Ducks Away! is a 2016 children's picture book written by Mem Fox and illustrated by Judy Horacek. Published by Scholastic Inc., It is about a mother duck and her five ducklings attempting to cross a bridge, one by one, and fall off the bridge into the river below. The duck becomes more and more agitated until she, with the last of her ducklings dropping into the water and their encouragement, decides to follow them.
 First edition, designed by Judy Horacek | |
| Author | Mem Fox |
|---|---|
| Illustrator | Judy Horacek |
| Language | English |
| Genre | Children's picture book |
| Published | 2016 (Scholastic Australia) |
| Publication place | Australia |
| Media type | Print (hardback) |
| Pages | 30 (unpaginated) |
| ISBN | 9781760158514 |
| OCLC | 945969497 |
Publication history
edit- 2016, Australia, Scholastic Australia ISBN 9781760158514
- 2018, USA, Scholastic, Inc. ISBN 9781338185669
Reception
editA review in Reading Time of Ducks Away! described it as "another classic bedtime tale" and wrote: "Captivating audiences from toddlers to young preschoolers, this picture book is vibrant, playful and utterly delightful".[1][2] A Horn Book Magazine starred review found that "the text and art work together beautifully.." and concluded: "Add this to your counting book shelves right quack, er, quick".[3]
Ducks Away! has also been reviewed by Kirkus Reviews,[4] Publishers Weekly,[5] Booklist,[2] School Library Journal,[2] and The Wall Street Journal.[6]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "Ducks Away!". readingtime.com.au. Children's Book Council of Australia. 16 January 2017. Retrieved 30 August 2018.
- ^ a b c Fox, Mem (2018). Ducks Away!. ISBN 9781338185669. OCLC 967726971. Retrieved 30 August 2018.
{{cite book}}:|website=ignored (help) - ^ Martha V. Parravano (January 2018). "Review of Ducks Away!". www.hbook.com. Media Source. Retrieved 30 August 2018.
- ^ "Ducks Away!". Kirkus Reviews. Kirkus Media LLC. 26 September 2017. Retrieved 30 August 2018.
Prolific children's author Fox has teamed up yet again with illustrator Horacek on this work, her collaborator on the effervescent Where Is the Green Sheep? (2004) and several other titles. The illustrations are deceptively simple, presenting the action of the story exactly as written with the use of bold lines, minimal colors, and ample negative space. Straightforward illustrations, a spirited refrain, and engaging number play add up to a delightful read.
- ^ "Ducks Away!". Publishers Weekly. PWxyz LLC. 30 October 2017. Retrieved 30 August 2018.
The slightly scattered text ... will draw in readers from the first page, and they'll admire how the toylike ducklings, despite their intense dot eyes and oversize orange bills and feet, exude a cool-as-a-cucumber attitude.
- ^ Meghan Cox Gurdon (9 February 2018). "Children's Books: A Carnival of Animals (subscription required)". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 30 August 2018.
