Publishers Weekly Review
| Captivated by a butterfly, a duckling wanders away from its three siblings in the pond. But when the duckling turns back to rejoin the group, it's panic-stricken to find that the pond now has "NO DUCKS!" Readers follow along as Underwood and McBeth (cocreators of Ogilvy) take the pert protagonist through a series of funny false leads: single-plane, minimalist black-line vignettes, with accents in orange and sky blue, begin with a hopeful interrogative--"DUCKS?" --only to be followed by a crestfallen "NO DUCKS" (the all-caps typography makes the mouth-tickling repetition of "ducks" all the more satisfying). A promising "SQUAWK SQUAWK" belongs to a brass band; web-footed footprints belong to a kid in flippers. After registering emotions ranging from despondency to "give me a break," the duckling is inspired to tack up a "LOST DUCKS" notice on a utility pole, then realizes the siblings have done the same, and a joyful reunion ensues at the pond. Get ready to quack a smile--or several. Ages 4--8. Author's agent: Erin Murphy, Erin Murphy Literary Agency. Illustrator's agent: Kirsten Hall, Catbird Productions. (Feb.) |
School Library Journal Review
| PreS-K--In an all but wordless board book in three colors (black, blue, orange), one duck becomes separated from three others and valiantly tries to find them. The duck calls "Ducks?" but finds only "No Ducks!" and feathers (from a pillow fight), squawks from brass horns, and discouragement. A lost dog sign inspires this duck to make a similar sign, and the simplicity of the solution and the reunion will reassure any toddler who has ever stepped into the wrong aisle at a grocery store. Here is a delightful economy of form, accompanied by a powerful impact emotionally. VERDICT Could it be a classic? Children will be shouting "Ducks!" and "No Ducks!" at story hours, but it's all in a terrific cause. |
Horn Book Review
| Distracted by a butterfly, a duck walks away from its pond and fellow ducks, only to discover upon returning that its friends are gone. Following some deceptive clues (SQUAWKs, footprints, feathers, etc.) leads the creature on a wild duck chase through a city until a lost dog sign gives our protagonist an idea that finally leads to the groups reunion. Underwood cleverly crafts her entire story using almost no text beyond the word ducks (DUCKS! / NO DUCKS! / DUCKS? / NO DUCKS). Instead, the narrative largely plays out in McBeths light blue and orange digital illustrations, making the book accessible to very young children. McBeths minimalist style places the focus on the action by eschewing detailed backgrounds in favor of thick black outlines around the images to help them stand out against the white pages. Careful viewers may notice on the cover and title page that the protagonist is presumably a youngster, smaller than the other three ducks and with one feather to their two. Each reveal of a misleading clue and the young ducks exacerbated reaction adds visual humor, which lightens the tone of the otherwise serious subject matter; readers familiar with the lost child (or is it parent?) scenario should take comfort in the books happy resolution. Cynthia K. Ritter March/April 2020 p.73(c) Copyright 2020. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. |
Kirkus Review
| The odd duck looks for the right ducks in all the wrong places.Working together once more after Ogilvy (2019), Underwood and McBeth trail a wayward duck on the search for its fellows. The text is limited to just four words, with a few others incorporated into the illustrations, so the pictures do the heavy narrative lifting as a young duckling follows a butterfly away from the pond where the other ducks swim. Determined to locate them after it realizes its mistake, the fowl is thwarted time and again. The sounds of "Squawk!" are made by a local brass band (all humans in this title present white). Webbed footprints are the work of a snorkler. Feathers? That's a pillow fight. Only when the duck decides to get a little more proactive in its search does it discover that the other ducks have been hunting just as hard. The simplicity of the writing gives ample room for the artist's deft employment of visual humor. At one moment the duck gives young readers a half-lidded look of pure skepticism that breaks down the fourth wall. Kids will no doubt get a kick out of seeing the duck's expectations upset with increasing ludicrousness (a seeming duck egg that hatches a baby dinosaur climaxes the silliness). They'll enjoy even more the happy ending waiting in the wings.Fine-feathered and funny frolics. (Picture book. 3-6) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission. |
