Overview
Brilliant hues, simple shapes, and a splashy pop-out surprise draw the youngest of readers to this clever concept book about actions and their opposites.
No matter what Duckie does, it seems her friends do the opposite! When Duckie looks up, Kingfisher looks down. When Duckie hops forward, Frog hops backward. And of course, when Duckie runs in front, Lizard runs behind. Little ones reading this bright, beguiling board book will happily predict the pattern that follows but will be caught by surprise by a final pop-out — as Duckie jumps into a pond and a number of colorful fish really do jump out.
Synopsis
Brilliant hues, simple shapes, and a splashy pop-out surprise draw the youngest of readers to this clever concept book about actions and their opposites.
No matter what Duckie does, it seems her friends do the opposite! When Duckie looks up, Kingfisher looks down. When Duckie hops forward, Frog hops backward. And of course, when Duckie runs in front, Lizard runs behind. Little ones reading this bright, beguiling board book will happily predict the pattern that follows but will be caught by surprise by a final pop-out — as Duckie jumps into a pond and a number of colorful fish really do jump out.
Child Magazine
As Duckie and her fellow animal friends wander in, out, and around a pond, children will find themselves immersed in key directional words. "Duckie swims over and Otter swims under," the text explains, supported by cheery, eye-catching collages that visually contrast their locations. Scenes in this board book show Duckie in motion-hopping with a frog or flying with an owl, for example. That is, until the last page, which surprises your child with a pop-up of the pond: "Duckie jumps in and all the fish jump out!" (Ages Birth to 2)
Child magazine's Best Children's Book Awards 2006
Editorials
From The Critics
As Duckie and her fellow animal friends wander in, out, and around a pond, children will find themselves immersed in key directional words. "Duckie swims over and Otter swims under," the text explains, supported by cheery, eye-catching collages that visually contrast their locations. Scenes in this board book show Duckie in motion-hopping with a frog or flying with an owl, for example. That is, until the last page, which surprises your child with a pop-up of the pond: "Duckie jumps in and all the fish jump out!" (Ages Birth to 2)Child magazine's Best Children's Book Awards 2006
Publishers Weekly
The jewel-like tones of the collage art in the board book Duckie's Splash by Frances Berry not only delight the eye but also teach opposites. "Duckie flies low and Owl flies high" on one spread depicts the titular character flying below the clouds while Owl flies above them. A final spread opens into a 3-D pond: "Duckie jumps in and all the fish jump out!" Copyright 2006 Reed Business Information.Children's Literature
The lesson in this simple text is opposites: Duck looks up and Kingfisher looks down; Duck flies low and Owl flies high; Duck swims over and Otter swims under. Not all of the opposites are readily apparent, so this book is a bit more sophisticated in its pairing than many others of the same type. The illustrations are not complex, making it easier to focus on the comparisons. This book will work best with a parent and caregiver reading and explaining the concepts rather than a child trying to figure it out on his or her own. It also offers a pop-up surprise at the end. 2006, Candlewick, Ages 1 to 3.—Marilyn Courtot