I'm a Duck

by Eve Bunting, Will Hillenbrand (Illustrator)

Overview

Sometimes it takes a lot to get your webbed feet wet! An adorable picture book makes a splash with a satisfying story about conquering your fears.

I cannot swim, and that is bad.
A landlocked duck is very sad.

One day, an egg rolled out of a nest and right into a deep pond. Now that egg is a little duck, and the water is still very scary. Jumping into the pond at all seems impossible, never mind swimming in a line with all his brothers. “You’re a duck, and ducks don’t sink,” Big Frog points out. Practicing in a puddle helps a little, while backrubs and snacks from his mother help a little more. Big Frog offers to hold his friend’s wing and dive in together, but our little duck knows that some challenges need to be faced alone. Even when they are very scary!

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780763680329
Publisher:	Candlewick Press
Publication date:	03/13/2018
Pages:	32
Sales rank:	1,071,864
Product dimensions:	10.00(w) x 9.30(h) x 0.50(d)
Age Range:	3 - 7 Years

About the Author

Eve Bunting (1928-2023) was the award-winning author of more than 250 beloved books for children. These included Smoky Night, illustrated by David Diaz, which won a Caldecott Medal, as well as Yard Sale, illustrated by Lauren Castillo, and I'm a Duck, illustrated by Will Hillenbrand.

Will Hillenbrand has written and illustrated many books, including Bear in Love and Bear and Bunny, both written by Daniel Pinkwater. Will Hillenbrand lives in Cincinnati, Ohio.

Editorial Reviews

01/01/2018
As an egg, the narrator of this charming story from Bunting (Thunder Horse) and Hillenbrand (Share, Big Bear, Share!) was rescued by its mother after rolling into a pond; now, the duckling is afraid of the water. From shore, it gloomily watches its brothers paddle by: “I cannot swim, and that is bad,/ A landlocked duck is very sad.” Encouraged by a bullfrog (“Just slide in fast; don’t even think./ You’re a duck, and ducks don’t sink”), the duckling practices in a puddle before mustering the courage to dive in. As family and friends cheer, the elated duck concludes that “I was wrong to ever think/ a well-made duck like me could sink.” Bunting’s singsong rhymes don’t skip a beat as the duck’s trepidation turns into triumph. Hillenbrand is just as successful at capturing the duck’s growing confidence, setting the action in a gauzy, dappled wetland whose soft colors and cast of supportive animals contribute to an atmosphere of security. It’s an endearing allegorical tale whose messages about practice and taking things at one’s own speed will buoy the spirits of children facing new challenges. Ages 3–7. (Mar.)

Publishers Weekly

Bunting’s singsong rhymes don’t skip a beat as the duck’s trepidation turns into triumph. Hillenbrand is just as successful at capturing the duck’s growing confidence...It’s an endearing allegorical tale whose messages about practice and taking things at one’s own speed will buoy the spirits of children facing new challenges.
—Publishers Weekly

Told with a storyteller’s flair, the unpretentious but precisely worded tale flows along steadily, easy to read aloud and pleasing in its expression of feelings familiar to young children. The delicate mixed-media illustrations, created with muted colors and understated patterns, perfectly capture the duckling’s fear, tentative attempts to overcome it, and final triumph. A beguiling picture book.
—Booklist

This gentle tale about overcoming fear will comfort and encourage many a reluctant kid (or duck)...The duckling itself is reminiscent of Olivier Dunrea's Gossie and Gertie, with an innocent expression and oversized bill and an overall endearing look. This is definitely a "message" book, but any message in such effective hands will reach its intended audience where they are.
—Kirkus Reviews

From the Publisher

02/01/2018
PreS-Gr 1–When Duck was still an egg, he rolled out of the nest and into the pond. His frightened mother quickly saved him, but now that he's hatched into a duck, he's afraid to go into the water. With encouragement from his mom, brothers, and his friends Big Frog and Owl, Duck decides to use a puddle to practice swimming. There he splashes bravely day and night until, feeling scared but prepared, he dives into the pond! All the animals are delighted to see him come to the realization that as a duck, he's "perfectly designed" for swimming. "I do the backstroke. There are cheers/so loud they almost hurt my ears./The other ducks shout, "Way to go!"/as I'm backstroking to and fro." Any child hesitant to try something new will recognize themselves in the story of this young duck. Hillebrand's mixed media images beautifully depict the natural setting and enhance the delightful rhyming text. Simple, expressive animals of sizeable proportions are displayed against pastel backgrounds. VERDICT Rhyming text, a cheerful ending, and artwork well suited to sharing with a crowd make this a good choice for storytime. Recommended for most picture book collections.—Gaye Hinchliff, King County Library System, WA

School Library Journal

2017-11-22
This gentle tale about overcoming fear will comfort and encourage many a reluctant kid (or duck), which represents a fairly wide young audience: what child isn't reluctant about something, at some point?Told in rhyming first-person narrative, this duckling's story starts when, as an egg, the duck-to-be rolls out of the nest and into the water, where the mother duck must come to the rescue. Now hatched, the young duck is hesitant to swim, and "a landlocked duck is very sad." Encouraged by three brothers (the duck in question's gender is not specified), friend Big Frog, and Owl, "who's very wise," the fearful young waterfowl first practices in a puddle and eventually prevails in deeper water, although with an individual take: swimming backward. Notably, the mother duck does not verbally encourage, try to teach, or chide her baby; she remains a steadfast comfort during puddle practice and lets the duckling struggle and achieve. Hillenbrand's softly colored, mixed-media illustrations portray the pond setting in a wash of natural colors: pale yellow, soft green, and watery blue, enhancing the comforting message. The duckling itself is reminiscent of Olivier Dunrea's Gossie and Gertie, with an innocent expression and oversized bill and an overall endearing look.This is definitely a "message" book, but any message in such effective hands will reach its intended audience where they are. (Picture book. 3-6)

Kirkus Reviews