Just a Duck?

November 3, 2014
Lighthearted questions of identity persist in this tender companion to Hey, Duck! This time, Bramsen’s ever-so-feathery yellow Duck is exploring its inner feline. “A cat? But you don’t look like me,” reacts Cat. “I will when I grow up—you’ll see,” retorts Duck. As they play, Cat happily humors Duck, whose confidence is briefly shaken when it realizes it lacks a cat’s ears or claws but gets a big boost when it rescues Cat after an inadvertent dunk in the lake. A gently funny story of the differences, similarities, and compromises that make for rewarding friendships. Ages 3–7. Agent: Marietta Zacker, Nancy Gallt Literary Agency.

November 1, 2014
An innocent little duck wants to be a cat, just like his new feline friend.Duck decides to become a cat, emulating his friend's slinking ability and hoping to grow ears and claws. But Duck can't climb a tree or play chase or bat at floating leaves. When Cat overdoes a leap and lands in the water, he clings to a log-and it is Duck to the rescue. Cat thinks Duck is a real hero, and Duck decides that it's perfectly OK to be "just a duck." They do a "drip-dry shimmy shake," and their friendship thrives. Bramsen employs simple rhyming sentences that bounce along in an easy-breezy cadence. Text and illustration are neatly matched, and Duck's and Cat's body language and facial expressions are just right. Readers always know which character is speaking, as each has his own particular typeface. There are single- and double-page spreads, vignettes surrounded by bright white space, and multipaneled pages in strong, bright colors. The eye-catching illustrations have a three-dimensional quality, with feathers and fur, grass, tree bark, log and water all appearing textured and touchable. But the tale is equal in every way to the visual appeal. Even the youngest readers will grasp the gentle message of acceptance and friendship, where differences can be cherished and enjoyed. Sweet, tender and delightful. (Picture book. 3-6)

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December 1, 2014

PreS-Gr 1-The characters introduced in Bramsen's Hey Duck! (Random, 2013) are back for another tale about friendship. This time, instead of mistaking the cat for a duck, the duckling decides that he is a cat and wants to act like his feline friend. Duck manages to slink through the grass like a cat, but can't manage to climb a tree since he has no claws. When the cat accidentally falls into a lake and is stranded on a log, duck makes the most of his waterfowl abilities by swimming to his buddy and pushing him back to land. Both animals discover they are happy to be just what they are. Bramsen's meticulously rendered illustrations are once again the most outstanding feature. Readers can practically feel the texture of the furry cat, fuzzy duck, silky grass, rough tree bark, and each drop of splashed water. The animals' expressions are mostly playful, but change to confused, surprised, or worried as appropriate. An assortment of full-page images, spreads, and smaller wordless panels varies the design. The simple rhyme is printed in large letters, making it easy for beginning readers to decode. An endearing story for group or one-on-one sharing.-Martha Simpson, Stratford Library Association, CT

Copyright 2014 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

July 1, 2015
The kitten and duckling who became unlikely playmates in Hey, Duck! return for another peppy rhyming conversation, and this time, Duck contemplates giving feline life a whirl. When Cat falls into water, Duck's true identity comes in handy. Bramsen's synthetic-looking, soft-focus illustrations are suited to the critters' fuzzy texture; preschoolers will enjoy following along when they switch to wordless comic panels.

(Copyright 2015 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)