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Comments for Duck on a Bike

Duck on a BikeDuck on a Bike: 03/17/09

In my son's life time it seems that the children's book market has been flooded with duck picture books. I've reviewed a number of them: Duck for President

  • Ducks in Muck
  • Five Little Ducks
  • Hide-and-Seek Duck
  • One Stuck Duck.

    Duck on a Bike by David Shannon is in the style of Doreen Cronin's farm books (see Duck for President and Click Clack Moo, for example). Duck here is the ring leader in a series of bicycle thefts. After Duck borrows a snappy red bike, the other farm animals follow suit after initially poo-pooing his desire to go for a ride. As silly as the concept sounds, it works brilliantly. The bright illustrations bring story to life with humor and just enough plausibility to work.

    Like so many children's picture books, the story builds on repetition: first duck telling all the animals that he wants to ride the bike and them laughing at them. Then one by one the animals take up riding too. It comes to a silly conclusion as the animals run the risk of being caught. Were this by Doreen Cronin, Duck and the others wouldn't care if they were caught. In fact they would probably either demand their own bikes or a time share on the available ones.

    Other posts and reviews

    To learn more about the author, check out the No Dave site at Scholastic.

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    Comments (2)

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    Comment #1: Wednesday, March, 18, 2009 at 17:04:41

    Jeane

    My daughter loved this book. I thought the pictures were great, the colors and textures are so rich.



    Comment #2: Saturday, March 21, 2009 at 20:38:14

    Pussreboots

    The illustrations are marvelous in Duck on a Bike. All by themselves they tell a funny story.



    © 1997-2012 Sarah Sammis

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