Five little ducks

Publishers Weekly

A golden oldie from the kids' song catalogue (the music for which is reprinted on the book's final page) gets an adorably funny treatment from Bates (Just You and Me). What exactly happens to the disappearing ducklings when Mother duck tries to call her brood back to her side with a "Quack, quack, quack"? Bates imagines that each feathery waddler meets up with a friendly member of another species, and is inspired to acquire a present for mom that reflects the new pal's distinctive habitat. The first duck meets a smiling beaver, and snags a worm from its stream; the second plucks a flower from a contented cow's meadow, while a third duckling sees a crab and discovers a shell on the shore. With the song's lyrics as the only text, the book offers readers plenty of opportunity to imagine their own dialogue. Bates renders the ducks' benevolent encounters with customary effortlessness. He strikes just the right balance between realism and anthropomorphism, and finds a sweet-natured humor in contrasting the diminutive ducks with their much bigger acquaintances. The wrap-up finds all the ducklings "waddling back," bearing gifts for Mother that they've found all by themselves-a nice message that a little independence is not such a bad thing. Ages 3-5. (Feb.) Copyright 2006 Reed Business Information.

Children's Literature - Ashley Hergenroeder

In this nursery rhyme, brought to life through pictures and text, a mother duck and her five babies go out for a walk. On their way back, one baby duck gets sidetracked and separated from the group. When the family returns home, only four babies remain. The mother duck is very upset when she cannot find her child. Each time she takes her babies out for a walk, one gets sidetracked—usually by another animal that it seems to have befriended. This continues until there are no more ducklings left. The mother duck then takes a walk alone in the hopes of finding all of her ducklings. The fantastic pictures in this book enhance and add to the plot of the story by allowing readers to see what happens with each lost duckling. This adaptation of a timeless favorite children's song will keep children and adults entertained and singing!

School Library Journal

PreS-K-In this newly illustrated version of the classic song, the ducklings become distracted by creatures in their environs and wander away from their mother. When fewer and fewer of her offspring return, she looks increasingly forlorn and anxious. When the sad mother duck goes out for her final "Quack, quack, quack," all of the youngsters return, each one bearing her a gift from their adventures. Bates's muted watercolors bring a lively energy, reminiscent of Robert McCloskey's ducklings, to this beloved song. The artist's sweet and nostalgic adaptation is unique for its gentle and warm tone. Some young children may confuse the brown markings on the ducklings for mud, but this bit of realism will also help them tell one yellow duck from another.-Rachel G. Payne, Brooklyn Public Library, NY Copyright 2006 Reed Business Information.

Kirkus Reviews

Bates expertly applies full-page soft watercolor-and-pencil illustrations to the classic song. This verse song tells the story of a mother duck whose ducklings, one by one, wander away to play with other animals, such as a cow, crab and seagull, leaving her bereft until she is reunited with her charges. Consisting of a simple rhyming pattern, each verse accounts for the constantly diminishing number of ducklings waddling preciously behind their mother. This countdown of sorts provides an illustrated and simple counting lesson. For a song with instructions to be sung "brightly," the idea of a mother losing her children is a heavy sentiment; Bates's avoidance of sharp edges, use of a calming palette and love-filled reunion scene, however, keeps this tale light and enjoyable. As an excellent storytime read, this will encourage children to quack along-and quite likely, listeners young and old will slip into the song's familiar melody, printed on the final page. (Picture book. 2-6)