I Got You a Present!

February 1, 2020
The perfect birthday present is not easy for this duck to find, but it is certainly a good one. A cheerful group of animal friends adorned with party hats and led by an exuberant duck are all ready to celebrate a birthday. The cake is sliced, the balloons are in place, and the presents are piled up. Only duck does not have one in hand. As told by the duck, it was to be the very best, "the greatest present ever." This is, unfortunately, not an easy assignment. Knitting socks is too difficult, carrying a really big ice cream cone is too awkward, composing music too challenging, and performing magical tricks too daunting--the whole package disappeared. Children can't drive race cars, the dinosaurs are gone, and the Martians needed the rocket ship to get back home. Though endlessly inventive, this duck keeps coming up empty. Then the duck finally finds inspiration with a gift that should bring a smile to book lovers everywhere. Hopefully, the message will resonate with toy-, doll-, and gadget-focused gift givers and receivers. The colorfully busy and page-filling illustrations were created in Photoshop with "cake icing and gorilla vanilla ice cream." Little listeners may need to be persuaded, but adults can be pleased with the solution. (Picture book. 4-7)

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April 15, 2020
Preschool-G As various animals assemble for a birthday party, a duck addresses the reader directly, saying I wanted to get you the greatest present ever. The duck's first ideas?hand-knitted socks, a 10-scoop ice-cream cone?don't work out. Neither do a birthday song or a magic kit. The duck's schemes soon grow bigger and wilder: An apple-juice-fueled jet pack! A race car! A dinosaur in a rocket ship! As the party draws closer, none of the duck's grandiose ideas are successful. In the end, he has nothing to give but . . . THIS STORY! The duck goes on to tout the story as the greatest present ever, full of all the things you really love (listed from the failed presents), and it's about you and me. Colorful, cartoonish illustrations ramp up the silliness of each page. The duck's direct interactions with the reader, and its simple but expressive face, make this story a good choice for fans of Mo Willems' Pigeon books. A sweet and silly birthday treat.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2020, American Library Association.)