What's Up Duck? A Book of Opposites by Tad Hills

What's Up, Duck? A Book of Opposites by Tad Hills
Reading level: Baby-Preschool
Board book: 22 pages
Publisher: Schwartz & Wade; Brdbk edition (January 8, 2008)
ISBN-10: 0375847383
ISBN-13: 978-0375847387

Ever since she was a few months old, my daughter has been fascinated by ducks. Her favorite toys are the little rubber duckies that she can easily grasp and stick in her mouth. She has a yellow stuffed animal duck that she just sits and laughs at, and she desperately tries to say "duck" when I repeat it to her.

When I received a copy of Tad Hills' first board book in the Duck & Goose series, What's Up, Duck? A Book of Opposites, I knew instantly that she would love it, and boy was I right.

This board book features amusing and colorful illustrations of Duck, Goose, and friends demonstrating pairs of opposite words. For example, in the clean/dirty pair a clean, white Goose is standing with his eyes closed and hands up warding off an extremely dirty Duck who's approaching him from the opposite page.

My daughter, who is still too young to comprehend opposites, loves to look at the pictures and point at Duck, and the sturdy board book can withstand her strong and awkward grip as she flips the pages.

This book is an entertaining way to introduce new vocabulary and the concept of opposites to preschoolers who will definitely get a laugh at the funny scenarios and facial expressions on the characters.

Reading Tip: To help teach the concept of opposites, as you and your child are reading the book, read the first word in the opposite pair and then say, "The opposite of ______ is _______."


Other Blog Reviews:
Comics in the Classroom: "What’s up Duck? is a book of opposites (with a near-far page that should make fellow Grover fans smile) and while I know there are plenty of those around, this one set itself apart by sheer adorableness."

One Book Two Book: "The illustrations are soft and cheerful - the colors are bright without being garish. The ducks are cute without being overstated...At $6.99, it’s a great price for a board book and destined to become a favorite on my son’s bookshelf."


Other Books in the Duck & Goose Series:

Duck and Goose (hardcover picture book)

From the publisher: “That egg is mine! I saw it first,” says Goose. “I touched it first. It’s mine,” declares Duck....Duck and Goose have to work at getting along. You see, Duck doesn’t much care for Goose at first–and Goose isn’t fond of Duck–but both want the egg that each claims to be his. As the two tend to their egg, and make plans for the future, they come to appreciate one another’s strengths. And when a bluebird points out that it isn’t really an egg–it’s a polka dot ball–the two are not dismayed. After all, it is a lovely ball. . . ."


Duck, Duck, Goose (Hardcover Picture Book)

From the publisher: "Feathered friends forever . . . or are they? That's what we discover in this charming and hilarious follow-up to the bestselling Duck & Goose. You see, there's a challenge to their friendship: a little whippersnapper of a duck named Thistle. Thistle's good at everything (or so she thinks), from math to holding her breath to standing on her head. Duck thinks she's fantastic. But Goose does not! And so Goose is faced with a problem close to the hearts of children everywhere: what happens when your best friend makes a new friend?"

Duck and Goose, 1, 2, 3 (Board book coming in August 2008)
From the publisher: "PRESCHOOLERS WILL CHEER the return of Duck and Goose in their second board book appearance! All the favorite characters, including Bluebird and Thistle, return—this time to introduce basic counting concepts. One goose. Two ducks. Three friends. As the characters illustrate from numbers 1 to 10, children will love to follow along with the simple text and all-new original art."