School Library Journal Review
PreS-Five ducklings experience their first day of school in this charming Swiss import. Anticipating their big day, four of the ducklings are excited, but one is upset about leaving Mama Duck. The sadness is contagious, and soon all of the ducklings are crying. Mama Duck soothes their worries with kisses and singsong assurances, "Don't be sad; don't be blue./Teacher will take good care of you." While a few of the rhyming stanzas are blunt and uneven, the majority of the text works well for the audience. Bright cartoon illustrations, especially the ones featuring other small animal classmates with their caregivers, round out this picture book import. VERDICT A solid purchase for those looking to expand their first-day collections.-Brooke Newberry, La Crosse Public Library, WI © Copyright 2015. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Publisher's Weekly Review
The duckling siblings who faced bedtime in Five Little Ducklings Go to Bed are on their way to school. Each duck wears a stylish headpiece (a blue beanie, a purple brimmed hat) and matching striped ties. Roth writes in an enthusiastic, rhyming song: " 'Yippee! Hooray! Oh Boy! That's Cool!' Four little ducklings couldn't wait for school!" But when the fifth duckling expresses anxiety, the others follow suit. Mama duck comforts and assures her ducklings en route to the classroom: "Don't be sad; don't be blue./ Teacher will take good care of you." Sure enough, the teacher--a gangly stork--welcomes the ducklings and their fellow students (a turtle, a beaver, a rabbit, and others) with open wings. An assuring, rhyme-heavy readaloud for first-day fears. Ages 4--8. (May)
