastic yellow duckling, and Snaps, a rather reserved green crocodile, wonder if they can be friends.

After Duckie's egg rolls into Snaps' nest, they hatch, meet, and their friendship is off to a good start — until they are told they CANNOT be friends because crocodiles EAT tasty duckies... and Duckie is a duckie! (Nobody ever told her!) Will Snaps defend his new friend... even when HE gets hungry himself?

Join hatchlings Duckie and Snaps on their hilarious and emotion-packed adventures as this dreamer-and-doer duo explore if they CAN be friends.

Duckie & Snaps: We Cannot Be Friends is chock-full of hysterical dialogue, energetic and detailed illustrations, big kid-like personalities, and lots of zany read-aloud fun!

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781338837872
Publisher:	Scholastic, Inc.
Publication date:	02/04/2025
Pages:	40
Product dimensions:	10.20(w) x 10.10(h) x 0.30(d)
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

Ame Dyckman is an award-winning author of many bestselling picture books, including Duckie & Snaps: We Cannot Be Friends, illustrated by Tim Miller; Don't Blow Your Top!, illustrated by Abhi Alwar; Wolfie the Bunny, illustrated by Zachariah OHora; and the Misunderstood Shark series, illustrated by Scott Magoon. Ame lives in beautiful central New Jersey with her husband and daughter. For book news and fun, follow Ame on X: @AmeDyckman.
Tim Miller is the author-illustrator of Moo Moo in a Tutu, What's Cooking, Moo Moo?, and Izzy Paints. He is also the illustrator of The Chronicles of Lizard Nobody by Patrick Ness, Horse Meets Dog by Elliott Kalan, and other books, including the middle-grade series Hamstersaurus Rex by Tom O'Donnell. Tim lives in New Jersey with his wife and three rescue cats.

Editorial Reviews

10/28/2024

This tale, a series kickoff, begins when a duck egg plops into a crocodile nest, and a duckling hatches simultaneously with a baby croc. But Duckie, who sports a bright pink bow right out of the shell, is no ordinary bird. “I’m HERE!” the duckling announces, and immediately plans to befriend its nestmate, whom it dubs “Snaps.” Not so fast: “We. EAT. Duckies!” interjects an adult croc wearing a bow tie (“FRIED DUCKIE, DUCKIE SMOOTHIE, DUCKIE PIE”). Duckie is ready to call off the friendship (“I DON’T WANT TO BE A PIE!”), but Snaps, convinced a relationship is possible, vehemently protests against the adult’s interference—until hunger strikes and Duckie is suddenly the proverbial bird in hand. Fortuitously, a “Little. Yellow. TASTY” alternative is quickly found, and the new BFFs realize that conventional wisdom about a croc- eat-duck world is ripe for overturning. With jaunty, clear-line ink cartooning, Miller (Izzy Paints) gives the goings-on a sketch comedy feel, while Dyckman (Campingland) provides read-aloud-with-relish repartee. Ages 2–6. Author’s agent: Scott Treimel, Scott Treimel NY. Illustrator’s agent: Steven Malk, Writers House. (Feb.)

Publishers Weekly

"Filled with humor and heart, Duckie and Snaps' antics will naturally garner comparisons to Elephant and Piggie and serve the same beginning-reader audience. This tale of friendship reminds children and grown-ups alike that while we are all different, we can still be friends. A fabulous start to a series that young readers will eagerly enjoy." — Booklist

"Speech bubble-heavy text with thoughtful use of repetition enhances comprehension and enjoyment. Digitally colored pen-and-ink illustrations (a mix of scene-setting introductory spreads, varied panels, and single pages) feature crisp black lines, bold hues, and slapstick-y interactions between an unlikely duo — who, in terms of friendship, turn out to be very lucky ducks." — The Horn Book

"With jaunty, clear-line ink cartooning, Miller (Izzy Paints) gives the goings-on a sketch comedy feel, while Dyckman (Campingland) provides read-aloud-with-relish repartee." — Publishers Weekly

"A kooky tale of unlikely friendship." — Kirkus Reviews

Praise for Ame Dyckman:

★ "Dyckman's debut offers pitch-perfect pacing and gentle humor." — Kirkus Reviews, starred review

★ "Dyckman's pared-down prose gives the role-reversal story just enough drama, humor, and robot-inflected dialogue... to keep children entertained for many re-readings." — Publishers Weekly, starred review

"The tone of the wry, bemused narrator is perfect... and the target audience will likely be eager for a repeat listen." — The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

"Dyckman has a knack for combining humor with emotional truths." — Common Sense Media

From the Publisher

2024-11-23
A duckling and a young alligator defy expectations as they make friends.

A young duck with a pink bow hatches; soon after, a gator emerges from a nearby egg. Though the more reserved alligator attempts to say goodbye immediately, friendly Duckie coaxes the gator to stay—and even gives the reptile the nickname “Snaps.” Duckie proposes that they be friends and play together. A larger alligator overhears and informs the young ones that this isn’t possible: “We. EAT. Duckies!” “What’s a Duckie?” asks the clueless bird. “YOU’RE a Duckie,” the big gator responds. “Little yellow duckies are TASTY! FRIED DUCKIE, DUCKIE SMOOTHIE, DUCKIE PIE…” Now their roles reverse, and it’s Duckie who wants nothing to do with Snaps. Not giving up easily, Snaps calls Duckie back and forbids others from eating the duckling. The two embrace. Just then, Snaps’ stomach growls, and Duckie must find a way to distract the gator. Though this is a bit of a one-note story, little ones will enjoy the repetitive elements, while the minimalist design choices, such as single-tone colors and a flat illustration style, along with the characters’ cartoonlike expressions, give the book a comic feel.

A kooky tale of unlikely friendship.(Picture book. 4-8)

Kirkus Reviews