DUCK, DUCK, GOOSE
by Tad Hills & illustrated by Tad Hills
Hooray! Duck and Goose are back. The two young avian chums have been running through the meadow, watching clouds and partaking of other leisurely pursuits, but when Duck brings a newcomer named Thistle into the mix, everything changes. Thistle is one competitive duck, and after a series of contests in which the boastful Thistle is the inevitable winner, a frustrated Goose wanders off to look for butterflies. Duck searches for and eventually finds Goose, and the two commiserate: While they admire Thistle’s prowess, they would rather play just for fun. After engaging the intrepid Thistle in a napping contest, which she, exhausted from her busy day, naturally wins, Duck and Goose are free to kick their ball in peace. One hopes that in the next installment, Thistle may learn a thing or two, but at least Duck and Goose have figured out how to handle her. The charming illustrations portray this tale of friendship perfectly, and the text, reminiscent of The Story of Ferdinand, is, like Hills’s first in the series, energetic, appealing and filled with warmth. (Picture book. 3-6)