Publishers Weekly
11/13/2023
Susan the duck, cartooned by Pizzoli in crisp black lines filled with sherbet-hued greens, oranges, and pinks, is experiencing a streak of rotten luck. The roller skates she ordered are too big, an inconveniently situated light bulb burns out, her pickle jar is empty, she can’t find her favorite marble, and hornets are nesting in a tree outside her window. But amid these unfortunate events, all witnessed by a tiny insect in Susan’s home, glimmers of good luck abound when a formally dressed wolf starts dropping by, bearing various elements needed for soup (“You have won this fabulous pot!... And now you have won these wonderful onions!”). Readers will guess at the wolf’s motives long before a reveal that duck soup is on the menu, but an elaborate narrative turn offers high comedy—and bad luck turned good—as Susan’s previous perceived misfortunes become instrumental in driving the wolf away. Offering soup for thought about using luck as a lens to make sense of the world, it’s a briskly told story whose baddie’s comeuppance is reminiscent of Home Alone. Final art not seen by PW. Ages 3–7. (Feb.)
From the Publisher
"It’s a lucky thing indeed that this book is as great a joy to read aloud as it is." —Kirkus Reviews
"A briskly told story whose baddie’s comeuppance is reminiscent of Home Alone." —Publishers Weekly
"This amusing, clever take on familiar tropes will be a favorite in storytimes and homes." —The Horn Book
"The charming illustrations....are packed with diverting details and hilariously capture the physical humor when everything comes to a head. An entertaining exercise in seeing setbacks from a different perspective." —Booklist
“This picture book invites a read-aloud or solo read for a stronger reader….will have kids giggling in relief.” —The Bulletin
Kirkus Reviews
2023-11-04
One duck’s luck is another wolf’s disaster in this tale of tragedy averted.
Right from the start, Susan is convinced that she is by far the unluckiest of ducks, since the roller skates she ordered turned out to be two sizes too big. Just at that moment, however, a well-dressed wolf appears at her door, informing her that she’s the winner of a big beautiful soup pot. And so it goes: Each time Susan feels that her luck’s run out, the wolf reappears with some new (and edible) soup-related prize. Long before poor Susan does, kids will realize the price of the wolf’s gifts. Still, when the finale arrives, it turns out that each “unlucky” thing to happen to Susan helps her to survive another day. Sharp-eyed readers may notice a tiny bug responsible for at least two of Susan’s missing items, also aiding in her deliverance from the wolf’s hungry maw. The pure clean lines and limited palette lend a distinctly ’50s vibe to the proceedings, while the text makes for a charming storytime. Meanwhile, the narrative has shades of Keiko Kasza’s My Lucky Day (2003) and Mo Willems’ That Is NOT a Good Idea (2013). Few may be surprised by the resolution, but the familiarity is much of the story’s charm.
It’s a lucky thing indeed that this book is as great a joy to read aloud as it is. (Picture book. 3-6)
