School Library Journal Review
PreS-Gr 2The is the true account of a duckling excursion that could have ended sadly, but instead developes into an enchanting rescue adventure involving the residents and firefighters of Montauk, New York. Mama Duck ventures out of the duck pond to explore the town with Pippin, Bippin, Tippin, Dippin, and Little Joe trailing behind her. When Mama decides to cross the street, each duckling in turn tumbles into a deep storm drain. Townspeople and firemen collaborate in the varied efforts to save Mama's brood and the tale eventually concludes happily. Nancy Carpenter's beautifully evocative illustrations are complemented by Tavia Gilbert's accomplished reading which skillfully conveys every emotion in succession, including the delight, alarm, tension, and final relief contained in the tale. Flawlessly integrated sound effects such as quacks, splashes, sirens, and gasps will delight listeners of all ages. Lucky Ducklings will remind listeners of Robert McClosky's classic Make Way for Ducklings. These stories are naturals to read together and compare and contrast through class discussion. Track one contains page-turn signals, track two does not.Rebecca James, formerly with Nashville Public Library, TN (c) Copyright 2012. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Publisher's Weekly Review
Carpenter's warm, retro spreads salute McCloskey in what might turn out to be this generation's duckling rescue story. Seeing public officials put civic machinery to work to save baby animals is every bit as charming today as it was 70 years ago. "Help!" cries a woman who sees five pint-size ducklings follow their mother across a storm drain and disappear through the grate one by one. "Call the fire department!" Carpenter (Heroes of the Surf) supplies a ducklings'-eye view of their wait in the darkness as curious faces stare down at them. The firefighters can't budge the drain cover, but a truck driver named Perry drags it off so they can free "Pippin, Bippin, Tippin, Dippin... and last of all, Little Joe," who await their mother in a handy bucket of water. The rescue depicted actually took place on Long Island in 2000; Moore enlivens the account with engaging narrative devices, repeating the duckling's rhyming names and punctuating the story with "Oh, dear! That could have been the end of the story. But it wasn't." It's worthy of its predecessor, and a welcome sequel of sorts. Ages 5-7. (Feb.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
