Santa Duck

Horn Book

Milgrim employs speech balloons in his spare cartoon illustrations . . . infusing humor and deftly revealing personality. "Jingle quack, jingle quack, jingle all the quack"!

School Library Journal

PreS-Gr 1

On December 24th, Nicholas Duck rushes out to find Santa to tell him what he wants for Christmas and is surprised to find a red coat and "a genuine, official Santa hat" on his doorstep. He happily puts them on, but is overwhelmed when all of the animals he meets corner him and rattle off their wish lists. Nicholas tries to get away and runs into Santa, at last. He relays the animals' requests, forgetting to ask anything for himself, but later realizes that helping to give to others has made him happier than getting any gift. Nicholas's silliness and frustration will appeal to youngsters as will the simple message. Milgrim's charming digital ink and oil pastel illustrations use a successful mix of narrative text and cartoon balloons to move the story along at a brisk pace. A fun selection for storytime or one-on-one reading.-Maureen Wade, Los Angeles Public Library

Kirkus Reviews

A duck named Nicholas receives the gift of a Santa coat and hat prior to Christmas in this quirky, funny story that will have both kids and adults laughing. As soon as Nicholas puts on his Santa outfit, all the other animals assume that he is Santa Duck. Each animal that Nicholas meets announces his or her Christmas list, with humorous choices such as a fast racecar for the turtle and a big carrot cake for the rabbit. Nicholas finally meets the real Santa and recounts all the Christmas gift requests, forgetting to ask for anything for himself. But Santa delivers the goods, leaving each animal a requested item as well as a nice thank-you note and a personalized car for Santa Duck. Milgrim's simple cartoon-style illustrations have a fresh, cheery charm with wry humor in the speech-balloon comments. The tight narrative has just the right amount of dialogue and conflict to entertain preschoolers (and adults too), and it has the potential to become a read-it-over-and-over favorite. (Picture book. 3-6)