Ducks Go Vroom

February 1, 2011

PreS-Gr 1-This level-one reader uses rhyming words to enhance phonemic awareness. It does so with a simple story about all the things that ducks can do ("Ducks slurp/Ducks burp"). The spare text allows for little narration, but picture clues divulge that a duck family is off to visit a loving goose relative, and the day includes activities familiar to young children. The animals embrace, eat lunch, and spend a messy afternoon baking, followed by cleanup and a fond farewell. Concentrated colored backgrounds add to the visual appeal of the pages, which have either black or white text and bright cartoon illustrations. The fact that the ducks use a remote control to operate their TV and talk on a cell phone adds a contemporary touch to this otherwise timeless story. A solid choice for libraries needing entry-level readers.-Gloria Koster, West School, New Canaan, CT

Copyright 2011 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

December 15, 2010
Preschool-K With large type and bright pictures that reinforce the story, this easy reader follows a family of ducks who vroom to a relatives house. The sounds of the words are a big part of the fun (Ducks slurp. / Ducks burp!), and so is the messy slapstick action as the ducks ring the bell (Ding-dong! / Bing-bong!); bake delicious treats (Grab and eat, / hot and sweet); make a total mess; and, finally, scrub and sweep before sleep. The repetition never becomes overbearing; in fact, the recurring physical details of cooking, eating, and clearing up are right on target for first readers. With a rhythmic beat and noisy, playful words that sound like what they mean, this Step into Reading title could be a cheerful, energetic read-aloud for young preschoolers, as well as readers on the verge of independence.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2010, American Library Association.)

July 1, 2011
Three energetic young ducks vroom and zoom their way through the story, leaving chaos in their wake while visiting Auntie Goose. The spare rhyming text includes lots of kid-friendly noises--slurp, burp, munch, crunch--upping the read-along factor. Yellow-bright, round-edged illustrations boisterously convey the ducks' busy day.

(Copyright 2011 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)