Review by Booklist Review
The five little ducks from Duck Skates (2005) and Duck Dunks (2008) pitch tents for a backyard camping trip. They go fishing together and toast marshmallows over a campfire as night falls. Startled by the hooting of an owl, the ducklings dive into their individual tents and zip them shut, but they soon decide that there's safety in numbers. A plot summary can't convey this picture book's charm, which lies in its cheerfully bouncing rhymed couplets and expressive ink-and-watercolor artwork. Both writer and illustrator understand young children's thrill at being scared, but not too scared, before the story's satisfying ending.--Phelan, Carolyn Copyright 2009 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
With pitch-perfect rhymes that trip merrily along each page and airy, clever watercolors, this companion to Berry and Nakata's Duck Skates and Duck Dunks is infectious. Five ducks bravely go camping in their "small backyard," setting up duck tents, going fishing ("The pole goes zoom. The fish leaps high./ 'We lost the big one!' five ducks cry") and toasting marshmallows ("Outside crispy, inside sticky,/ Chewy, gooey, finger-licky"). The climax comes when the ducks are frightened into their tents after hearing a "whoo-whoo-whoooooo" after night falls. Dressed in overalls and straw hats, Nakata's ducks-with their thumbprint-shaped bodies and stick feet-are remarkably expressive. In a standout nocturnal spread, only the ducks' beaks and eyes, clearly registering worried anticipation, are visible against their midnight blue tents, as they "can't help but hear/ Sounds of the nighttime, loud and clear." In the reassuring denouement, a page turn away, the ducks pile into a tent together-just right for keeping nighttime noises at bay. Readers will be left with a taste for some outdoor adventures of their own. Ages 3-5. (May) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Review by School Library Journal Review
PreS-K-That rollicking and adorable quintet of ducks is back in a new seasonal adventure-camping. All of the excitement of living out of doors-pitching tents, fishing, toasting marshmallows-and some of its apprehensions-frightening night noises-are conveyed in bouncy, rhyming text paired with bright, cheerful watercolor illustrations. Young children will delight in the ducks' adventures and mishaps while following the antics of one tag-along squirrel from page to page and absorbing subtle counting and color lessons. Stylish jacket design visually connects this title to its predecessors, Duck Skates (2005) and Duck Dunks (2008, both Holt). Pitch-perfect, it will leave children and adults looking forward to more escapades from these endearing ducks.-Kathleen Finn, St. Francis Xavier School, Winooski, VT Copyright 2009 Reed Business Information.
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Review by Horn Book Review
The five little ducks from Duck Skates and Duck Dunks head out for a backyard camping trip. After the ducks spend a busy day fishing and toasting marshmallows, nighttime noises send them huddling together in one tent where, cozy, they all fall asleep. The rhymed text has a soothing rhythm. Cheery watercolor and ink illustrations, loosely drawn, display the ducks' gentle adventure. (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. All rights reserved.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
