Little Quack's new Friend

Lauren, Thompson. Little Quack’s New Friend. Illustrated by Derek Anderson. Simon and Schuster, 2006. ISBN 0689868936. $14.95. Ages 4-8.

There’s a lesson to learn in this sweet and understanding story as Little Quack shows his siblings to accept others by accepting someone as a friend that others considered different. Five ducklings were playing together when Little Ribbit asked to join. Little Quack accepts, but the others don’t because he is different from them. They all watch the fun Little Ribbit and Little Quack are having and become jealous. They decide to join the two new friends one-by-one. It may be jealousy or the ducklings might have realized just how wonderful the frog is. The illustrations, created with acrylic on Arches hot press water color paper, are bright and show excitement by showing the movement and feeling of the story. Anderson’s beautiful artwork relates to the entertaining and cheerful mood of the story with a very happy ending. Thompson’s story of the duck’s new friend is rhythmic with its own special beat. Children could chant or sing the story as they read and they would also want to join the fun to jump and play. This is one story to remember with fun and exciting possibilities.

Delilah Cooper, BGSU student