Jez Alborough as a whole collection of books but up until recently we have never checked out his offerings. Kane Miller Publishers recently afforded the opportunity for my children and I to expose ourselves to one of his more well-known characters – Super Duck – in exchange for our honest opinion of the book and we honestly enjoyed ourselves.
Goat has made a beautiful kite which he wants to go out and fly. But there is just one problem – there is no wind! So, it’s Super Duck to the rescue! (By the way, every time you say Super Duck you have to say it enthusiastically. You probably do, but I want to make sure you read even this review correctly. Heh.) Super Duck offers to get the kite up in the air, but even Super Duck needs a little wind to get the job done. He might end up being one frustrated little super hero but, in the end, he manages to save the day, albiet in a differet manner than he originally expected!
This story is told in rhyme and the illustrations have the right cartoon-ish feel for this cast of characters.
The Gobble Gobble Mooooo Tractor Book was a hands down winner in our household. Farmer Dougal is asleep and the farm animals decide to try and take the tractor for a spin. Each of the animals – the sheep, duck, turkey, cow, mouse and cat – insist that they can make the same noises that a tractor can and all together they discover that they do! The mouse can squeak just like the wheels on the tractor, the cow can mooo like the sound of the engine when it’s been working long and hard. It’s a cute, noisy book which each of my three children (ages 6, 4 and 2) delighted in. Once again, Alborough’s illustrations are welcoming and a good time is provided to the eyes as well as the ears as you read along with this one.
If you are choosing between the two titles, I more heartily recommend the second title as all of our kids got a big kick out of it!
Note: neither of these titles are available on Amazon. Each are available through Usborne Books & More.
Many thanks to Kane Miller who sent copies of the above titles my direction in exchange for my honest thoughts.
Carrie blogs about books for children on a regular basis over at Reading to Know.
My daughter would definitely enjoy Suuuuuuper Duuuuuuck (enough emphasis?) because she loves ducks and enjoys kites. The rhyming always helps too!