Ducks Like to Swim

Preschoolers will gleefully join in the racket as a group of farmland friends quack, moo, bark, meow, and neigh for the rain to arrive so that the ducks can go for a swim and take their showers.

PreS. There is not enough water for mother duck and her chicks to swim. She quacks for rain and wonders, "Who will help?" The rooster crows, the dog barks, and each animal in turn gives a try. Finally, everyone makes noise together, it rains, and the ducks swim happily away. The alkyd paintings are rich with color and feature animals that are somewhat anthropomorphized. Unfortunately, the intended audience will have a difficult time identifying some of the images. For example, a duckling peeps out of a grate on one page, hides in the lamb's wool on another, and is almost squashed by a pig on another. These illustrations show only the duckling's head, slightly distorted, and will not be easily discernible to preschool children. However, the story has a satisfying conclusion and will encourage participation.?Susan M. Moore, Louisville Free Public Library, KY
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.

A pleasant visitation with barnyard animals, all of whom lend their voices to some rain-making on behalf of the ducks: ``One day there was not enough water. Mother duck quacks for rain. Quack! Quack! Who will help?'' Rooster lends a cock-a- doodle-doo, and one by one others give it up for the ducks, leading to one great, cacophonous chorus at the end. The rains come. Inspiring children to join in on animal noises is no difficult task, and other books have made similar appeals. But Westerduin's illustrations are glorious; rendered in alkyd, the art is resinous, voluptuously colored, and full of energy; the brushwork conveys not only a sense of movement, but also texture and form. Plan a noisy story hour, and then give children a chance to see the art up close. (Picture book. 2-5) -- Copyright ©1997, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.