School Library Journal Review
PreS-Gr 1-A duck and his trusty blue kazoo survive a hurricane but are left alone on a beautiful lake. He entertains himself with the musical instrument until cold winter winds and loneliness force him to migrate south toward warmer climes. His talent enables him to make friends in his new location and when spring arrives, he invites them to his northern lake. Told in rhyming couplets, the simple story is graced with sweet watercolor and mixed-media art. The picture sizes are varied, which sustains interest: single page to full spread to oval or circular paintings placed on a white background. The illustrations add a humorous touch, showing the duck paddling around his lake in a canoe, another waterfowl with a polka-dotted inner tube, and a bird wearing sunglasses. This is a tender and charming tale of looking for and finding friendship.-Maryann H. Owen, Racine Public Library, WI (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Publisher's Weekly Review
Feeling bereft after a hurricane hits his beloved lake, the kazoo-playing hero flies south to a river where he's quickly befriended by the local ducks. They have such a good time together that when the arrival of spring prompts his return, his new pals are happy to accompany him. The title promises more than the slight story delivers: Sklansky (Goblin Groans: Poems for Halloween) tops off rhyming quatrains with a chorus that ends in "Zu zu" to evoke the kazoo's distinctive quacky sound ("Please come./ We'll have fun,/ Zu zu"), but the toy instrument neither defines the titular duck's personality nor drives the narrative. Beeke's (The Stars Will Still Shine) watercolors are the main attraction here, and they are well worth the price of admission. Once again, she uses gemstone colors, doll-like characters and a gently playful imagination to create utterly beguiling vignettes. While the melting tropical colors of many of her skies and backgrounds conjure a near-irresistible atmosphere, an abundance of witty details, like the migrating duck's stocking cap and scarf, or the duck's riding a turtle downstream, will hold readers' attention. Ages 3-6. (Feb.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
