One Cool Duck #1: King of Cool

by Mike Petrik

Overview

What's cool, anyway? Skateboards, pizza, arcade games—and being kind! This buoyant young graphic chapter book introduces Duck and pals, kicking off a series that makes real-life friendship issues fun.

Duck is feeling pretty good about himself. He can flip on a skateboard, and he’s a great friend, too. Then Cat comes along and seems so cool, with his high scores on video games—but Cat also does some mean stuff nobody likes! Then Cat gets caught up a tree and needs help. In three short chapters, perfect for readers just gaining confidence, Duck and his pals show Cat that being cool includes helping others and not dissing your friends. Each character has a distinct way of speaking, and readers will love learning how to read and pronounce entertaining slang expression from the fifties and other "cool" eras.

Hippo Park graphic chapter books are ideal for beginning and newly independent readers, with approachable page counts, easy-to-follow paneling, and artwork that supports text comprehension.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781662640193
Publisher:	Astra Publishing House
Publication date:	05/09/2023
Series:	One Cool Duck , #1
Pages:	64
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 8.30(h) x 0.23(d)
Lexile:	370L (what's this?)
Age Range:	6 - 9 Years

About the Author

Mike Petrik is an animator by day and an illustrator of books, magazines, and wonderfully scary doodles by night. The author of The Silly Sounds of Halloween (Harper, July 2021) and The Silly Sounds of Christmas (Harper, September 2022) he is new on the scene and is an exciting new talent. He lives with his wife and three children in Oak Lawn, IL.

Editorial Reviews

03/20/2023

Petrik (The Silly Sounds of Christmas) offers a goofy graphic novel chapter book series launch starring bright green Duck, the effortlessly cool leader of a pack of anthropomorphized animal kids living in an idyllic woodland neighborhood. Shades-wearing Duck can “kickflip on a skateboard” and routinely scores highest at the arcade, and his vibe is never aloof—always affable and affirming. But newcomer Cat represents cool’s dark side: he’s arrogant, contemptuous, and inconsiderate. Duck calls him out (“That wasn’t very nice, Cat,” says Duck when the feline swipes Pig’s pizza slice), but Cat’s charisma eventually wins over the rest of Duck’s friend group, dampening the fowl’s spirit. Bummed, he retreats home and puts away his shades, but reassurance from Grandpa Duck prompts Duck’s return to local neighborhood hot spots, where he rescues Cat from an ill-advised tree-diving stunt. Chastened Cat admits he’s “been acting like a not-so-nice crumbbum,” and Duck invites him to officially join his crew. Dialogue sometimes reads a bit outdated, often feeling as if it’s emulating 1950s greaser speech, but the digital illustrations have plenty of authentic verve, thanks to the bright, saturated palette; energetic, expertly paced compositions; and an eager cast savoring their summer independence. Ages 6–9. (May)

Publishers Weekly

A 2024 Little Maverick Graphic Novel Reading List selection (Texas Library Association)

“This graphic-novel series starter has incredibly cool vibes…..A rad read!" — Kirkus Reviews

“ONE TUBULAR TALE!” — Mike Wohnoutka, illustrator of See the Cat and See the Dog

“ONE RAD READ!” — Michael Slack, author/illustrator of Kitties On Dinosaurs

“Cool Book, Daddy-O!” — Mike Cicotello, author/illustrator Beach Toys vs. School Supplies

“I’m QUACKING up!” — Micah Player, author/illustrator of Chloe, Instead

"Hilarious, Sweet and Cool!" — Mike Boldt, creator of Bad Dog

"The second I saw this fun duck on the cover, I was excited to dive in….it's fun and will hold readers' interest the entire way through….It's a message about caring for others, learning that everyone has weaknesses, and forgiveness….an entertaining start to what promises to be a fun series." — Bookworm for Kids

"One Cool Duck is one cool book you should add to your classroom and home libraries! Petrik's approach to the important themes seemed just enough fun & cool, as it did genuine. I think kids will really take to this book! — Storymamas

"A goofy graphic novel chapter book series....The digital illustrations have plenty of authentic verve, thanks to the bright, saturated palette; energetic, expertly paced compositions; and an eager cast savoring their summer independence."  — Publishers Weekly

"The author captures the dynamics in friend groups and offers a cooperative solution. Terrific for mid-elementary level readers." — Pamela Gombert, Kentwood Public Schools

From the Publisher

2023-07-13
This graphic-novel series starter has incredibly cool vibes.

Duck and his friends have some awesome summer plans. Duck wakes up in super rad fashion (donning a pair of sunglasses and giving a double-thumbs-up), then meets his friends at the skate park, where he gets props for his kickflip. Later, they head to the arcade, where Duck earns a high score. As the friends ride their bikes down a hill, a mysterious figure rushes past them in totally sick style. It’s Cat, sporting shutter shades. Duck asks him to hang, to which Cat replies with a bored “Whatever.” As Cat shows off his various skills, he commits some very uncool actions—skateboarding over Turkey’s toes and swiping Pig’s pizza slice. While the rest of the group goes to a woodland pool, complete with rope swing, Duck heads home to take a break from Cat’s big talk. When Cat climbs super high to swing, he gets scared, and the others seek out Duck for a rescue. This short, three-chapter graphic novel has minimal words, ideal for early or reluctant readers. The tone stays firmly in the G-rated lane with positive messages—the hinted rivalry fizzles out as the text implies that there can be more than one cool guy around. Importantly, Cat apologizes for “acting like a not-so-nice crumbbum.” Illustrations smoothly meld ’80s stylings with a woodland setting like an old-school Saturday morning cartoon.

A rad read! (Graphic fiction. 5-8)

Kirkus Reviews