Have You Seen Duck?

Have You Seen Duck? Janet A. Holmes. Illustrated by Jonathan Bentley. 2011. Scholastic. 24 pages.


This is Duck.
Duck lives at my house.
Duck thinks I'm the greatest.
I'm Duck's hero.
Wherever I go, Duck goes too.
Duck's not frightened of anything when he's with me.
Duck won't start his dinner until I've started mine.
Duck can't go to sleep unless I'm in bed too.

I loved this one. I did. I just loved it. I thought it sweet and simple. I loved the devotion between a little boy and his favorite stuffed animal, Duck. The book shares the good times--when they're together--and the bad times--when they're apart.

For the worst does happen, one day Duck goes missing. And the little boy begins his quest to find his friend. He asks everyone if they've seen his duck. With each person he asks, he gives a different description of his best friend. He tells one, "He's yellow and raggedy." Another, "he smells like a blanket." Yet another, "He feels soft and woolly." Which leads to my favorite scene in the entire book:

"Have you seen Duck?" I asked the dog next door.
"He sounds like..."
But I don't know what Duck sounds like.
Duck doesn't make any sound at all.

But this search won't be easy, it won't be quick. The boy has to learn how to cope with life--a little--on his own. When the two are finally reunited it is sweet and wonderful.

I just loved it! I would definitely recommend this one!

Text: 4 out of 5
Illustrations: 3 out of 5
Total: 7 out of 10

© 2011 Becky Laney of Young Readers