Farmer Duck

by Martin Waddell, Helen Oxenbury (Illustrator)

Overview

Celebrate twenty-five years of a tale of sweet justice in this anniversary edition.

Farmer Duck is no ordinary duck. He cooks and cleans, tends the fields, and cares for the other animals on the farm — all because the farm owner is too lazy to do these things himself. But when Farmer Duck finally collapses from exhaustion, sleepy and weepy and tired, his farmyard friends come to the rescue.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780763695613
Publisher:	Candlewick Press
Publication date:	03/14/2017
Edition description:	Anniversary
Pages:	40
Sales rank:	107,039
Product dimensions:	8.90(w) x 9.60(h) x 0.30(d)
Lexile:	420L (what's this?)
Age Range:	3 - 7 Years

About the Author

Martin Waddell is the author of more than one hundred books for young readers. He lives in England.

Helen Oxenbury is a two-time winner of the Kate Greenaway Medal and a celebrated illustrator of many well-loved books. Helen Oxenbury lives in London.

Editorial Reviews

Candlewick teams with British sister company Walker Books for this adaptation of Waddell's popular picture book. A reading of the full text kicks off a program jam-packed with extras. Oddie gives the lazy farmer an appropriately grating voice as he continually hollers, "How goes the work?" to the ever-laboring Duck. Gibson's original music makes a pleasant accompaniment, though in the places where Oddie uses a softer tone, it nearly overpowers him. Oddie and Aldred then lead listeners in a series of games and activities including identifying animal sounds, imagining being an animal and acting out passages of the story-many of them suitable for preschool classroom or playgroup use. Near the end of the proceedings, a cast of children perform the story as a mini play and listeners have the opportunity to tell the story themselves, karaoke-like, during a track that has music only. The youngest listeners may puzzle over a stray Britishism ("cockerel" instead of rooster) and may initially have some difficulty with the British accents, but overall, the upbeat, creative energy here is likely to win over a large audience. Ages 3-7. (May) FYI: Candlewick Audio is simultaneously releasing four additional CD adaptations of picture books, including Can't You Sleep, Little Bear? by Waddell and This Is the Bear by Michael Rosen. Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.

Publishers Weekly

A poor duck is overworked by a lazy farmer-until the duck's farm friends mete out their own brand of barnyard justice. "Young readers will flap for joy right along with the endearing web-footed hero," said PW in a starred review. Ages 3-up. (Mar.)

Publishers Weekly - Publisher's Weekly

PreS-Gr 2-- Waddell's waddler is a real winner. In all kinds of weather, this downtrodden duck hauls in the sheep, tends the hens, and does the housework as well. ```How goes the work?''' the farmer repeatedly asks. ```Quack,''' the duck constantly replies--until all the barnyard animals convene to help the exhausted servant exact revenge and oust the lazy lout. Hilarious art masterfully captures the expressions of the put-upon duck, the supportive cast, and the slovenly ergophobic who reads the newspaper and chomps on bonbons in bed. All the while, the use of subtle shading and light reflect the passing of time on the farm and the serenity of the English countryside. Bled double-page spreads burst with life and vitality in a tale that has undertones of Animal Farm and The Bremen Town Musicians . With its lilting, large-print text and satisying resolution, it's as perfect for beginning readers as it is for story hours. --Trev Jones, School Library Journal

School Library Journal