Duck & Goose

Starred review from December 12, 2005
From different directions, a young duck and a little goose march across a grassy field toward a big spotted sphere. Upon quick inspection, they decide it is an egg, although shrewd readers may point out that it closely resembles a soccer ball. "I saw it first," says the yellow duck. "I touched it first," taunts the white-feathered goose, placing his black foot against it. In separate thought bubbles, each imagines building a fence around the presumed egg, Duck posting a "no honking" sign, Goose with an "absolutely no quacking" placard. "After a flurry of fussing,/ grunting and groaning,/ slipping and sliding," they climb atop their claim and huffily sit back to back. But as time passes, they begin planning their hatchling's future and referring to it as "our baby," at least until a bluebird comes by to ask if she can play with their ball too (then exits to let them resolve their differences). Hills (My Fuzzy Friends
) pictures the cartoonish characters against a sky blue and summer green landscape that provides a theatrical backdrop to the argument. This mini-drama implies that a plaything can be more fun for two and shows how even stubborn characters can cooperate. Hills's feathered heroes enact a dialogue familiar to anyone who has negotiated with siblings or playground rivals. Ages 3-7.

January 1, 2006
PreS-Gr 1 -In this goofy story, a duck and goose mistake a big spotted ball for an egg. Each one claims it and they fight over taking care of it. In the end, they realize their foolishness and become friends, enjoying their ball together. The themes of getting along, sharing, and settling one's differences come across loud and clear, and the author does a good job with the subject without becoming too didactic. While the narrative is fairly straightforward and has touches of childlike humor throughout, it's the bright and colorful artwork that will attract youngsters' attention. The cartoon-style oil paintings set against soft-focus, almost impressionistic backgrounds keep Duck and Goose center stage, and their expressions are priceless. A sweet addition." -Lisa S. Schindler, Bethpage Public Library, NY"

Copyright 2006 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

January 1, 2006
PreS-Gr. 2. A poultry odd couple stars in this story about a friendship forged through a finders keepers dispute. Duck and Goose simultaneously discover a giant polka-dotted sphere, which they take to be a very large egg: "I saw it first," says Duck; "I touched it first," says Goose. They spend hours sharing space on the egg's summit to keep it warm, first grudgingly, then companionably as they bond over their shared purpose. When a passerby points out that their prized egg is actually a child's toy ball, Duck and Goose decide the ball is lovely, too--just right for playing with together. Hills might have found ways to introduce more variety into his compositions, even given the somewhat limited situation, but the fresh, vivid colors draw the eye, and his whimsically rendered Duck and Goose (think bath toys with expressive eyebrows) will instantly endear themselves to children. Choose this for springtime and Easter story hours, paired with Dr. Seuss' classic " Horton Hatches the Egg "(1940) and Mem Fox's " Hunwick's Egg "(2005)" . "(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2006, American Library Association.)