Duck Soup by Jackie Urbanovic, Jackie Urbanovic (Illustrator)

From Barnes & Noble

The author of Duck at the Door is back with another picture book, this one ominously titled Duck Soup. Mac the duck is happily concocting a wondrous soup when he discovers a feather floating in the broth! Fortunately, the rest of the story is more evocative of the Marx Brothers than tales of cannibalism. After Brody the dog, Dakota the cat, and Bebe the bird race frantically around, searching for their avian friend, all ends happily. A somersault of fun.

From the Publisher

Max the duck is cooking up an amazing soup. But what's this? A feather floating in the soup! And where's Max? Brody the dog, Dakota the cat, and Bebe the bird race about in their hilarious search for the missing Max. But remember, sometimes things just aren't as they appear.

Children's Literature

AGERANGE: Ages 4 to 7.

Max the Duck is creating a soup masterpiece. He has cooked lots of soups created by other chefs but his soup will create a lasting memory. As he cooks, Max realizes that his soup needs something more and eventually decides on an herb from the garden. As Max leaves for the garden, his friends Brody the dog, Dakota the cat, and Bebe the parrot arrive. They smell the wonderful soup but do not see Max. Dakota sees a feather floating in the soup and fears the worst. The pets attempt to rescue Max from the soup. Perhaps a strainer would trap Max as the liquid soup goes down the drain. As the dog, cat, and parrot begin their rescue, Max returns from the garden. Max gasps in horror as his piece-de-resistance goes down the drain. The characters from Duck at the Door return for this cartoon-like romp. While some of the story's illustrations are a bit extreme, those in preschool and kindergarten will not mind. Max's dedication and his friends' fear and horror come across in a way that cannot help but make one laugh. Reviewer: Elizabeth Fronk

Lee BockCopyright 2006 Reed Business Information. - School Library Journal

K-Gr 3
Children will anticipate that something goofy is coming by a glance at the cover art: a duck in a soup pot balancing a lid on his head. Urbanovic has created a funny story in which Max's friends mistakenly believe that he is in the soup pot. Their attempts to save him ruin his meticulously prepared soup ("'AHHHHH! It's his head!' said Bebe. 'Silly! It's only a potato!' Brody replied. 'EYEBALLS! His eyeballs!' said Bebe. 'Guys, it's only tiny onions!' said Brody"), but reinforce the value of friendship. The softly outlined watercolor illustrations feature a loose style that gives freshness and energy to each scene. Children will laugh out loud at the antics in this story, which blends so cohesively with the large pictures.

Product Details

• ISBN: 0061214418
  
• ISBN-13: 9780061214417
• Format: Hardcover, 32pp
• Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
• Pub. Date: January 2008
• Sales Rank: 7,903
• Age Range: 4 to 7